A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 11

Author: Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: New York Chicago: The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 1084

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(lied at the age of seven years; William Henry, who died in infancy; and Mamie, who died at the age of two years.

Soon after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Schumacher took up their abode on his farm of eighty acres, upon which they resided for eight years. On the expiration of that period he sold his property in Iowa and came to Kansas with his family, settling in Osborn in 1881. There he embarked in the hardware business in connection with his brother Samuel under the firm name of Schumacher Brothers, and for twelve years they conducted a profitable business, at the end of which time our subject sold his interest and went south on account of his health. He located in Cleveland, Tennessee, and there he also conducted a hardware store for three and a half years.

On the expiration of that period he re- turned to sunny Kansas and in 1892 hie es- tablished his furniture and undertaking parlors in Newton as a member of the firm of Edwards & Schumacher. That connec- tien was maintained until May, 1900, since which time Mr. Schumacher has been in partnership with his son-in-law. Cyrus Stauffer. He has a well appointed store, supplied with a large and well selected stock of furniture of all descriptions, and his large sales annually return to him a good dividend on his investment. In the under- taking part of his business he is also meet- ing with good success. The family home is at No. 115 West First street, where they have resided for five years, and the house- held is the center of a cultured society cir- cle. Fraternally Mr. Schumacher is con- nectel with the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica. In politics he is a Republican but has never sought or desired office and has served in no political position save that of a mem- ber of the school board. He and his wife hold membership in the Baptist church and are people of the highest respectability, en- joying the warm regard of all. Throughout his business career Mr. Schumacher has fol- lowell the most honorable business methods. winning his success along the lines of legiti- mate trade. and his fair dealing, courteous treatment and reasonable prices secure to

him a liberal patronage in the conduct of the enterprise which now claims his atten- tion.

JULIU'S R. TROUSLOT.

Julius R. Trouslot is a locomotive en- gineer running on the Santa Fe railroad. He makes his home in Newton, Harvey county, Kansas, where he is well known. He was born in Nauvoo, Illinois, July 25, 1851, and is of French lineage, his father, Eugene Trouslot, having been born in the north of France. In 1850 he came to Amer- ica accompanied by his wife and one son. He was a cabinet maker and carpenter by trade, serving a seven years' apprenticeship at those lines of business in Paris. He be- came one of the Iterian society that set- tled in Nauvoo before the Mormons located there, and later he removed to Highland, Iowa, about 1853. When four years had passed he returned to Illinois, and spent his last days in Sandwich, where he died in 1889, at the age of seventy-two years. The mother of our subject died in 1852, leav- ing two sons: Eugene C., who is station agent on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad at Prairie City, Illinois, and is married and has three daughters : and Julius R., of this review. After the death of his first wife, the father was again married and by that union had one son, Roland C., who resides at Cripple Creek, Colorado. He is also married and has two children.

Mr. Trouslot, whose name introduces this review, obtained his education in Sand- wich, Illinois, completing the high school course, but prior to this time he had earned his own living, leaving home at the age of twelve years to work as a farm hand. He also drove a delivery wagon in Aurora, Illinois, and in 1869 he became connected with railroad service as a fireman on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad, his home being at Galesburg. Illinois. About five years later he was given his first engine used in drawing freight trains from Gales- burg. On the 21st of October, 1878, he became a resident of Kansas, establishing

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his home in Topeka, and from that city he ran on a freight train until the Ist of March, 1878, when he was given a passen- ger train running between Topeka and Newton. On the 15th of June of that year he took a construction train from Wichita on the new line extending south of that" city, being thus engaged until the 26th of December, 1879, when he returned to the passenger service, running between Newton and Winfield, Kansas. On the Ist of Jan- uary, 1880, he took the first passenger train to Arkansas City, running between New- ton and Arkansas City, and on the Ist of July of the same year he was transferred to Caldwell, remaining on the latter run unl- til 1886. When the Santa Fe opened up the Galveston division, he was placed in charge of an engine drawing a train from Newton to Arkansas City and such has been his employment since. He is a most trusted and capable representative of the operative division of the road, discharging his duties in a most painstaking manner.

On the 6th of May, 1878, Mr. Trouslot was united in marriage in Galesburg, Illi- nois, to Miss Lettie E. Sanford, who was born at Danby Station, Illinois, forty miles south of Chicago, her parents being Frank and Ellen (Atwood) Sanford, both of whom were natives of Vermont, the father being born in Cornwall, the mother in Shoreham. Mr. Sanford was a carpenter by trade and for a number of years engaged in contracting and building. They had two children, the brother of Mrs. Trouslot be- ing Herbert A. Sanford, of Chicago. In 1856 the parents had removed to Galesburg, Illinois, where Mrs. Sanford died, her hus- band surviving until 1886, when he was laid by her side in a cemetery of that city.

Newton; Winnie E., at home; and Julius Charles, who is a youth of thirteen years. Mr. Trouslot is a very prominent Mason, having attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish rite. He also belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen, is a Select Knight, and is identified with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, while of the insurance organization of this society he is secretary. He exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party. He is a most genial and attractive gentleman of fine personal appearance, broad minded and of unfailing courtesy. He makes friends wherever he goes and is very popular among all who know him. His long connection with the railroad service is an indication of his ability and fidelity and he enjoys in high measure the confidence of those whom he represents. It is with pleasure we present to our readers his life history, for Newton claims him among its representative citzens.

Mr. Newton belongs to Lodge No. 142, of Newton: Arkansas Chapter, No. 27, Royal Arch Masons; Newton Commandery, No. 9, K. T .; Wichita Consistory, No. 2; Isis Temple, Mystic Shrine, of Salina : and the Order of the Eastern Star. Newton Chapter No. 5. He was the high priest of Arkansas Chapter, No. 27, for two years, and grand patron of Kansas of the Order of the Eastern Star, in 1885-6. Mrs. Trous- lot also belongs to the Order of the Eastern Star, Chapter No. 5, and she was grand ma- tron of Kansas in 1894-5.

ABRAHAM L. SHOWALTER.

On the 26th of December, 1879, Mr. An energetic and progressive farmer and honored citizen of Kingman county is Abraham L. Showalter, who has spent many years of his life in the Sunflower state. He was born in Cass county, Illinois, in 1857, a member of an old and highly respected family of that state. His father, Abraham Showalter, was born in Pulaski county, Virginia, while his father, Abraham Sho- Trouslot arrived in Newton from Wichita and has since made his home in this place. In 1892 he bought a pleasant residence at the corner of West Fifth and Plum streets, and here he and his family extend the hos- pitality of the household to their many friends. Unto our subject and his wife were born three children: Frank C., who is employed as a salesman in a store in , walter. Sr., was a native of Pennsylvania

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and was of Pennsylvania Dutch descent. The father of our subject moved to Illi- nois in 1849, when that commonwealth was a new and unsubdued country. Ile was married in Virginia to Sarah Baker, a na- tive also of the Old Dominion and a daugh- ter of Caleb Baker. He, too, claimed Vir- ginia as the state of his nativity, and his death occurred in Cass county, Illinois, where he had removed in an early day. Unto this worthy couple were born nine children, eight of whom are now living, namely: Mary J., Kate, Saloma, Eveline, John. George, Emma and Abraham L. Three of the sons now make their home in Kansas, the brothers of our subject be- ing : John, a resident of McPherson coun- ty, and George, of Franklin county. The father followed the tilling of the soil as a life occupation and in political matters he supported the principles of the Democracy. The cause of Christianity ever found in him a firm friend and active worker, and for a number of years he served as a pastor of the Baptist church. His death occurred when he had reached the fortieth milestone on the journey of life, and at that age his wife was also called to the home beyond.

Abraham L. Showalter, whose name in- troduces this review. spent his youth and early manhood on an Illinois farm, and to the public school system of the Prairie state he is indebted or the school privileges which he received. but since putting aside his text-books he has greatly added to his knowledge through reading, observation and practical experience, thus becoming a well informed man. In 1872 he left the home of his youth for the new and unsub- dued west, and for two years thereafter made his home in McPherson county, Kan- sas, near the present site of Mound Ridge. In 1878 he took up a homestead in Ness county. Kansas, and afterward sold it. In 1880 he took up his abode near Altoona, Wilson county, this state, there residing for the following years, when, in 1884. he came to Kingman county, and from that time un- til 1892 maintained his residence near New Murdock. In the latter year he bought the place on which he now resides, consisting of

four hundred and forty acres of rich and fertile land, two hundred acres of which are under an excellent state of cultivation, and there he is extensively engaged in farming and stock-raising. As a business man he is practical and progressive, and ,along the line of his chosen vocation he is meeting with well merited success.

In McPherson county Kansas, on the 3Ist of July, 1879, Mr. Showalter was united in marriage to Viola Bell, a daugh- ter of Stephen Bell, who was born in Vir- ginia and was among the early pioneers of McPherson county, Kansas, where he lo- cated in 1871. He passed away in death in 1901, at the age of sixty-two years, and his widow, who bore the maiden name of Mary Showalter, now resides in Sedgwick county, Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. Showalter are the parents of three children .- Albert W., Myrtle and Audie, and three of their children also died in childhood. The inde- pendent party receives Mr. Showalter's hearty support and co-operation, and for a number of years he has served as a member of the school board. Socially he is a mem- ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows and of the Woodmen. Both he and his wife are earnest Christian people and have long been worthy members and active work- ers of the Baptist church. The family are highly esteemed in the community in which so many years of their lives have been passed and enjoy the warm regard of a large circle of friends and acquaintances.

DAVID DUNCHAM HUDSON.

One of the substantial and progressive farmers of Ellsworth county, Kansas, is David Duncham Hudson, who was born on June 5. 1857, in Canada, and he was a son of Robert and Sarah (Redpath ) Hud- son, both of whom were natives of Scot- land. They both located in Canada, after leaving their native land; tlie former in 1837, and the latter in 1843, and there they married and engaged in farming.

Robert Hudson was born in Scotland;

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on November 15, 1818, and came to Can- ada when about fifteen years of age, with his parents. His mother died on the pas- sage. Robert grew to manhood in Canada and there married Sarah Redpath, who be- longed to an old Scotch family and who was born on August 29, 1821, and who came to Canada in early womanhood. In 1859 Robert Hudson and family started to the United States, remaining long enough in the state of Michigan to harvest a crop, and then started by team to Kansas, with his wife and six children. He located near Manhattan, which was then in Davis coun- ty, but which is now included in Riley coun- ty, and in the fall of 1866 he rented land and removed his family to Empire township, in Ellsworth county. His death occurred on June 18, 1883. During life he had en- gaged extensively in stock-raising, cattle- raising and farming, beginning practically with nothing. His seven children were these: Sarah E., deceased, was the wife of Charles Robinson, of Ellsworth county ; Margaret died in early womanhood; Mrs. Faris, who was born on September 8, 1853, in Canada; William W., who died in this county : David Duncham, who is the sub- ject of this sketch; Jane died in early womanhood; and Robert Bruce, who is a prominent farmer of Ellsworth county, further mention of whom may be found in another portion of this volume. Mrs. Hud- son passed out of life on January 14, 1899, at the age of seventy-eight years.

David Duncham Hudson, who is the subject of this sketch, was but two years of age when the family came to Kansas and was nine years old when location was made in Ellsworth county. His education was pursued in the old log school-house which his father assisted to build, on his farm, this being the first school-house in the county, and the ruins of it still stand. Un- til 1898 our subject was interested with his brother, Robert Bruce Hudson, in farming and stock-raising. His early life was spent in herding cattle on the plains, but in the above named year the brothers made a di- vision of their interests and our subject retained the homestead, with eight hundred

and forty acres of land. He now has one hundred acres under cultivation and feeds from seventy-five to one hundred head of cattle. With his brother he built up a fine business and successfully carried on the great stock business established by the fa- ther.

Mr. Hudson was married on February 24, 1898, to Miss Carrie Gilkison, who was a daughter of Absalom and Mary ( Taylor) Gilkison, and she was born in Jefferson county, Ohio. Her parents were natives of that state and came to Ellsworth county in 1878, when she was nine years of age, lo- cating on section 34, where they still reside. One girl, Inez W., has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hudson, her birth taking place on March 23, 1901.

Politically Mr. Hudson has never been anything but a stanch Republican, but his ambition has never been in the line of of- fice-holding .- in fact. Mr. Hudson has never been willing to entertain any such proposi- tion. He is a man thoroughly interested in : all matters which promise to be of benefit : to his country, state, county and family, but is content to permit those whom he can trust to manage public affairs. He owns one of the finest stock farms in the county, located at the confluence of the Thompson and Spring creeks and has an unfailing sup- ply of water, and has also one of the finest groves of original timber, containing large oak, elm and ash trees, in which he spends much time during the summer heat.

Mr. Hudson is a representative man of Ellsworth county and comes of a leading family. All of its members are honored cit- izens and have been prominent in progress- ive and useful enterprises ever since locat- ing here.

ANGELO COLSON.

Angelo Colson is a well known carpenter and land-owner living at Ionia. He was born at Brook Farm, West Roxbury, Mas- sachusetts, July 18, 1846, his parents be- ing Nathaniel Howe and Hannah Stone ( Kingsley) Colson. His paternal grand- :

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father was Samuel Colson, a native of Plym- outh county, Massachusetts, where he spent his entire life. lle was a farmer, dairyman and a tack-maker, and enjoyed the high re- spect of all with whom he was associated. His wife bore the maiden name of Muriel Whitney. Among their children was Na- thaniel Hewe Colson, who was born in Abington, Plymouth county, Massachu- setts, July 17, 1815. He was a relative of Elias Howe, the inventor of the sewing machine, and it was in his honor that the father of our subject was named. Na- thaniel H. Colson was a shoemaker by trade in the days when that occupation was a very important one, as the manufacture of shoes by machinery had not yet become a recognized industry. He was a member of the Brook Farm community or associa- tion during its existence and he had a wide acquaintance among distinguished people, including Horace Greeley, Charles A. Dana, Ralph W. Emerson, Henry D. Thoreau, Theodore Parker, George Ripley, and Mar- garet Ossoli, all of whom were leading members of the association. After the dis- solution of the society Mr. Colson returned to Abington and in 1852 he went to Mon- mouth county, New Jersey, joining the North American Phalanx. an association somewhat similar to that of Brook Farm. but having more industrial features and less of the dreamy idealism that made the Brook Farm an unprofitable venture. The North American Phalanx ended its existence in 1855 and Mr. Colson then removed to Val- ley Mills, Wood county, West Virginia. where he remained until 1885. the year of his arrival in Jewell county, Kansas. There he spent his remaining days with his sons, who came to the county in 1871. Here his death occurred June 6, 1896, at the age of eighty-one years. He was twice married, his first union being with Mary Thayer Hunt. a daughter of Ebanger and Mary ( Thayer ) Hunt, to whom he was married in Abington, Massachusetts, May 14, 1837. Her death occurred November II, 1839. and their only son, Orlander Hunt Col- son, was born on April 11. 1838, and died in October, 1857. For his second

wife the father chose Hannah Stone Kings- ley, a native of Maine and a daughter of Benjamin and Hannah ( Stone ) Kingsley. The second marriage took place in Hanson, Massachusetts, July 2, 1843. Her father was a native of Rhode Island and in 1800 removed to Mainc. His wife had two brothers who served in the Revolutionary war. By Mr. Colson's second marriage there were six children, namely : Elmer Hewitt, who was born at Brook Farm, Au- gust 31, 1844, and is now a leading agri- culturist and stock-raiser of Jewell county; Angelo: Herman, who was born at Abing- ton, Massachusetts, March 5, 1849, and is now a merchant in lonia, Kansas : Wenona, who was born March 4, 1854, and died at the age of nine years ; Mrs. Medora Kinche- loe, who was born at Valley Mills, West Virginia, in 1859, and is now living in Jewell county, Kansas: and Victor, who was born at Valley Mills, June 24, 1866, and is a resident farmer of Jewell county. The mother of these children is still living and is acting as housekeeper for her son Angelo. She was born at Athens, Somerset county, Maine, April 23, 1821, but though now eighty years of age she is still active and energetic, performing her household duties with wonderful dispatch for one who has traveled so far on life's journey.

Angelo learned the carpenter's trade. He was with his father's family during the various changes in residence until 1871, when he came to Kansas and on the 18th of September of that year he secured a homestead claim consisting of the south- west quarter of section 25, town 4 south, of range 10 west,-Odessa township. He has always owned land in this county, yet he has worked at the carpenter's trade in Ionia, which is the place of his residence. For the first five years after his arrival he engaged in farming, but his land is now rented. He has also taken two or three prospecting trips to Colorado and Montana, where he re- mained for about three years. Actively as- seciated with the building interests, he has been connected with the erection of many of the leading structures in Ionia and the surrounding country.

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At the time of the Civil war Mr. Colson | ton county, Illinois, where they reared six proved his loyalty to his country by enlist- ing, at Parkersburg, on the Ioth of Febru- ary, 1865. as a member of Company A, Third West Virginia Cavalry, with which he joined the Army of the Potomac, and he saw service in Maryland and Virginia. On the 15th of June of the same year he was mustered out, at Wheeling. He be- longs to Ionia Post, No. 78. Grand Army of the Republic, of which he has served as the commander and is now the adjutant. He is also past grand and at present is the financial secretary of Ionia Lodge, No. 264. I. O. O. F., while with the Cawker City Loilge, No. 125, A. F. & A. M., he also holds membership.

Mr. Colson is widely recognized as one of the leading residents of the southwest portion of Jewell county. He has been a township trustee of Ionia township five years. He is reliable in business, enterpris- ing and progressive in his citizenship, and is true to all the duties which public and pri- vate life have imposed upon him.

PETER M. SPANIOL.

Peter M. Spaniol, residing on a farm in Huntsville township. Reno county, devotes his energies to agricultural pursuits, and the community numbers him among its rep- resentative citizens. He claims the Prairie state as the place of his nativity, his birth having occurred in Peoria county, April 27, 1857. His father, Jacob Spaniol, was born in France, on the border of Germany, in 1829. His father and mother died when he was quite small, and he was afterward reared by relatives in Germany, being early trained to the labors of the farm. When eighteen years of age he left his home across the sea, and after landing in New York made his way to Chicago. In 1856, in Pe- oria county, Illinois, he was united in mar- riage with Catherine Snyder, a native of Germany, who came to this country with her parents and grandparents. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Spaniol located on a farm in Brooks Creek township, Livings-

sons, namely: Peter, the subject of this review ; William, who is married and resides on a farm in Illinois, but they have no chil- dren ; Adam, who died at the age of thirty- five years, in Topeka, Kansas; John, who' departed this life in Illinois, leaving a wife and three children: Jacob, who is engaged in agricultural pursuits in the Prairie state, and he has four children ; and Frank, who is engaged in farming eighty acres of the old homestead. At his death the father left four' hundred acres of land in Illinois and three hundred and twenty acres in Kansas. The mother was called to the home beyond in March, 1877, having reached the sixty- eighth milestone on the journey of life, while the father passed away in January, 1901, and both were members of the Cath- olic church.

Peter M. Spaniol, of this review, received the educational advantages afforded by the common schools of his locality, and he re- mained under the parental roof until after his marriage, which occurred on the 25th of November, 1879, Miss Marie Anderson be- coming his wife. She was born in Denmark March 25, 1862, a daughter of Claud and' Margaret Anderson, also natives of that country. The father still resides on the farm on which he was born, but his wife passed away in January, 1899, at the age of seventy-one years. They reared eight children, as follows: Eliza, who still re- sides in Denmark and is the wife of John Sivertson, by whom she has four living chil- dren; John, who makes his home near Plevna, Kansas, and is the father of nine children: Carrie, the wife of Chris Mun- son, of Illinois, and they have seven chil- dren; Elizabeth, who became the wife of Lewis Ipson, by whom she has ten children, and the family make their home in Hunts- ville township; Marie, the wife of the sub- ject of this sketch; Sena, the wife of Lewis Johnson, of New Zealand, and they have four children ; Annie, the deceased wife of Nick Hanson, her death oc- curring in 1899, leaving four children; and James, who is a resident of Knox, Stark county, Indiana, and has a

Mrow Mrs Spaniol and family

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wife and two children. Mrs. Spaniol was reared from the age of seven years by her uncle, John Anderson, who had lost his last daughter. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Spaniol have been born seven children, namely : Jacob, who was hetn October 1, 1880. in Livingston county, Illinois, and is still un- der the parental roof; William L., who is nineteen years of age; Frank, aged fifteen years: Mabel, who died in 1896, at the age of seven years: Clara, Amanda and Fannie. aged, respectively, nine, six and four years. Mr. and Mrs. Spaniol took up their abode in Kansas nineteen years ago. in 1882. here taking up the arduous task of improving raw prairie land, but their efforts have been crowned with a high degree of success and they are now the processors of a valuable and well improved property. Their landed possessions consist of seven hundred and twenty acres, which is planted principally to wheat and corn. He is also extensively engaged in the buying and sell- ing of cattle and hogs, and always has on hand from fifteen to twenty head of horses. His commodious and well appointed farm residence was erected in 1900, and a beaut- tiful orchard of four acres, consisting . i ap- ple, peach, pear, cherry and apricot trees. adds much to the attractive appearance and value of the place. On his farm are also three artificial fish ponds, all supplied from one well. and the catfish, carp and other fish found therein furnish excellent food for his table. Mrs. Spaniol has nobly assisted her husband in clearing and improving their farm and bringing it to its present high state of cultivation. While in Denmark. when fifteen years of age, she was given up to die of consumption, but she is still very active, and has ever proved to her husband a true helpmate for the journey of life. The fam- ily is highly esteemed by all who have the pleasure of their acquaintance.

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A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 11

Author: Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago Publication date: 1902 Publisher: New York Chicago: The Lewis publishing company Number of Pages: 1084

Author: Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: New York Chicago: The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 1084