A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 116

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

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at different points in Tennessee, and took part in the battles of Fort Scott, Cornell and Tupelo. Later the regiment was or- dered to guard the frontier and proceeded to Fort Omaha, aiding in securing the gov- ernment trains and in manning Fort Kear- ney. When the war was ended Mr. Springer received an honorable discharge. For a time he resided in Labette county, Kansas, but in 1869 removed to Anderson county, and in 1874 went to Colorado, where he resided for two years. On the expiration of that period he returned to the Sunflower state, taking up his abode in Chautauqua county, but after a year lo- cated in Barber county. He was absent from the state during one year, 1887, and then returned to Barber county, where he is extensively engaged in agricultural pur- suits. He has one of the best farms in Nippawalla township, comprising eleven hundred acres of well improved land. on which he has a substantial residence and good barns. He has three hundred acres of his land under a high state of cultivation and in his pastures are found herds of cat- tle. He is a very successful stockman and annually sells many head of cattle, deriv- ing from this branch of his farm enterprise a good income. Through determination and industry Mr. Springer has steadily ad- vanced on the road to prosperity. Without any pecuniary aid and with no influential friends to assist him, he entered upon his business career, and all that he possesses is the merited reward of his own labors.

The birth of Mr. Gregory occurred in 1863, and he is a son of Charles and Anna

MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM GREGORY.

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( Hanson) Gregory, both of whom were likewise natives of the same "right little. tight little isle" of England. In the schools of his native county William Gregory, the subject of this review, received his educa- tional discipline and there he was reared to maturity. When about twenty years of age, in company with his brother John, he came to America, eventually locating in Kansas. Here he entered the employ of the man- agers of the Wellington ranch, and he con- tinned to be thus engaged for a period of five years, in the meanwhile showing his discretion and good judgment by husband- ing his resources and saving as much as possible of his wages. In 1890 he effected the lease of the Frothingham ranch and started into the enterprise of raising and feeding cattle for other parties, and later he embarked in the same line of business on his own responsibility. The Frothingham ranch, which he still continues to rent. com- prises four sections, and in 1899 he was able to purchase eighty acres of fine bot- tom land, while in 1901 he became the owner of the Spear & Connett ranch, ad- joining on the northwest and consisting of twenty-seven hundred acres. In March of the present year ( 1902) he also purchased the Bors ranch, so that his landed estate is now one of extensive dimensions and stands in evidence of the success which has attend- edl his progressive, energetic and signally discriminating efforts. Mir. Gregory con- tinued the raising of cattle until the year 1900. when he disposed of his cows, and he now buys and feeds western cattle and places the same on the market. while his operations have grown to be of important scope and are conducted with signal busi- ness ability. On the Frothingham ranch he has three hundred and seventy-five acres un ler most effective cultivation, and on his own ranch he cultivates two hundred and seventy-five acres, his land yielding icini- ful returns, and upon his own farm he also feeds six hundred head of cattle as an aver- age. The success which has been his, and the facility with which he has enlarged the scope of his enterprise and handled the vari- ous details of his business. indicate most

clearly the mature judgment and marked executive ability which he has brought to bear. In short, while his success has been in a sense exceptional, it may be readily un- derstood when an investigation is made as to the personal qualities which have brought about this gratifying prosperity, : hich is the direct result of energy, pluck, comment and inflexible integrity of character. In his political allegiance Mr. Gregory is stanchly arrayed in support of the principles and policies of the Republican party, and he at all times manifests an intelligent and loyal interest in public affairs, lending his influ- ence in the support of all worthy measures advanced for the general good.

On the 15th of January. 1885, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Gregory to Miss Kate Bealby, the daughter of James and Ann ( Brown) Bealby, both of whom were born in England, as was also Mrs. Gregory, her father having taken up his residence in Kansas about 1882. Our sub- ject and his wife have an attractive rural home and in the same a cordial hospitality is extended to a large circle of friends.

DWIGHT W. CHASE, M. D.

For eighty-two years Dr. Dwight Whit- net Chase has traveled the journey of life. and his has been an upright, hemoralie and useful career, in which He Haber- Have been Fi lene it to his fellow men along many lines. A native of the state of Ne . York. he was lara in INTO, and is now living to- tirol in Delis, Kam-a-

Thomas Cook - 1

P. Chase. Iii- America from In

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father was a farmer by occupation but the I cte's water and two- day in another direction. He jonene

in the public schools of western No

and when eighteen years of age entered utan an independent career : the district schools. He f.

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fession for six winter terms before enter- ing college and was a student for two years in the Lima Seminary, now Lima College. He completed his preparation for his pro- fessional career as a member of the medical fraternity by his graduation in Jefferson Medical College, with the class of 1846, but previously to this time, in 1844, he had been a student in the Berkshire Medical College, of Massachusetts, and had prac- ticed as an undergraduate. He entered upin medical practice in Cattaraugus coun- ty, New York, where he remained for eleven years. In 1855 he emigrated to Clayton county, lowa, his home being at Edgewcod, and on the expiration of that pericd he went to Elkader, that county, where he continued for thirteen years.

His professional labors, however, were interrupted by an interval of military serv- ice. for he filled the position of surgeon in the Twenty-first Iowa Volunteer In- fantry at the time of the war of the Re- beilion. He had started on a visit to his daughter, who was attending school in the east, when, learning that the governor had a commission for him. he returned and joined the army. He had previously made a special study of surgery, attending lec- tures on the subject in Philadelphia, and was therefore particularly well qualified to act as an army surgeon.

Dr. Chase was married in Allegany county, New York, in 1849, to Miss Ellen J. Lyon, a native of Vermont and of En- glish ancestry. Two children have been born to them: Kate E. and Ellen L. The former is the wife of Van E. Butler, now principal of the graded school at Central, Grant county, New Mexico. Mrs. Butler was a student in the graded school in El- kader, Iowa, and afterward spent one year in the Upper Iowa College and ont year in the Arcade Seminary, in New York. By her marriage she has become the mother of three children, namely: Dwight, who was born in Elkader, Iowa, in 1872, and is a painter by occupation, now living in Gar- nett. Kansas: Jessie, who was born in El- kader, in 1877, and is now the wife of Otto Il chensmith, who is employed in a gro-

cery store in Salina; and Leon, who was born in Delphos, Kansas, in 1879, and is a printer in the employ of his uncle, C. M. White, of the Delphos Republican. The younger daughter, Ellen L., is the wife of Mr. White, the well known editor of the Delphos Republican.

In 1874 Dr. Chase visited Kansas and purchased land in Ottawa county, after which he returned to Iowa, but later in the same year he came with his family to the farm which he had purchased. He prac- ticed medicine there for five years, and in 1884 he located in Delphos, but soon after- ward retired from active connection with his profession, much to the regret of his many friends and patients. His wife, a most estimable lady, and one who was loved by all who knew her, passed away in 1886, since which time the Doctor has made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Butler. He has deeded his farm to his two daughters, but virtually retains the use of three forty- acre tracts. In politics he is a stalwart Re- publican, and in 1861 was elected to the legislature of Iowa. The office, however, was not of his seeking; it came to him un- solicited through the efforts of his many friends, and at the time of nomination not a single dissenting vote was cast. It is needless to say that he discharged his duties to the best of his ability ---- and that ability is of the superior order. Sccially he is con- nected with Delphos Lodge, No. 43. F. & A. M. ; Apollo Chapter, R. A. M., of Min- neapolis: Beloit Commandery, Knights Templar, of Beloit, Kansas; and Delphos Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. and his life has been an exemplification of the beneficent spirit of those fraternities. He has every been a deep student and a close thinker, and whatever has tended to promote the interests of his profession and place before man the key to the mystery of that complex problem which we call life at once attracts his interest and co-operation. In the evening of his career he is enjoying a well earned rest, but he is still in touch with the onward thought and movements of the day, and his old age is a benediction to all who know him.

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SOLON GRIY.

Soien Gray is a representative of the manufacturing interests of Sterling, Rice county, where he is carrying on a goal business as a broom-maker. He was born in Sullivan county, Indiana, October 12. 1837. His father, James Gray, was a na- tive of Montgomery county, Kentucky, born January 1, 1799. The grandfather, Thomas Gray, was also a native of the same locality and owned a saltpeter mine. lie died in the prime of life, leaving his children to the care of his widow. Mrs. Martha Gray, who was born in Greenbrier county, Virginia (now West Virginia). She nobiy took up the work of caring for her four sons and three daughters, and not only reared her own children but also some of her grandchildren and great-grandehil- dren. Her husband died in 1815, and, hav- ing long survived him, she passed away, in Iowa, in 1866, at the advanced age of ninety-six years. Thus ended a long and noble life. She represents a family noted for longevity, and her last surviving son lived until about 1893.

James Gray, the father of our subject, was rearedl in the Blue Grass state and after reaching maturity he married Elizabeth Elliott, who was born near Guilford Court Hlouse. North Carolina. They were mar- ried in Sullivan county, Indiana, in 1829. The father was a major in the militia, both before and after the Civil war. By ocupa- tien a farmer, he followed that pursuit throughout his business career and l'esame well-to-do. By his marriage he had five sons and three daughters of sons and two daughters reached mutare years. The living are: S.a. i this sketch: Elizabeth, the wife of F. M. Buck- her. of Ottumwa. Iowa; Mrs. Martha Mc- Cormick, who is living in the same place ; John, a resident of Spokane. Washington; and Joseph, who is living in Denver CO- rade. I. E., the first born, died in Cons :- wa, Iowa, and the other two children died of scarlet fever. The family removed to Ottumwa ounty, Iowa, in pioneer days. taking up their abode there in 1849, and

throughout the remainder of his life the father was a resident of that locality. In- death occurred in August, 1872, and his wife passed away on the 24th of January.

Stin Gray, where name introduces this record, was reared in the usual manner of farmer lads and acquired a good com- mon-school education in Indiana and Lowa. He remained at home until his majority, and in 1800 he was appointed deputy -kerif of Ottumwa county, serving in that capac- ity for four years. On the 12th of Vmribei the same year he was united in marriage to Miss Susanna Hoover, of Wapello county, Iowa, a daughter of Mahlon and Ruth (Dimitt) Hoover, both of whom were In- diana people and followed farming pur- suits. They reared six children, and in their Indiana home removed to Jena in 1845, becoming early settlers of the Hall- eve state.

Mr. and Mrs. Gray began their dames- tic life in Ottumwa, and upon a farm in that locality resided for fifteen years. call- ing to Kansas in 1875. In 1873 Mr. Gray and his father-in-law. Mr. Herter vise; Sterling, with a view to making a sette- ment here, and upon returning in the Hawkeye state they disposed of their In -- ness interests and brought their families to Rice county. Mr. Gray is now the owner of two farms in the county, and the derived therefrom materially increases to possessions. His immediate super: :.. however, is given to the conduct of imen factory in Sterling, in which be on- po ys two men. He is carrying en a = Insiness and has made inblick Bas- ments in real estate, so that he is : comfortable circumstances. In crested a good residence at the center of Think and Jackson streets, where he His wife are now diving. Unto them has

Gray, who is married and who, with his wife and two children, reside- in Samrin. practice. He is a graduate i severallines- including the college in Keo- Role In the Kansas State Mode

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lege and the Eclectic College in Lima. Ohio. For a number of years he has been engaged in practice in Rice county and his success is the outcome of distinctive ability.

Solon Gray, the subject of this sketch, is a member of the Masonic fraternity, having taken the degrees of the blue lodge, chapter and council. He has passed all of the chairs in the lodge and is the oldest past master in Kansas. He has organized many lodges in the state and is one of the most zealous and earnest advocates of the craft. Politically he is a Populist, and has been chosen to represent his district in the Kansas legislature. In 1895 he was the first assistant sergeant-at-arms, and for two years served as sergeant-at-arms in the sen- ate, filling the position in 1897 and 1898. He also served in that capacity during the special session of 1899. For twenty years he has been justice of the peace of Rice county. He regards a public office as a public trust and discharges his duties with marked promptness and fidelity, meeting every obligation that devolves upon him in a straightforward and reliable manner. He holds membership in the Christian church and has served as clerk and trustee in the same. His record is indeed worthy of emulation, for in every relation of life he has been found ever loyal to duty and to the right.

HENRY SWARTZ.

Henry Swartz, who is a prominent and influential citizen of Sterling is at the pres- ent time practically retired from active farm life. but he is yet a busy man, looking after his many investments in Rice county. He was born in Sandusky county, Ohio, March 26, 1857. His father, Samuel Swartz, is an enterprising Ohio farmer and was born in Pennsylvania, in 1832, being a son of Henry Swartz, who was a pioneer of San- dusky county, Ohio. Making his way to that district with teams and wagons, he settled in the midst of the dense forest and there developed a farm. His wife was like- wise a native of Pennsylvania, and they

reared three sons and four daughters, all of whom reached maturity, were married and had from five to eight children each. With the exception of two all of the num- ber are yet living. The grandfather of our subject died about 1859, in the seventieth year of his age, and his widow passed away some years later, at the age of about eighty- three years. They now rest in the Luth- eran churchyard in Thompson township, and in the vicinity of their old home. On the old family homestead Samuel Swartz was reared to manhood and then married Jemimah Harmon, also a native of Penn- sylvania, reared in the same neighborhood where her husband spent his boyhood days. They were married. however, in Ohio, about the year 1849, and their union was blessed with five sons and five daughters, of whom they lost two, one daughter, Anna, dying at the age of nineteen years. The living are: Mrs. Sarah Neirhood, of Sterling township, Rice county, who has four sons and a daughter; Jesse, who is living on the old homestead in Ohio; Henry, of this review: William, who fol- lows farming in Sterling township and has one child; Mrs. Phebe Payne, of Ohio, who has one son and two daughters; Mrs. Emma Philsinger, who is also living in the Buckeye state and has a son and a daugh- ter: Mrs. Ida Bowerstock, of Ohio, who has three children; and Frank, who makes his home in Sterling. The mother of this family died in 1898 and the father has since been again married, his second union being with Mrs. Grove, a widow. He is an able farmer and owns three extensive tracts of land, from which he derives an excellent in- come. He is a man of energy, determina- tion and strong purpose and has carried forward to successful completion whatever he has undertaken in a business way. At the time of the Civil war he offered his services to the government, being a loyal advocate of the Union cause, but was not accepted on account of his physical dis- ability.

Henry Swartz left the home farm at the age of twenty years, in the spring of 1877. and from that time has been a resident of

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Kansas. He acquired a fair district-school education and was reared to farm labor, early forming habits of industry, self-reli- ance and energy. He determined to get out from among the stumps of a timber country and see if he could not find better farming facilities upon the prairies of the west. He accordingly started for the Sun- fewer state with about nineteen hundred dollars in cash, most of which he had saved from his own earnings. His first purchase comprised one hundred and sixty acres of raw prairie land, and, being a minor, he had a deed in his father's name. He paid nine hundred and fifty-five dollars for this tract. and during the first year he built upon it a small barn. Since that time he has made many judicious investments in real estate. His second purchase com- prised eighty acres, his third also included eighty acres, and to that he added thirty- seven acres. making three hundred and fifty-seven acres in one farm. His next purchase was two hundred and forty acres adjoining, of which he became owner in 1886. In 1887 he purchased sixty-eight acres, and thus his second farm then com- prised three hundred and eight acres. His Dne town property was purchased in 1888. for forty-five hundred dollars, and is ene of the most desirable homes in Sterling. In 18go he bought a tract of eighty acres east of the town. Later he made a pur- chase of one hundred and twenty acres east of his first farm, and for this he gave twent-eight hundred dollars. The same year he added another twenty acres. in 1893 he bought eighty acres, in 1894 a similar amount and in the spring of 1895 added a third tract of the same size. In 1898 he was the purchaser of a farm of one hundred and sixty acres and in 1900 he bought an- ther farm of a quarter section. These farms are all valuable and productive land. as fine as can be found in this portion of the state, and are well located. In addi- tion to the cultivation of his fields Mr. Swartz engages in stock-raising, and though he is now largely retired from active busi- ness cares he still has over two hundred head of cattle and from fifty to sixty horses.

He does not personally engage in farming at the present time but his time is fully ccen. pied by the supervision of his farming in- terests,-joking after his tenants and see- ing that his property is kept in good condi tion. The firm of Swartz & Bickett was at one time the owner of a very extensive chat- tle ranch, comprising four sections. ten which they had eight hundred head wisten. The firm of Ricksecker & Swartz did a very large livery business in Sterling, clearing eight hundred dollars during the first year. During the three years in which they call- ducted the enterprise they spent their profits in booming the town. Mr. Swartz has had a very successful and notable career in: ... young a man. His landed possessions now aggregate twelve hundred acres, a very val- uable property, and he is regarded as one of the wealthy citizens of his community. The most envious can not grudge him his success, so honorably has it been scourai and so worthity has it been used. While he has gained prosperity he has at the sepe time contributed in a large measure to the best interests of the community, thros. advancing the grade of stock and threw. his active co-operation with many na-tie- for the general goed.

Cta the roth ci Jangary. 1882. Mr. Swartz was united in marriage to ME He L. Miller, a native of Sandusky county, Ohio, her birth having occurred at Mount Carmel, in 1861. She i- 2 daughter .i George and Kate ( Rarick) Miller, leth new deceased. Her iber was a native of Georgia and her mother of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Swartz has one brother, Adam Miller. who is living in Washington township, and who has two ses. She also has the cially Mr. Swartz is connected with the In- ter-, one in Sterling and one in Olio dependent Order of Odd Fellows, and has taken all of the degrees in this fraternal or- ganization. He is deeply interested in its work and in his life exemplifies its bone :- cent principles. In politics he is . :- lcan at state and national elections. but at local elections. where no issue is ing bol. he considers only the fitness of the cand- dates and votes for the men whom he re-

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gards best qualified for the discharge of the duties of the office. He has never found time to seek public preferment, but has se. ved as alderman for two terms, proving a capable officer and laboring earnestly for the welfare of the city which he represented. His wife is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church, of which he is one of the trus- tees, and he took an active part in the erec- tion of the fine, new brick house of wor- ship which was begun in 1900 and com- pleted in 1901. He gave seventeen hun- dred and fifty dollars to the Cooper Memo- rial College and has responded freely and with a generous hand for the upbuilding of every movement and measure calculated to prove of general good. He and his wife spent one summer, in company with neigh- bors, in traveling through the west in their overat wagen, which is a house on wheels, having all of the comforts of a home. In this way they visited Wyoming, Montana and Washington, viewing the splendid scenery , i the mountains, and having a most unique and delightful outing. They are genial peo- ple of sterling worth, and have many friends in the community. Mr. Swartz has had a career that has been remarkably successful, yet his prosperity has been won entirely through legitimate channels. He has Ia- bored earnestly and persistently, and his ef- forts have been guided by sound judgment. He has worked at times when others have enjoyed seasons of leisure, and his unflag- ging energy, keen sagacity and persistency of purpose have enabled him to advance steadily until he now occupies a very prom- inent and erviable position among the weal- th agriculturists of his adopted state.

HENRY F. WOLFERSPERGER.

The subject of this sketch who is one of the most prominent business men at Lind- sey, Ottawa county, Kansas, is not only a leading farmer and stockman in Concord township, but is a prosperous general mer- chant, and is proprietor of the Gem Cream-

ery. at Lindsey. Mr. Wolfersperger, who located in Ottawa county in 1872 and has been a factor in its progress and prosperity to the present time, was born in Whiteside county, Illinois, January 20, 1853, a grand- son of John Wolfersperger, who removed from Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, and became an honored pioneer in Whiteside county. John Wolfersperger, who was of Swiss ancestry, married Elizabeth Traut- man, who was born in Pennsylvania, of Ger- man ancestors. John Wolfersperger, Jr., son of John Wolfersperger, just mentioned, located in northern Illinois in 1851 and his parents located there in 1866 and lived out the remainder of their days in that locality. He married Lydia Kapp, a native of Penn- sylvania, and a woman of more than ordi- nary ability and intelligence, and she was a valuable helpmeet to him during all the years in which they were spared to each oth- er. Mrs. Wolfersperger was a daughter of Leonard Kapp, of Russian ancestry, who died in Pennsylvania. John Wolfersperger, Jr., had children, as follows: His daugh- ters, Mesdames Keziah Seidel and Margaret Davis, live at Sterling, Illinois. Henry F. ¡ is the immediate subject of this sketch; Aa- ren, of Sterling, Illinois, is one of the best known lawyers in northern Illinois: George died at the age of ten months; an'l John is , also deceased. It is a noteworthy fact that during the past two hundred years in every generation of this line of Wolferspergers a son has been named John. The mother of Į these children died at the age of seventy- nine years, having been a noble woman of the highest character, noted for her bring kindness and for always looking upon the bright side of everything. She saw the sil- ver lining of every cloud and her faith in God never wavered during any time of trouble. Their father, who was a man of more than ordinary ability, made a success of life and died in 1897, at the age of sev- enty-seven years. He was an active member of the Lutheran church, and was for many years officially connected with that denomi- nation.

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A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 116

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