A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. I, Part 4

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 4

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Mr. Hummel is one of the representative citizens of the county, and has achieved a most worthy success. His public spirit is such that he always aids every movement which in his judgment promises good to the people at large. He is especially inter- ested in educational matters and has served ably as a member of his township school board, and he has also filled the office of

township treasurer. In politics he is a Re- publican and in religion he adheres to the creed of the Lutheran church.

Mr. Hummel was married February 22, 1882, to Miss Clara Erdtmann, of Ells- worth, Kansas, and has children named Amanda, George, John, Elma, Mata and Paul.

HON. FRANK VINCENT.

Few men in Reno county, Kansas, are more widely known than Hon. Frank Vin- cent, who has been prominently identified with the social, religious, educational and political development of this section of the state since the spring of 1874. His fellow citizens have honored him with many posi- tions of trust and responsibility, and he is now distinguished as the senator from the thirty-sixth senatorial district.

The birth of Senator Vincent occurred in Brown county, Ohio, in May, 1853, and he is a son of J. P. and Sophia ( Miller ) Vin- cent. The father was a native of Pennsyl- · vania, but in young manhood moved to Ohio and there engaged in business both as a merchant and farmer. There he married Sophia Miller, and two children were born, Mr. Vincent of this biography being the only survivor. Later the father married Caroline Morehead, and had a family of nine children. In 1854 he moved with his family to Lucas county, Iowa, where he was a pioneer, and the mother died soon after their arrival. Mr. Vincent became a prom- inent man in that section and an active work- er and leader in the Methodist church. In 1886 he removed to Hutchinson, Kansas, and spent his last days here, dying in 1898.

Frank Vincent was but a babe one year old when the family exodus was made from Ohio to Iowa, and until he was seventeen years of age he attended school in that state. In March, 1874, he made his way to Hutch- inson, Kansas, and in the latter part of that year took up a one-quarter section in Castle- ton township and engaged in farming for a couple of years and then turned his attention

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

to mercantile pursuits, for three years con- ducting a store at Castleton. Having re- ceived the appointment of deputy register of deeds, he sold his business in Castleton and removed into Hutchinson, where two years later he opened a business in real estate and loans. Until 1888 Mr. Vincent was engaged in the above line, becoming then interested in the salt business, this having been one with which he has been connected ever since, holding now the position of general manager of the Hutchinson Salt Works. He was one of the incorporators of this company, and they had but one competitor. The Hutch- inson Salt Company started the plant known as the Vincent plant, later bought other plants and now control ten. In January, 1900, the business was sold to the Hutchin- son, Kansas, Salt Company, a wealthy syn- dicate, and Mr. Vincent was retained as gen- eral manager. The salt business as now managed is the largest industry in the city of Hutchinson. The united plant has a ca- pacity of forty-five hundred barrels a day, but ships only one million barrels annually. Employment is given to from four hundred and fifty to six hundred men, according to the season, the business bringing comfort into many worthy homes.

Senator Vincent invested largely in farm- ing property and is among the largest land owners in the county, one of his valuable farms lying five miles north of the city, to which it is our subject's delight to drive. This comprises four hundred acres under cultivation, also three hundred and twenty acres in pasture land, where are raised thor- oughbred Black Angus cattle, the finest in this part of the state. Senator Vincent takes a personal interest and pride in his farm and fine cattle, enjoying the management more than either the strife of political or the com- petition of commercial life. In almost all of the various organizations of a public char- acter he has taken a leading position. He was one of the organizers of the Wholesale Grocers' Company, and for four years was its vice-president, and was not only one of the organizers of the Hutchinson National Bank, but was also vice-president and direc-

tor. Every educational and religious move- ment has had his hearty support, and he has liberally contributed to the erection of the various edifices. He has always been an active worker in the Republican party. For six years he served as mayor of the city, during which time he reduced the water rentals one-half and instituted many reforms. He was a delegate to the Republican national convention at St. Louis, at which the late lamented President Mckinley was nomi- nated, and has been one of the leading mem- bers of his party in this locality. In 1900 he was nominated for senator and was elect- ed by a majority of seven hundred.

The marriage of Senator Vincent occur- red in August, 1874, to Miss Anna C. Payne, who was a daughter of Rev. John Payne, a farmer in Iowa and for over forty years a minister in the Methodist church. He now lives a retired life in the home of our subject, at the age of eighty-nine years. Seven children were born to this union, namely: Lizzie, who is the assistant post- mistress of this city; Frank, Jr., who is a shipping clerk in his father's office; George who superintends the farm; Sophia; Esther ; Louie; and Jay. In fraternal circles Senator Vincent has long been active, holding a membership in the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and in the Masonic order, be- longing to Reno Lodge, No. 140, to Reno Chapter, No. 38, and to the Commandery No. 26. The religious connection of the family is with the Presbyterian church, where Senator Vincent is a liberal contri- butor. His record as a politician has been unstained, and he stands a true representa- tive of the highest class of citizenship in Reno county.

JOHN S. SHUYLER.

Labor forms the foundation of all pros- perity and it is to his enterprising and well directed efforts that our subject owes his position as a leading and representative farmer of Enterprise township, Reno coun- ty. He was born in Spencer county, In-

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

diana, in 1846. His father, Michael P. Shuyler, who was born about the year 1800, died in Spencer county, Indiana, in 1855. He followed blacksmithing as a means of livelihood, having learned the edge tool bus- iness in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and was an excellent workman. As a companion for the journey of life he chose Elizabeth Cies, who was born near Hagerstown, Maryland, and they had twelve children, of whom our subject was the youngest in order of birth, and of that large number, six sons and six daughters, all have passed away with the exception of John S. and his brother David, The latter is engaged in agricultural pur- suits in Huntsville township, Reno county, Kansas. The mother of this family died when our subject was but an infant, and the father was again married, the second union resulting in the birth of four children, of whom two, a son and daughter, still sur- vive: Louis, a resident of Boonville, In- diana; and Seleta, wife of John R. Bacon, of Topeka, Kansas. The mother is now Mrs. Bacon and makes her home at Boon- ville, Indiana.

John S. Shuyler, the subject of this review, made his home with his brother, David M., from his ninth to his fifteenth year, receiving but meager educational ad- vantages during that period, as his time was principally employed in the arduous task of clearing an Indiana farm from the heavy timber. At the early age of fifteen years, in January, 1862, he enlisted for service in the Civil war, entering the Sixty-second In- diana Volunteer Infantry, which regiment was afterward consolidated with the Fifty- third Indiana, and as a member of Com- pany G, he served in its ranks for three and a half years, during which time he participated in the battles of Corinth, Vicks- burg and Hatcher's Run, and was also with Sherman on his Atlanta campaign. Dur- ing his army service Mr. Shuyler also spent three months in the Overton hospital, at Memphis, Tennessee, where he suffered with a relapse of the measles. After re- covering his health he veteranized at Camp

Heborne, Mississippi, and at Louisville, Kentucky, in August, 1865, he was honor- ably discharged, for the war had ended and the country no longer needed his services. After returning home he spent one winter in school, and afterward engaged in farm- ing the old Allen place, where he remained for two years, and for the following two years resided on a farm in Pike county, In- diana. In August, 1872, he began the journey westward with his team and wagon, working on the railroad and at other occupations during the trip, and after traveling over one thou- sand miles finally arrived in the Sun- flower state, where he secured a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, on which he located on the 12th of July, 1873. Here he has ever since made his home, but as the years have passed by and prosperity has rewarded his efforts he has added to his original purchase until he now owns a half section of land, but farms in all three quar- ter sections. His principal crop is wheat and corn, and in one year he raised fifty- five hundred bushels of the latter cereal, while in 1901 his wheat crop yielded him four thousand bushels. He has planted all the fruit and shade trees which add so much to the value and attractive appearance of his place, and the many other improvements upon his farm stand as monuments to his thrift and ability. His present beautiful residence was erected in 1889, and in the same year his large barn was also built, which is one of the finest structures of the kind in the county. In addition to the rais- ing of the cereals best adapted to this soil and climate Mr. Shuyler is also extensively engaged in the stock business, keeping on hand from ten to fifteen horses and large numbers of hogs, which are of the Poland China breed. Success has abundantly re- warded his efforts since coming to the Sun- flower state, but the high position which he now occupies among the leading agricul- turists of Reno county has been attained through his enterprising spirit and his de- termined purpose.

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

On the 27th of March, 1867, was cele- brated the marriage of Mr. Shuyler and Miss Julia M. Allen. The lady is a native of the state of Tennessee, born in 1848, a daughter of William and Mary ( Harden) Allen, natives also of that state. The fa- ther, who was a farmer by occupation, died in Indiana, leaving his widow with their JACOB W. LIGHT, M. D. five children, four of whom still survive,- Mrs. Shuyler; Alice, the wife of J. C. Kel- lumi, a farmer of section two, Enterprise township; James L., who for many years has held an important position with the firm of Fuller & Fuller, in Chicago; and Rinda, now Mrs. Ed Behler and a resi- dent of Huntington, Indiana. Previous to her marriage with the father of these chil- dren the mother had wedded Robert B. Shaw and by that union had one child. She is now the widow of Perry Chinn and makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Shuyler, having reached the ripe old age of eighty-five years. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Shuyler are as follows: W. P., who is a prominent agriculturist of Enterprise township, and has a son and daughter; Adella, wife of W. C. Detter, by whom she has two children; O. C., a farmer near Lerado, this county, and has one son; Florence, the wife of Jacob Detter; Harry A., who is attending the State Agricultural College; Mabel, a member of the Linsborg Musical College, where she is studying both vocal and piano music; Reynolds, a youth of fifteen years, who is attending the dis- trict schools; Mary Mildred, a maiden of ten summers; and Dean M., seven years of age. Those who passed away are: Mil- lard, who died at the age of nine months; Georgia Lee, who also died when only nine months old; and Floyd S., who died at the age of seventeen years. In his political affiliations Mr. Shuyler is a Popit- list, but previous to his identification there- with he was a supporter of Republican prin- ciples. He has served his township as a trustee for several terms, and for six years held the office of justice of the peace. He has a wide acquaintance in this section of the state, and his honesty in all trade ' there for the best work in physiology.

transactions, his reliability in discharging his duties of citizenship and hs fidelity to the interests of private life have won him marked esteem.

Dr. Jacob WV. Light, who has been suc- cessfully engaged in the practice of medi- cine in Kingman since 1884, was born near Fostoria, Ohio, in January, 1859, soon after the removal of his parents from Penn- sylvania to the Buckeye state. The fam- ily is of German lineage and the name was originally spelled Lichte. Felix Light, the Doctor's father, was born in Pennsylvania and was a shoemaker by trade. He was married in his native state to Susan Pef- fer, who was of the same family to which Senator Peffer belonged. They became the parents of eleven children, nine of whom attained years of maturity. The family were connected with the United Brethren church and were people of the highest re- spectability.

The Doctor attended the district schools until eighteen years of age and then entered the Ada Normal College, at Ada. He en- gaged in teaching as a means whereby to procure the funds necessary for the con- tinuance of his studies, and this determina- tion to procure an education no matter what the difficulties which stood in the way showed forth the elemental strength of his character and gave promise of accomplishi- ment in later life. Before going to Ada he made arrangements to study medicine with a physician in Findlay, Ohio, but the accidental death of the physician forced him to change his plans, and after teaching for several years he became a student in the office of a physician in Columbus Grove, Ohio, reading under his direction all the time between the courses of lectures which he took in college. In March, 1884, he was graduated in the Pulte Medical Col- lege, at Cincinnati, Ohio, winning the prize

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

Dr. Light then made his arrangements to remove to the west, and in June arrived in Kingman, which was then enjoying an era of marked progress. The railroad had just reached here and the Doctor complet- ed his journey on the construction train. There was only one brick building in the town and many conditions were primitive, but the western spirit of enterprise was soon to dominate the place and produce a transformation. Our subject entered into partnership with Dr. Yancey, who was the owner of a drug store in Kingman, but in the autumn following his arrival the part- nership was dissolved and Dr. Light en- tered upon an independent business career. With one exception he is the oldest resident physician of Kingman and his practice is proportionate to the length of his stay. With the growth of the town his patronage in- creased and from the beginning he has en- joyed a successful professional career. In the early days of his location here he was called as far as seventy-five miles and had to endure many hardships by making long drives across the country in storm as well as in sunshine, but he never refused to give his aid in alleviation of suffering. He is now called as far as thirty miles, and in Kingman and the immediate surrounding district he has a large business. He has been particularly successful in treating cases of dropsy, having effected cures in cases which others had pronounced incurable, and thus his reputation has gone abroad and won him high standing in his profession. He is a member of the Kansas State Medical Society and the American Institute of Hom- eopathy, and thus he keeps in touch with the advanced thought of the day along the lines of medical and surgical investigation and practice. In order to still further per- fect himself in his work he took a course in the Polyclinic in Chicago in 1893.

Just before his removal to Kingman Dr. · Light was married to Miss Aimee Sterling, the wedding being celebrated March 20, 1884, in her home in Columbus Grove. With his bride he came to this city and their home has been blessed with three children, but only one is now living. F. Marvin. In 1899

the Doctor erected a fine residence at the corner of Spruce street and Avenue F. It is an ornament to the city and is the most modern dwelling here, being supplied with the latest improvements and conveniences. He also owns another house which he rents. He also has extensive stock raising inter- ests, having a fine herd of shorthorns.

Dr. Light holds membership with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and was formerly connected with the team of Select Knights. He is likewise a worthy exemplar of Ninnescah Lodge, F. & A. M. He is a member of the pension board and with the exception of four years has held the office of its secretary since 1888. He served for five years as county health officer and has been a member of the school board. In politics he has always been an earnest Republican, but has ever refused to become a candidate for office. He is regarded as one of the most skillful physicians of his locality. His knowledge and ability in med- icine and surgery and all matters pertaining to the health of the body, his intelligence in other lines of study and his manly char- acter alike entitle him to esteem, and he is regarded with the highest respect in this and other communities.

JAMES DUKELOW.

The eminent position which Reno coun- ty, Kansas, has attained as a leading one in the state is in a large measure due to the class of citizens which makes up so large a proportion of her agricultural population. Among those who have succeeded and be- come substantial pillars of the county through their own well directed and intel- ligent efforts is James Dukelow, who has owned property here since 1880.

The birth of Mr. Dukelow was in Great Britain in 1846, and he came to America prior to attaining his majority. For some years he was located in New England, trav- eling in the interests of the well known firm of J. Gould's Sons, tea importers of New York city, his business taking him through Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts,

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

his headquarters being in Boston. His first visit to Kansas was made in the interest of this firm, being sent hither to make investi- gations concerning its former representa- tive, and while here he joined one of the Home Seekers' excursions which went to look at land in this territory. The party made stops at Newton, at Florence, and at Hutchinson, and the greater number went on to Larned, but the location of this city pleased Mr. Dukelow the best, resulting in his buying the claim for the farm upon which he now resides, in 1880. He paid eight hundred dollars for the one hundred and sixty acres, having the original deed made out to him. Then he returned to the east and closed up his business affairs there, agreeing with his former employers to con- tinue to represent their house in this locality. This he did until increasing private business made it inexpedient. The improvements on the place consisted of a small frame shanty, and a shed which was made out of a straw pile. About eighty acres of the land had been broken, and after his locating, in the fall of that year, he put in wheat, and in the following spring began to put out some fruit trees. No trees of any kind were there prior to this, the beautiful grove which is one of the adornments of this ideal country home having all been planted and nurtured by our subject. The soil re- sponded so generously that he found it nec- essary at times to cut down some of the trees of his planting, as their spreading branches crowded each other. He has made a special- ty of fruit trees and he now has two hundred and sixteen acres in fruit alone, one hun- dred acres in peaches, twenty-five acres in grapes and twenty-seven acres in berries. Each year he cultivates potatoes on fifteen acres, although the cereals, corn and oats, he considers his principal crops. He has yearly added to his land and now owns five farms and keeps all under his own supervi- sion, having them worked on the share sys- tem. In stock raising also he has pros-

of the most comfortable and attractive homes in Reno county.

The marriage of Mr. Dukelow was in September, 1873, to Miss Elizabeth Justice, who was born in Boston, Massachusetts. To this union three sons have been born, name- ly: Herbert L., Elmer R., and Howard M.

Mr. Dukelow has been identified with almost all of the progressive movements in the county since his location here, and has been connected with many enterprises in a financial way. He was one of the organizers of the Citizens' Bank of Hutchinson, and for four years was its president, resigning that honorable position on account of stress of personal business. The Presbyterian church in this locality owes much to his devotion, he being one of the pioneer members of that religious body, ever ready with time, influ- ence and means to promote its interests. For a long period he served as chairman of the board of deacons in that church. In politi- cal sympathy he has always been an ardent supporter of the Republican party, although in no sense a politician, desiring none of the public offices, his own business demanding his constant attention. Although he has been unusually successful since locating in Kansas, there is no mystery in it. He pre- pared himself by close attention to business for the work he had undertaken and gained a thorough- knowledge of the properties of the soil and its adaptation to the various growths, of the scientific breeding and eco- nomical feeding of stock, and with energy and intelligence carried this knowledge into practice. He is well and favorably known through Reno county, where he has hosts of friends and many imitators of his methods.

FREDERICK J. BRUCE.

Frederick J. Bruce is a farmer and stock- raiser residing on the east half of section 14, Garfield township, Ellsworth county, pered, and keeps hogs on three of his farms 1 and is the oldest settler in this locality. and also has about one hundred and fifty head of cattle. In the fall of 1899 he erected his elegant residence, this being one Great indeed are the changes which have occurred since his arrival, for he found an undeveloped section of the country, the land

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

as yet not claimed for the purposes of civili- zation. Buffalo roamed over the prairies. and often going out on a hunt he has se- cured all that he could bring home with an ox team. As men from the east came to this portion of Kansas dug-outs and sod houses were seen as the homes of the settlers, and these in turn were replaced by the more commodious and modern frame residences, and the district ha's become the abiding place of a contented and prosperous farm- ing people, whose homes surround thriving towns and villages where all kinds of manu- facturing and industrial interests are car- ried on. All these changes Mr. Bruce has witnessed since his arrival in Ellsworth county, in the fall of 1869.

The family originated in Scotland but Mr. Bruce of this review was born in the duchy of Mecklenburg, Germany, Decem- ber 27, 1839. His father, Frederick J. Bruce, was also a native of Germany, and in 1852 came to America in the old sailing vessel Gibraltar, which was nine weeks up- on the water before reaching the harbor of New York. He was a fisherman in the old country and upon landing in the new world he went to Cleveland, Ohio, where he followed the same pursuit until 1856, when he located upon a farm and there spent his remaining days. His political support was given to the Democracy. He married a Miss Johnson and they became the parents of three children, but our subject is the only one now living.

Frederick J. Bruce began work at a very early age, assisting in the cultivation of the home farm, upon which he remained until he had attained his majority. He enlisted in April, 1861, at the first call for troops, becoming a member of the Buckeye Rifles, but this regiment was not furnished with arms and was discharged without going to the front. Upon the three years' call he re- enlisted, on the 21st of August, 1861, be- coming a member of Company K. Second Ohio Cavalry, which was assigned to the Army of the Frontier, thus serving until 1863, when it was transferred to the Depart- ment of the Ohio, and in 1864 became a part of the Army of the Potomac. Mr. Bruce

participated in the battles of Independence. Carthage and Newtonia in Missouri; Cave Hill, Prairie Grove and White River, Ar- kansas; Monticello and Columbia, Ken- tucky; and Greenville, Walker's Ford. Knoxville, Blue Springs, Morristown and Bean's Station, Tennessee. The regiment then changed its base of operations to Vir- ginia and Mr. Bruce participated in the bat- tles of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Han- over Court House, Ashland, Nottaway Creek, Stone's Creek, Ream's Station, Win- chester, Berryville, Opequan, Luray Val- ley. Tom's Brook. Cedar Creek, Middle Road, Lacey Spring. Five Forks, Sailor's Creek and Appomattox, Virginia ; and Charlestown, West Virginia. On the 9th of May, 1864, he was wounded by a minie ball in the right breast and left hip, at Spott- sylvania. From August. 1864. until dis- charged he served as orderly to General Cus- ter. He was honorably discharged on the Ist of July, 1864, but re-enlisted as a vet- eran on the same day, and his final discharge was received at Camp Chase, Columbus, Ohio, September 11, 1865.

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A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. I, Part 4

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