A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. I, Part 96

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

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WILLIAM NEWLIN.

One of the efficient public officials of Reno county, Kansas, is William Newlin, the present county clerk, who is a native of this

great state, enjoying the distinction of hav- ing been born in a log cabin in Brown coun- ty, on March 23, 1869. His parents were James T. and Rachel Ann ( Grubb) New- lin. His grandfather, William Newlin, was of Quaker stock and emigrated from the North of Ireland to America, locating in Pennsylvania. James T. Newlin was born in Westchester, Pennsylvania, early in the '40s, and shortly before the opening of the Civil war moved with his father and two brothers into the Prairie country, near Bloomington, Illinois, where he owned and tilled a farm until 1866. In that year he drove a team to Kansas, and after his arri- val here settled on a quarter section of land on the Santa Fe trail, thirty-five miles west of Atchison, and he still resides near the old home. By thrift and economy he added to his farm and was always at his best when displaying his fat cattle or a car of unusually fine hogs. In Brown county, in 1868, he was united in marriage to Rachel Ann Grubb, who came to Kansas with her parents in 1857. She was a daughter of C. C. and Charlotte Grubb, who came west from their home in Greencastle, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Newlin reared a family of ten bright children, making it their duty to see that each received the best educational advantages possible and have derived much satisfaction in realizing that all have become good and reliable members of society. Only three of the children still remain under the home roof. Two of the daughters are graduates of the Emporia Normal and are well known educators in this state.

William Newlin, the subject of this re- view was the eldest of the children, and during his youth he attended the district schools during the winter months and as- sisted on the farm during the summer. At the age of seventeen years he entered Wash- burn College, remaining there until his grad- ation from the preparatory department, and he also spent a part of one year in the Michi- gan State University. Returning to Kan- sas, he taught school for one year in the old home district, near Wetmore, coming thence to Reno county to engage in farming and fruit-growing in Cow Creek valley, above

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Hutchinson, where he has one of the best young orchards in the county. Three years ago he purchased a half section of land three miles north of his home farm, which he is gradually turning into an alfalfa and cattle ranch, having now about seventy head of cattle, mostly of the "black-woolly kind."

Mr. Newlin has been interested in poli- tics and public affairs from his youth, and has always been an active Republican, serv- ing as a delegate in the various conventions of his party. For two years he has efficient- ly served as the county clerk, and the con- fidence in which he is held by his party and the people of Reno county was shown by his receiving the largest majority on the ticket. Mr. Newlin was recently accorded a renomi- nation by acclamation for another term. His services have been rendered to the entire satisfaction of the majority of his fellow citi- zens, with good will toward all, always ready to execute every duty of his office in a thoroughly impartial manner.

The marriage of Mr. Newlin was on the 20th of March, 1892 when he wedded Miss Alta G. Hadley. Her parents, Levi P. and Mary J. (Jessup) Hadley, were among the earliest settlers in Reno county, locating here in 1874, when the great Santa Fe Railroad reached only to Hutchinson. Two children have been born to our subject and wife,- George M. and Nina. Mr. and Mrs. New- lin are members of the Methodist church, to which they are regular contributors, and the family is one which stands high in the es- timation of the community, Mr. Newlin rep- resenting the younger element of progressive and public-spirited men of this section.

THOMAS J. TEMPLER.

Among the most prominent business men of Kansas is Thomas J. Templer, the president of the Kansas Grain Company, of Hutchinson. His operations extend over a very broad area and his success in all his undertakings has been so marked that his methods are of interest to the commercial world. He has based his business principles

and actions upon strict adherence to the rules which govern industry, economy and strict and unswerving integrity. What he is to- day he has made himself, for he began with nothing but his own energy and willing hands to aid him. By constant exertion, as- sociated with good judgment, he has raised himself to the prominent position which he now holds, having the friendship of many and the respect of all who know him.

Mr. Templer is a native of Adams coun- ty, Ohio. His father, William Templer, was one of the pioneers of that county, having emigrated westward from Virginia. In the Buckeye state he cleared and developed a farm in the midst of the forest and was ac- tive and helpful in the development of the county. He went to Ohio when a young man and there he wedded Mary J. Phillips, a daughter of Howard Phillips, who re- moved from Maryland to Ohio at an early period in the development of the state. He located first in Highland county and there cleared a farm, which he afterward sold, re- moving to Adams county, where he again developed a farm from a tract of timber land. Indians, in motley garb, stalked through the forest, and bears and other wild animals were numerous.

Thomas J. Templer was the only child born to William and Mary Templer, that reached mature years. His father died when he was only three years of age, but he re- mained with his mother in Adams county, Ohio, where he pursued his early education and made his home until he had attained the age of seventeen. For a time he also pur- sued his studies in Columbus, Ohio, and subsequently matriculated in the Ohio Wes- leyan University, at Delaware, Ohio, but after he had spent one year in that institu- tion he found it necessary to take up some work that would provide him the means nec- essary for the continuance of the college course. After working for a year he again entered the school and, wishing to keep up with the class of which he had formerly been a member, he mastered two years' work in one. This, however, broke down his health. He was caught in the Morgan raid-for the Civil war was then in progress-and be-

Kansas City Grain For. Hutchinson . "Kansas.

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ing forced to wade the river when he was overheated he contracted a severe cold and his vitality lessened by overwork in the schoolrcom, was unable to withstand the shock. He went to Minnesota for his health and about a year later he had sufficiently re- covered so that he was enabled to enter mer- cantile life. After a year and a half spent in that business, however, his health again failed him, and believing that an outdoor oc- cupation would prove more beneficial, he began buying grain for one of the largest shippers at Rochester. After his employer's retirement he continued business alone and was connected with the grain trade in Min- nesota for thirteen years. This gave him broad experience and a thorough knowledge of the business, so that he was well prepared to continue in that line upon his removal to Hutchinson.

Mr. Templer arrived in this city in July, 1881, and rented an elevator. Of the three men who were engaged in the grain trade here at that time, none are now in business, but for twenty years Mr. Templer has been an active factor in the purchase and ship- ment of grain, his labors proving not only of individual benefit but also of great good to the country by providing a market for the grain producers. His first elevator had a capacity of five thousand bushels. After renting for a short time he purchased it and occupied it until it was destroyed by fire. Having an old mill on the present site of the Santa Fe freight denot, he refitted it up for the grain trade and continued operations there until that was also burned, when he built his present large elevator, which has a storage capacity of forty thousand bush- els. Thirty thousand bushels can be taken in, as much of it as necessary cleaned and re- loaded, in one day. This is made a clean- ing station for the more than fifty elevators owned by the Kansas Grain Company to the north and west. Their elevators are found as far to the north as Webber, are on the McPherson, the Great Bend and the Kins- ley lines, the Larned branch and the main line between Hutchinson and Spearville. Mr. Templer has erected the elevators at most of these stations since starting in bus-

iness in Hutchinson, only five having been acquired by purchase. He builds from six to eight each year and thus is continually en- larging the scope of his business. In 1900 he shipped a little over three million bushels of grain and in 1901 his shipments exceeded that of the previous year. More of the wheat goes to exporters than to milling, for handling such large quantities their ship- ments must be made in large amounts.

Desiring to erect a detached engine house Mr. Templer sought to purchase the rear of the lot where his office is now located, but not being able to effect the purchase he bought the entire lot, house and grounds included. He made the necessary change in the residence and moved his office to this place from Main street. He now has the finest office in the city, splendidly equipped with modern office furniture, and he takes just pride not only in its neat appearance but also in the surroundings, which he has made very attractive. The yard, nicely shaded, constitutes the finest lawn in the city. It is planted to blue grass and though many people contended otherwise, Mr. Tem- pler has proven that grass can be made to grow luxuriantly with care and attention, neither of which have been spared in im- proving the lawn. He erected a brick de- tached engine and boiler house, containing three boilers with Corliss engines of two hundred and fifty horsepower, two clean- ers, two corn grinders and two track scales. His elevator is the finest and best equipped of any in the western part of the state, and the business has grown to. mammoth proportions. Mr. Templer, how- ever, is not driven by his business, but has everything so well organized that he can easily manage his manifold interests with- out being weighted with a burden of care and responsibility. He is thoroughly in touch with every department, nevertheless, and his splendid executive ability and keen discrimination have enabled him to build up an enterprise of great volume, yielding to its stockholders a splendid annual dividend.

At Rochester, Minnesota in July, 1866, Mr. Templer was united in marriage to Miss Alice Ells, a daughter of John Ells,

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a druggist of that city. Two children were born to them: Charles W., who was travel- ing auditor for the company, and was drowned in 1892, at the age of twenty-three years. While out bathing he was seized with a cramp and was unable to reach the shore. Tess was married in 1896 to W. K. McMil- lan, formerly of Denver. He was treasurer of the New York Mutual Life Insurance Company there until October, 1900, when he purchased stock in the Kansas Grain Company, of which he is now treasurer, and since that time he has made his home in Hutchinson.

In his political views Mr. Templer is a Republican, earnest in his advocacy of the principles of the party, but has never sought office. In Rochester he took the three de- grees of the blue lodge of Masonry and later became a Roval Arch and Knight Templar Mason. He has also attained the thirty- second degree of the Scottish Rite and is a member of Ararat Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Kansas City, Missouri. In his religious faith he is a Methodist and is serv- ing as trustee of the church to which he be- longs. He has been active in promoting every interest calculated to .benefit the com- munity or advance its development along material, intellectual and moral lines. He is deeply interested in the public welfare and Hutchinson has benefited by his efforts in her behalf. He is a man of irreproachable honor in business circles and though his operations are so extensive, there falls over his record no shadow of wrong. He is just and considerate and the principles of noble manhood and loyal citizenship are- exempli- fied in his career.

MOSES BROTHERS.

The day of small undertakings, especial- ly in cities, seems to have passed and the era of gigantic enterprises is upon us. In con- trol of mammoth undertakings are men of master minds, of almost limitless ability to guide, of sound judgment and keen dis- crimination. Their progressiveness must

not only reach the bounds that others have gained, but must even pass beyond into new and broader, untried fields of operation ; but an unerring foresight and sagacity must make no mistake in venturing upon. uncer- tain ground. Thus continually growing, a business takes leadership in its special line and the men who are at its head are de- servedly eminent in the world of commerce occupying a position which commands the respect while it excites the admiration of all. The firm of Moses Brothers is so well known throughout Kansas as to need no in- troduction to our readers. Their operations as grain merchants are so extensive that their business affords a market to a large portion of the grain producing district of the state, their elevators being located in thirty-three towns. They have resided in Barton coun- ty since its pioneer days and therefore as early settlers as well as prominent business men they well deserve representation in this volume.

Clayton L. and Edward W. Moses, the members of the firm, are sons of Amasa C. Moses who came to Barton county in 1871. He was born in Ticonderoga, Vermont, in 1826, a son of Hiram Moses, who was also a native of the Green Mountain state and was a farmer by occupation. In his later years lie removed to New York, where he spent the remainder of his days. His son A. C. Moses, received superior educational priv- ileges for those days and became an educator of note. He filled the position of principal of the schools of Erie, Pennsylvania. and later removed to Chautauqua county. New York, eventually becoming extensively in- terested in the tanning business at Clymer, that state. In 1871, his keen sagacity en- abled him to foretell a great future for Kan- sas and he resolved to identify his interests with hers. With his family he traveled by wagon to the west settling in a country of barren prairie, where there were no farms and no roads and where the work of progress and civilization had hardly been begun. He located on the northwest quarter of section Io in what is now Great Bend township. Bar- ton county, and erected a small frame house -the first board residence in the county.

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The lumber used in its construction was hauled forty miles, from the place now known as Russell, on the Kansas Pacific Railroad. This pioneer home is still stand- ing. Here the family saw what no person can again see this portion of the state-great herds of buffaloes that completely covered the prairies as far as the eye could reach. There were also droves of antelopes, deer and wolves, and smaller animals were also frequently seen.

Many times in those early days Mrs. Moses would lock herself in her home through fear of the Indians who in large bands would visit this region on hunting ex- peditions, but the settlers were never harmed by the red men. Mr. Moses broke the prai- rie and planted the first eight acres of corn in the county, but a few hours after it had started from the soil it was destroyed by a herd of buffaloes that ran over the field. In 1872 Mr. Moses removed to Great Bend and established a general store where the store of James Slinn is now located, and conducted it for five years. He was also the first county superintendent of schools and the first city clerk, holding those offices dur- ing the period of his merchandising, but another enterprise offered more profitable re- turns and his attention was given to other pursuits after selling his store. The prices paid for buffalo skins were from a dollar and a half to three dollars per skin, and these Mr. Moses secured and shipped by the car-load to the east. In those days buffaloes were killed for their skins alone and the carcas- ses were left to the beasts, for while the meat was edible all of it could not be used as food by the settlers. In later years many · hundred dollars were earned by pioneers picking bones from the prairies and selling them, the bones bringing from six to seven dollars a ton, while the horns sold from three to five cents each. At a later date Mr. Moses also speculated in farming land and stock and became very successful in his business ventures, accumulating a handsome competence. He died, however, in the prime of life, passing away in 1887, when in his sixty-second year.

In early manhood Mr. Moses married Miss Naomi Terry, a native of New York. who also died when about sixty-two years of age. They were the parents of seven sons : Arthur, who is trainmaster in the employ of the government at Seattle. Wash- ington for the Philippine supply : Clayton L .. and Edward W., the members of the grain firm; William, who has charge of his bro- ther's grain houses in Kansas City Lincoln, a merchant in Pueblo, Colorado: Cassius. who was colonel of the First Colorado Regi- ment and now resides at Denver ; and Sew- ard, also engaged in merchandising in Pueblo.

Clayton L. Moses, the senior member of the firm of Moses Brothers, was born in Clymer, New York, in 1853, and pursued his education in Westfield, that state. When a young man he engaged with his father in the tanning business, which he completely mastered in every minor detail as well as in its more mportant points. He was after- ward employed as clerk in a general store in Russell, Kansas, where he remained until 1872, when with his brother Edward he em- barked in the grain business. He was united in marriage to Miss Clara Mitchell, and they now have three children .- Clarissa, who died in infancy, Earl and Alice. Socially Mr. Moses is connected with the Masonic fraternity in which he has taken the degrees of the blue lodge and of chivalric and cap- itular Masonry. In public affairs he has not sought prominence, his extensive business interests claiming his attention yet he has served for two terms as county commissioner and has given his co-operation to many movements and measures for the general good.

Edward W. Moses was born in Sherman, Chautauqua county, New York, in 1856, and was only a boy when his parents came to Great Bend. He attended school here and afterward became a salesman for his father. being thus occupied in the business world until he began operations with his brother. He wedded Miss Annie J. Wood, a daugh- ter of Adam Wood. of Great Bend. former- ly of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He too is

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.a member of the blue lodge, chapter and con- sistory and is likewise a representative of the Modern Woodmen of America.

It was in the year 1873 that the brothers started upon a business career that has been an extremely prosperous one. They began buying grain and shipped one of the first car-loads sent from Great Bend. At the beginning they felt that they had done a big day's business if they shipped three car- loads, but continually their operations in- creased in volume and in 1878 they erected an elevator at the Santa Fe depot. This was comparatively small but they increased its capacity as their business demanded until it held twenty-five thousand bushels. This, however, was destroyed by fire in 1898 at a time when they were handling twenty car- loads of grain daily. In 1899 they erected their present modern elevator with its in- proved equipments, having a capacity of seventy-five thousand bushels, with a hand- ling capacity of about fifty cars daily. In 1900 they built a flouring mill with a capa- city of five hundred barrels of flour daily, while their noted brand, "Moses' Best," is known throughout the east and in foreign markets, for they do a large export trade. This flour is made from the "hard turkey wheat," which is known as the best on the market. It is all raised in Kansas from a choice selection of grain. The Moses Bro- thers furnish employment to thirty men in Great Bend besides furnishing a splendid market to the farmers for their grain and thus their business is of great importance and value to the community. They have estab- lished elevators at thirty-three different points, including Great Bend, Ellinwood, Dundee, Pawnee Rock, Larned, Garfield, Kinsley, Overly, Spearville, Rodell, Hanston, Burdette, Jetman, Heizer, Albert, Shaffer, Timkin, Rush Center, Nekoma, Alexander, Ness City, Beeler, Bazine, Dighton, Grigsby, Scott City, Utica, Ransom, McCracken, Lacrosse, Otmintz, Kearney, Spur and Dart- worth. In 1900 they handled two million bushels .of grain and the same amount for the year 1901. To such gigantic propor- tions has their grain business grown! All

has been accomplished through legitimate lines of trade,-close application. honorable dealing, persistence and unflagging enter- prise, and their success is certainly well mer- ited.

Their mercantile interests have also largely increased. In. 1877 they erected the store building which is to-day known as the Cyclone. In 1885 they built the Hooper block, which they rented. They also erected the Farmers'-Mechanics' Block and they own the block in which the J. V. Brinkham's Bank is now located, except the bank room. Both of the brothers have magnificent resi- dences in Great Bend. In 1887 they pur- chased of Chappell & Gifforts forty acres of land which they platted, it being now known as the Moses Brothers addition. It was laid out in lots and sold and is now a thriving portion of the city. They also bought Lin- coln Park, known as the Riverside Hereford farm. Here they own two hundred acres of land, on which are raised thoroughbred Hereford cattle. They have seventy-five registered cattle, and in addition feed other herds in Center township, Barton county. They have altogether over ten thousand acres of splendid land; together with a fine set of ranch buildings. Here they feed cattle, keeping from seven hundred to one thousand head. They own eight hundred acres in Homestead township, known as the Steer ranch; six hundred and forty acres for graz- ing purposes in Stafford county ; and six im- proved farms of a quarter section each, which they rent. It will thus be seen that their business interests are mammoth in pro- portion, and yet their interests in each de- partment are kept in smooth working order, capably managed, ably controlled and bring- ing in a good revenue. The labors of the brothers have gained them a place among the wealthy men of Kansas, and at the same time have enriched the communities in which their interests are located. From boyhood days they have resided in Barton county and central Kansas may be proud to number among her citizens men who have been so prominent in developing her resources and promoting her welfare.

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FRANK S. PORTER.

Frank S. Porter is the proprietor of a popular drug and news store at the corner of Broadway and Main streets in Great Bend, and is recognized as a successful business man of sterling worth. His record proves conclusively that success is not a matter of genius, as held by some, but re- sults much more frequently from earnest and determined labor and purpose.

Mr. Porter was born in Logan county, Ohio, in 1866, and is a son of Captain Rob- ert B. Porter. He was at one time a resi- dent of West Virginia, but after the war of the Rebellion, in which he served as cap- tain, he removed to Ohio. For some time he engaged in milling, and in 1882 he em- barked in the drug business at Paulding. His death occurred in 1894, when he was sixty-eight years of age.

Frank S. Porter, one of the honored citizens of Great Bend, in which he is most deeply interested, was reared in the place of his nativity and pursued a common-school education, which fitted him for special train- ing along business lines. He afterward became familiar with the drug business in his father's store, being asociated with his father in the capacity of clerk until 1886, when he resolved to try his fortune in the Sunflower state and took up his abode in Larned, Kansas, where he secured a situa- tion as a drug clerk. After coming to Great Bend he was employed by A. S. Allen and also engaged in carrying on a drug store owned by Dr. S. J. Shaw. In 1891 he and his brother Herbert borrowed capital and opened a drug store at old Pawnee Rock. A year later they disposed of their enter- prise there and opened a store in Kinsley, where they remained until 1897, when they disposed of this enterprise and began busi- ness at Newton. In 1900 Mr. Porter of this review established his drug business at Great Bend and to-day he has a fine, large store, well equipped and stocked with everything found in a first-class establish- ment of the kind. He is free from debt and is regarded as one of the most energetic, wide-awake young business men of the city.

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A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. I, Part 96

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