USA > Kansas > A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. I > Part 92
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Dr. Stewart, believing that the best ideas of government are embodied in the princi- ples of the Republican party, gives to that
organization his hearty support, has attended its conventions and been an active worker in its ranks, yet has never sought office outside the strict path of his profession. Fraternally he is a representative of the Modern Wood- men of America and the Woodmen of the World. His home life is very pleasant. He was married December 20, 1897, Miss Viola Hoffman, a daughter of R. H. Hoffman, be- coming his wife, and they now have an in- teresting little son, Virgil H. Both Dr. and Mrs. Stewart enjoy the warm regard of many friends and are well known in Hutch- inson.
JAMES A. FREESE.
American citizenship has been enriched by the contributions of Denmark, that land having sent to the new world men of strength of purpose, of laudable ambition and unfaltering determination who, adapt- ing themselves to the altered conditions found in America have improved the oppor- tunities and through their business activity have contributed to the general prosperity and advancement of the community with which they are connected. A representative of this class is James A. Freese, a native of Denmark, who became one of the first set- tlers of Reno county and through the inter- vening years he has contributed in large measure to the improvement and upbuilding of the county. He has been identified with agricultural and mercantile interests, but is now living a retired life, enjoying a well earned rest.
His birth occurred in Copenhagen, Den- mark, April 20, 1843, his parents being Arasmus and Christina (Anderson) Freese, both of whom were natives of the same land, where the father engaged in business as a market gardener in the vicinity of Copen- hagen. There both he and his wife spent their entire lives, and were called to their final rest many years ago. Of their children two sisters and a brother of our subject pre- ceded him to America. John, who located in Reno county in 1873, is now a well-to-do farmer of Salt Creek township. Kate is the
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wife of David Eccles, who came to Reno county in 1871, is now holding a position in the government printing office in Washing- ton, but his family maintain their residence in Hutchinson. Mary is the wife of Fred Nelson, also an honored pioneer of Reno county of 1871 and now engaged in farm- ing near Hutchinson. In the family there were altogether nine children, but the others did not emigrate to Reno county with the exception of our subject. The, parents were both members of the Lutheran church and died in that faith, the father when sixty- eight years of age, the mother when seventy years of age.
James A. Freese, the fifth child in their family, spent the first twenty years of his life under the parental roof and then entered the Danish army, serving through the Dan- ish-German war of 1863-4, which resulted in the loss of the provinces of Schleswig and Holstein to Germany. The last stand made by the Danish army against the Germans was on the island of Als, where the Germans effected a landing during the night, and in the attack which followed in the morning the Danish army was captured and Mr. Freese received a slight wound in the face during the fray. He was held as prisoner in Ger- many and Austria for six months or until peace was concluded. After being released he remained in the regular army of Denmark until the two-years term of service had ex- pired and in the meantime he was promoted from the ranks to the position of corporal. Returning to his home he remained with his parents until the spring of 1869, when in company with his sister Hannah, now the wife of John Krater, a resident of Perkins, Oklahoma, he came to the United States, lo- cating in Minnesota, where he engaged in farm work in the summer, attending school in the winter season in order to acquire a knowledge of the English language. In the spring of 1870 he removed to Kansas City, where he secured employment with a coal dealer, but in the spring of 1871 he came to Reno county.
Mr. Freese here located a claim on sec- tion 18. township 23. range 5. where he built a sod house, in which he lived for two
years. When his primitive home was com- pleted he began improving his land,- break- ing twenty-five acres the first year. At the end of the second year he had sixty acres broken and had raised a good crop. For nine years he continued on that place, en- gaged principally in general farming. In 1880 he sold his property and in company with John Shahan, of Hutchinson, returned to Europe, spending a year in traveling over the continent and in visiting friends and relatives in his native land. In 1882 he re- turned to Hutchinson and established a gro- cery store in the Masonic building, conduct- ing that enterprise for a period of four years, when he disposed of the business and for two years thereafter was a salesman in the hardware store owned by John Shahan. Since that time he has practically lived re- tired, his industry and enterprise in former years having brought to him a comfortable competence which now enables him to rest from business cares.
On the 3Ist of January, 1886, Mr. Freese was united in marriage to Miss Lena Eskel- son, who was born in Sweden and is a daughter of Swan and Christine ( German- son ) Eskelson. With her parents she came to America when a maiden of fourteen years. her father being one of the pioneers of Reno county of 1871. He is now a retired farmer of Clay township. Mr. Freese built his pres- ent comfortable residence in 1885. His old homestead is now included within the city limits of Hutchinson and on it are the Vin- cent Salt Block and the cemetery. In his political views he is a stalwart Republican and socially is a prominent Mason, belong- ing to the blue lodge, chapter and command- ery of Hutchinson. He has lived in Reno county from the period of its earliest devel- opment, coming to the county when much of the land was still in possession of the gov- ernment, the broad unimproved and un- claimed prairies stretching away for miles in every direction. Hutchinson was not yet incorporated and the work of development seemed scarcely begun. He aided in laying broad and deep the foundation for the pres- ent prosperity and progress of the county and is classed among the most valued and
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highly respected citizens as well as the wortha and honored pioneers. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to seek a home in America and no native-born citizen of the United States is more loyal to her institutions and best interests than Mr. Freese.
GEORGE L. LEVITT.
George L. Levitt is a member of the well known firm of G. L. Levitt & Company. of Wilson, and is also a representative of the agricultural and stock raising interests of Ellsworth county. His activity has been extended to many lines of business, and the enterprises with which he has been associ- ated have profited by his industry, his wise counsel and his strong purpose.
Mr. Levitt was born in Lafayette coun- ty, Wisconsin, April 20, 1856. His father, Richard Levitt, was born in England and came to America when eighteen years of age, locating in Wisconsin where he car- ried on farming and stock raising, becom- ing one of the extensive land owners of this portion of the state. His study of political questions led him to identify himself with the Republican party, and he was honored with a number of local offices. He also be- longed to the Methodist church, in which he held various official positions. His wife bore the maiden name of Jane March and by their marriage they had ten children, of whom six are living, namely: Mrs. T. H. Rowe, of Ellsworth county; Mrs. G. D. Greenough, of Wilson; George L., of this review ; Mrs. J. A. Lamont, of Apple River. Illinois; R. T., who followed farming; and J. E., who is living in Lafayette county, Wisconsin. In 1890 the parents came to Kansas, spending their last days in Wilson, where the father died March 15, 1900. His widow survived him until February 2, 1901. when she also passed away. Both were in- terred in the cemetery near their old home in Lafayette county, Wisconsin.
In taking up the personal history of George L. Levitt we present to our readers the life record of one who is well and favor-
ably known in this portion of Kansas, and whose prominence is as great as his circle of acquaintances is extensive. He began his ed- ucation in the public schools of his native county and afterward spent one year in study in the State Normal, of Wisconsin. In the days of his boyhood and youth he be- came familiar with the labors of field and meadow and was identified with the farming interests of Wisconsin until July, 1878, when he came to Ellsworth county, Kansas, entering land in Columbus township. There he followed farming for sixteen years and made a specialty of the raising of stock, at first keeping shorthorn cattle and afterward white faces. The horses which he raises are of the shire breed. He has never totally abandoned his interest in farming and stock raising, although he does not now give those interests his personal attention. In 1884, in connection with his brothers, he estab- lished a mercantile business in Wilson and the following year they erected their pres- ent store building, carrying on the enter- prise together until 1899. when the present business firm was organized, the stock large- ly increased and the store enlarged in order to carry on a larger trade. They established the first department store in Wilson and have found that the venture has proved a profitable one, their trade steadily increas- ing along all lines. Mr. Levitt, of this re- view is also one of the directors and the vice- president of the Citizens State Bank, of Ells- worth, and is a stockholder in the Wilson Milling Company.
On the 6th of September, 1899, occurred the marriage of Mr. Levitt and Miss Mary L. Gray, a daughter of M. Gray, a dealer in hardware and lumber in Ellsworth. In 1901 Mr. Levitt erected a very fine residence in Wilson, containing nine rooms and finished throughout in hard wood. It is modern in all respects and is most attractive. The men and measures of the Republican party receive the support of our subject, whose views are in hearty sympathy with its pol- icy. He is a recognized leader in the party ranks in this locality and has frequently served as a delegate to county, congressional and state conventions. He has filled the office
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GEORGE L. LEVITT.
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of township trustee and in 1894 he was elected county treasurer, serving so accepta- bly that in 1896 he was re-elected, thus serving altogether for four years. So- cially he is connected with the Knights of Pythias, the Select Knights and the Select Friends. In his business he displayed a rare and comprehensive mind and his ability not only to plan but also to execute his well defined plans is marked. In everything per- taining to the upbuilding of the city of his home and the general good of the people he is deeply interested and is a very popular resident of Wilson.
CHARLES Y. SOUTHERLAND.
Few citizens of Reno township, Reno county, Kansas, are more highly esteemed than is Charles Y. Southerland, the subject of this review. The birth of Mr. Souther- land occurred in Person county, North Car- olina, on June 13, 1849. His grandfather came to America from England and was a resident of Halifax county, Virginia, where his son, Greenberry Southerland, was born and where the former died when the latter was but a child. In 1869 Greenberry South- erland moved to Kentucky. He had married Martha A. Bailey in North Carolina, and there their five sons were born, but about 1879 the family removed to Missouri, and there the parents passed away.
Mr. Southerland, of this sketch, was twenty-one years old when the family be- came residents of Kentucky and eight years later he came to Kansas. For a consider- able period he had been troubled with a rheu- matic affection and he was led to believe that the dry climate of Kansas would effect a cure. He also intended to secure some land, and in May, 1877, secured a quarter section in Reno county. This he located on section 25, range 6, North Reno township. He had brought with him a team of mules, and im- mediately set to work to break up the land. During the first year he succeeded in break- ing and cultivating twelve acres and ob- tained seventy-five bushels of grain. The 36
next year he was able to cultivate seventy acres, but on account of the drouth he har- vested but twenty-five bushels. Not dis- couraged, he then turned his attention to stock. It was during these years of stress that Mr. Southerland proved the fiber of which he was made. Drouth, sickness and crop failure met his best endeavor, but through it all he kept on doing his best, never tiring or losing hope, and the final re- stilt has well repaid all that went before. He has now a herd of fine Red Polled cattle, and his fields are filled with droves of horses, sheep and hogs, while his orchards are among the most productive in this local- ity. Every tree has been planted and nur- tured by his own hand, and he has three hundred peach trees and eight hundred apple trees in full yield. During his early days Mr. Southerland remembers that he cut hay and hauled it as far as Hutchinson, ex- changing it for flour.
The marriage of Mr. Southerland was on May 6, 1875, to Miss Mary E. Hall, who was born in Webster county, Kentucky, in 1852, a daughter of Patrick Hall, a farmer, and four children were born of this union, one of whom died in infancy, the others be- ing: Luella, a teacher ; Guy O. and Salina A. In his political sympathies our subject is a Democrat, and efficiently served through one term as road overseer. He is president of the Anti-Horse Thief Association, and a member of the I. O. O. F., while the relig- ious connection of the family is with the Baptist church. Mr. Southerland stands very high in the estimation of the commun- ity in which he has spent so many years. Plain, unassuming, honest and reliable, he is one of the citizens of the township who re- flect credit upon it.
ADOLPHUS F. MYERS.
The sturdy German element in our na- tional commonwealth has been one of the most important in furthering the substan- tial and normal advancement of the coun- try. Well may any person take pride in
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tracing his lineage to such a source. Adol- phus Frederick Myers is one of the worthy sons that the fatherland has furnished to America, and Reno county now numbers him among her leading citizens.
He was born near Wurtemberg, Ger- many, on the 17th of August, 1843. His father, Frederick Myers, died in 1845 or 1846, in the prime of life, leaving his widow and their only child. She was formerly Miss Oppertuny Ott, and soon after her husband's death she came to the new world, locating first in New Orleans, afterward went to St. Louis, Missouri, and was next a resident of Quincy, Illinois. While re- siding in St. Louis she was united in mar- riage to Francis Stuebinger, a native of Germany, and five of their children reached mature years and are now living. Mr. Stuebinger died in Keithsburg, Illinois, and the mother was called to the world beyond at the home of her daughter in Monmouth, that state, on the 5th of August, 1899, in her eighty-first year.
Adolphus F. Myers, whose name intro- duces this review, received but limited school privileges, having attended school but three months during the winter seasons. On the 13th of July, 1862, he became a member of the boys in blue of Company H. Eighty-fourth Illinois Infantry, and served in its ranks until the close of hostilities, re- ceiving an honorable discharge on the 8th of June, 1865. He was slightly wounded in the battle of Chickamauga, and also took part in the Atlanta campaign. He returned from the war with a creditable military rec- ord, rejoining his family at Keithsburg, Illinois, and in 1873 he removed from that city to Kansas, locating on one hundred and sixty acres of land in Center township, Reno county. In 1881. however, he re- tired from the active duties of farm life and removed to Nickerson, where he now owns four lots and a good comfortable residence. Since locating in this city Mr. Myers has served as janitor of the public school build- ing and of the G. A. R. hall, and has also been an employe of the Santa Fe Railroad Company. In all his various duties he has ever been prompt and reliable, and has won
the confidence and good will of all with whom he has come in contact. Mr. Myers was happily married in the fall of 1877, in Hutchinson, Kansas, to Miss Hattie Rob- inson, a native of Indiana, and a daughter of Oscar Robinson, who located in Reno county, Kansas, in 1878. This union has been blessed with two children,-Lillie May and Paul F. L. The daughter is a graduate of the high school of this city, and has also attended college, and the son is now a student in the high school. Mr. Myers exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party, and in his social relations is a member of the Grand Army of the Re- public, in which he maintains pleasant re- lations with his old army comrades who wore the blue. His religious preference is indicated by his membership in the Con- gregational church, in which he has served as a deacon and is now a trustee. He is public spirited to a degree that makes him a very helpful citizen and he is held in the highest esteem by his fellow citizens of all classes and of all shades of political and religious belief.
D. D. FITCH.
A prominent citizen, old settler and es- teemed resident of Kingman county, Kan- sas, is D. D. Fitch, who owns one of the best and most satisfactory estates in Bel- mont township, comprising six hundred acres of good grain land and excellent pas- turage.
The birth of Mr. Fitch was near Grand- ville, Bradford county, Pennsylvania, in 1843, which was also the birth year of the late President Mckinley. The family into which he was born was one of respectability but of no great worldly wealth, and he early became an earning factor on his father's farm. His parents were Andrew and Cath- erine ( Williams ) Fitch, the former of whom was born in Otsego county, New York, where he lived until young manhood and then moved to Bradford county. Pennsylva-
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nia. There he married Catherine Williams, who was born in that county, and who was a daughter of David Williams, of Scotch an- cestry. The children born to Andrew and Catherine Fitch were as follows: Chauncy. who was a soldier during the Civil war; Lucy, who is deceased; Riley, who is de- ceased; D. D., who is the subject of this sketch; and Altheda and Adell, who still survive.
Mr. Fitch came to Kansas in 1885 and took up a claim in Clark county, and after proving up concluded to return to Pennsyl- vania; and there followed his trade as a mechanic and also carried on farming until his death, at the age of seventy-eight years. His wife also died in her native state, at the age of seventy-one. She belonged to the Bap- · tist church and was one of the most devout and conscientious members of this body, noted for her unselfish kindness and her broad charity. The father was a member of the Freewill Baptist church and always took an active interest in all good works.
D. D. Fitch obtained his education in the district schools; but experience has been his best teacher, the lessons which he has learned from this source benefiting him more than any he found within the covers of his books. His home training had taught him to be in- dustrious and honest, and these elements of success have contributed to his prosperity.
At the age of twenty-seven Mr. Fitch was married to Margaret A. Richmond, a young lady who combined intelligence and education with household accomplishments, and has been his dear companion and help- mate all these years. She was born near Schoharie, New York, and was reared and educated in Tompkins county, same state, and was a daughter of John Richmond and Sarah (Temus) Richmond, the latter of whom has lived to the unusual age of eighty- six years. He was a stone-mason by trade and was always a hard-working man until the last few years. Two sons have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Fitch, namely: Frank E., who.is a young business man of about thirty years of age, well known as his father's effi- cient assistant ; and Harry E., who is about twenty years of age and who assists in oper-
ating the homestead farm. An adopted daughter of some eleven years, bearing the name of Era, complete the family circle.
Since 1883 Mr. Fitch has been a resident of Belmont township, owning now six hun- dred acres here, which is justly regarded as one of the most desirable estates in this part of the county. Mr. Fitch has spared neither time nor means in converting this into an ideal home. The comfortable residence, com- modious barns and cattle and stock accom- modations, are surrounded with fertile fields and fifteen acres of producing orchards, and in addition he has a fine grove which yields its grateful shade.
In political life Mr. Fitch has become as- sociated with the Populist party and has been active in its ranks. Fraternally he is connected with the order of Woodmen, while in religious faith the family is connected with the Methodist church. For many years Mr. Fitch has been identified with educa- tional matters in his locality, and has served with credit for a long period on the school board, encouraging all progressive measures in that direction. As a loyal son of Penn- sylvania, Mr. Fitch prefers that state in many ways to any other in the Union, but he also has faith in Kansas and it comes sec- ond in his estimation. It is men like Mr. Fitch who have raised the citizenship of this state to its present level, and he is a truly representative man of the best element of this great commonwealth.
ISAAC W. HERREN.
Isaac W. Herren, one of the most promi- nent agriculturists of Salt Creek township, is a native of Ohio, his birth having taken place in Noble county, March 31, 1863, his parents being Winget and Cynthia (Crow) Herren. The father went to the war when his son was three days old, as a member of the Seventy-second Ohio Regiment, and was killed in battle. When Isaac was four years old his mother died, leaving him and a brother, William Henry, now living in Hutchinson, Kansas, orphans, and they
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were reared by their mother's brothers. They received but limited education, and in 1880, when Isaac was seventeen and his brother nineteen years of age, they left No- ble county and went to Davis, now Geary, county, Kansas, and Isaac worked out six years for two men by the month, at front fourteen to twenty-one dollars per monthi. During that time he went back and visited his old home twice, the last time in 1886. when he was married to Miss Matilda C. Smith, a daughter of Samuel and Nancy J. ( Sample) Smith. Their union has been blessed with three sons: Clarence Ray, a boy of thirteen years; William Clinton, aged twelve years; and Perry Arlington, nine years old, and the mother still looks almost as young as when she was married.
Her father and mother were both born in Monroe county, Ohio, and she was a daughter of William Sample, a farmer on the farm where her grandfather, Archibald Smith, first settled. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Smith were born twelve children, eight of whom grew to mature age, namely : Porter S., now living in Rooks county, Kansas ; Mary Ellen, wife of Theodore Wilson, of Noble county, Ohio; Olive A., wife of L. O. Okey, of Stafford, Ohio; Matilda C., the wife of our subject; Albert R., who died at the age of twenty-two years; Oliver Perry, at home with his parents; and Wylie A., in Clarksburg, West Virginia. Mrs. Herren received a common-school education, and two of her brothers were teachers and one attended college. Oil has been found on their father's farm and there are one hun- dred derricks in sight of their home. Mrs. Herren's uncle, Robert Smith, was killed in the war, as were also her uncles, George and Milton Sample.
Mr. Herren, the subject of this review. settled on his farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Salt Creek township eleven years ago, where he is now engaged in general farming, and the well tilled fields and the neat and thrifty appearance of everything about the place indicates the careful super- vision of the owner and prove him to be a man of energy, good judgment and enter- prise. He has, therefore, been very success-
ful in his farming operations and accumu- lated a comfortable competence, and is con- sidered one of the leading agriculturists of his section of the country.
WILLIAM T. HAIR.
William T. Hair, who is conducting a livery and transfer business in Nickerson, Kansas, is a native of Pennsylvania, hav- ing first opened his eyes to the light of day in Washington county, that state, on the 26th of September, 1848. His great-grand- father, James Hair, served as a physician and surgeon in the Revolutionary war un- der General Washington, and the family came to this country at a very early day. . The paternal grandfather, also named James, was one of the pioneer settlers of Washington county, Pennsylvania, and married Miss Black, by whom he had five sons and one daughter. The father and sons are still living and are farmers by occu- pation. Samuel Hair, the father of our sub- ject, was born on the old family homestead in Washington county, Pennsylvania, Oc- tober 3, 1821, where he married Miss Hester Milligan, a native of the same place, who died in the spring of 1899, at her home in Nebraska, leaving four of her five children : John, who lives in Denver, Colorado; Will- iam T., the subject of this sketch; Nelson MI., now living on his father's farm in Ne- braska ; and James H., also engaged in farnı- ing in Nebraska. The youngest son, Ai- bert, died in Nebraska in 1893, leaving a family.
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