A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 125

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

USA > Kansas > A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II > Part 125

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THE FRINGER FAMILY.

The family of which we write at this time has been identified with the pioneer history of two of the great and prosperous states of the Union, and in each succeeding generation have been found men of stanch integrity, well directed industry and sturdy worth of character, while the women have stood for equally high ideals and have proved their value in the communities in which they have lived. So intimately has the family name been identified with the his- tory of Jewell county, Kansas, from the early pioneer epoch and so high is the esteem

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accorded its various members that it is but consistent that in this publication be incor- porated a specific mention of those who have here lived and labored to so goodly ends. For the requisite data for this brief sketch we are indebted to Mrs. Arena ( Fringer) Rich. the wife of John Rich, a successful and honored farmer of Center township and a worthy citizen, of whom more definite mention is made on another page of this work. The parents of Mrs. Rich are Jere- miah and Leah ( Lucas) Fringer, who now maintain their home in the pleasant village of North Branch, this county, having prac- tically retired, after years of earnest and honorable endeavor.

Jeremiah Fringer was born in the city of Baltimore, Maryland, in which state the fam- ily was founded in an early day. His parents, George and Rachel (Williams) Fringer, were likewise born in that state, where they were reared to maturity, and where their marriage was solemnized, Maryland also figuring as the birthplace of their ten chil- dren. In an early day in the history of the Buckeye state George Fringer removed with his family to Ohio and took up a tract of heavily timbered land in Morrow county, re- claiming the same and developing a fine farm. There he passed the remainder of his life, his death occurring in the year 1876, as the result of dropsy. His widow sur- vived him about ten years, and to both was accorded that high esteem and marked con- fidence which only sterling worth of char- acter can beget. Two of their daughters re- main unmarried and retain possession of the old homestead, which is so hallowed by the associations of the past. Jeremiah Fringer was a child of four years at the time of his parents' removal from Maryland to Ohio, and he was reared on the old pioneer farm in Morrow county, receiving such educa- tional advantages as were afforded in the primitive schools of the locality and period. In 1849 he was united in marriage to Miss Leah Lucas, who was born in Ohio, the daughter of Adam and Lena (Emich) Lu- cas, both of whom were likewise natives of the old Keystone state, whence they emi- grated to Ohio in the early pioneer epoch,

settling in the forest wilds of Morrow coun- ty at a time when there were only about three other families located in the county, one of the same being that of George Fringer, already mentioned in this commee- tion. Adam and Lena Lucas became the parents of fourteen children, and, of fre gel eration those who attained to years of ma- turity became respected and useful members of society, while the family still has promi- nent representation in the industrial and civic life of Morrow county. Mr. Lucas de- veloped a fine farm and there continued to be engaged in agricultural pursuits for many years, finally retiring from active business life and taking up his residence in town, where he passed the remainder of his days, his death occurring in the year 1881. His (levoted and cherished wife passed away in 1895, at a venerable age. Among their sons were several who attained success in busi- ness life, while three of the number were accomplished musicians in the vocal line.

After his marriage Jeremiah Fringer re- moved to a tract of eighty acres of heavily timbered land in Morrow county, Ohio, and he eventually effected the reclamation of the same. making the best of improvements, in- cluding large and substantial buildings, and there the family home was maintained until 1870, when he traded his farm for a fine quarter section in Walnut township, Jewell county. Kansas, receiving an additional con- sideration of one thousand six hundred dol- lars. and forthwith he came with his family to his new farm. thus being numbered among the early pioneers of this section of the Sunflower state, which he has honored by his services and his well directe I industry. He brought his farm under the highest state of cultivation and through his efforts in con- nection with the great basic industry of agri- culture he acquired a competence which en- abled him to practically retire from the act- ive duties of business life in 1893, since which year he and his wife have maintained their home in the village of North Branch, as has already been stated. They are well known in the county which has thus been their home for more than thirty years, and their sincere and sterling characters have

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gained for them unqualified confidence and esteem. They became the parents of five sons and six daughters, and four of the sons are now living on farms of their own, and, like their honored father, are progressive and successful agriculturists, while the other son is a prosperous cattle grower of De- catur county, this state. Two of the daugh- ters married physicians, two became the wives of representative farmers of the state and the remaining two died in childhood. The entire family is notable for a great love of music, in which line several of its mem- bers have shown distinctive ability, while nearly all of the family are consistent church members. Such is the class of people who have contributed in so large a degree to the industrial progress and material upbuilding of this section of Kansas, and we are pleased to here accord due recognition to the Fringer family in connection with mention of many other representative families of this favored portion of the Sunflower common- wealth.

HON. THOMAS A. NOFTZGER.

The law has ever attracted to its ranks a certain class of men gifted with keen per- ceptions and logical minds, men who, by nature or training or both, are peculiarly fitted to deal with the problems which arise among their fellows. In reviewing the prominent members of the Harper county bar the name of Thomas A. Noftzger takes precedence of many of his professional brethren, and we are pleased to present to his numerous friends and acquaintances a sketch of his useful life.

A native of the state of Indiana, he was born in Kosciusko county, on the 15th of November, 1861. a son of L. J. and Mary C. (Bussard) Noftzger, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Indiana. The father, who was born in 1835. was but three years years of age when he was taken by his par- ents in a wagon from Ohio to Indiana, the family being among the early pioneers of Wabash county. The grandfather was a famous miller and millwright, and the father

of our subject became a leading merchant of North Manchester, Indiana, where he is still numbered among the prominent and rep- representative citizens and business men. The Republican party receives his stanch support, and in all matters pertaining to the public welfare he takes an active and com- mendable interest. He is the father of four children, namely: Thomas A., the subject of this review : Edith, the wife of J. S. Laut- zenhiser, of Hillsdale, Michigan; Samuel, at home and in business with his father; and Charles F., the inventor and manufacturer of the Empire steam boiler cleaner and a member of the Empire Manufacturing Com- pany, of Denver, Colorado.

Thomas A. Noftzger was reared in the town of North Manchester, Indiana, where his preliminary education was received in the public and high schools. In 1879, at the age of eighteen years, he entered the University of Michigan, graduating in that institution in the class of 1883. and after completing his studies he entered the law office of Rob- ertson & Harper, Fort Wayne, Indiana. In January, 1885, he came to Anthony, Kansas, where he immediately established a law prac- tice, and two years later, in January. 1887, he formed a partnership with George B. Crooker, which relationship continued for several years. He practices in all the courts of the state, and in following his profession is meeting with the high success which he justly deserves. Since attaining to years of maturity he has taken an active interest in the welfare of the Republican party, and at the time of the city's incorporation was elected a justice of the peace, serving in that capac- ity for a few months. From 1887 until 1889 he was the deputy county attorney, and in 1900, on the Republican ticket, he was elected to the state senate from the thirty- seventh district, composed of the counties of Harper, Barber, Comanche, Clark, Meade, Kiowa, Ford and Gray, discharging the du- ties of that high office with the same aggres- sive energy and executive ability which has characterized his entire professional career, while his ability as an organizer and leader gained him a prominent place on various im- portant committees in that body. He was

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chosen chairman of the committee on public health, played an important part in the pass- age of the measure resulting in the present law relating to licensed and registered phy- sicians, was a member of the committee on ways and means and others, and with Senator Peterson was the author of the tax commission bill.

On the 15th of March, 1886, in Indiana. Mr. Noftzger was united in marriage to Miss Leille C. Kidd, a native of that com- monwealth and a daughter of Major M. H. Kidd, who was a loyal soldier during the Civil war, serving as an officer of the regular army. Two children have been born unto this union, -Millicent and Lee J. Frater- nally Mr. Noftzger is a Knight Templar Mason, of which he is a past master, and he is also a member of the Ancient Order of Unite: Workmen, Modern Woodmen of America and the Knights of Pythias. In both business and social life he has attained a position of distinction. He possesses a keen analytical power, a thorough under- standing of the needs of the people and a loyalty to Republican principles and insti- tutions, and whether in political or profes- sional life he will serve his fellow men well.

HENRY GEORGE MAGEE.

There is probably no man in Dresden township who stands higher in public esteem than the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch. He is one of the early settlers of Kingman county, and is now successfully engaged in general farming and stock rais- ing on section 33. Dresden township. A na- tive of Pennsylvania, he was born in Rock- ford. Potter county, April 20. 1856, and is of Dutch lineage, the family having come originally from Germany, where they owned vast estates, a share of which the grandfa- ther of our subject and later the father tried to recover, but were unsuccessful in their efforts as the name of the family had been changed from Helmecky to its present form. There is an interesting tradition as to how the name happened to be changed by this

branch of the family. During we di fie early wars between Germany and Ing .and. one of our subject's ancestors was captured while serving in the German army and was later paroled. Breaking his parole he re- joined the aring, but vas again taken prison- er, and to save his life he changed his name to Magee, which is probably a corruption of the latter part of the original name. The great grandfather of our subject was the first to come to America. He located in New York prior to the Revolutionary war, but aside from this fact little is known of him.

Lorenzo Magee, our subject's grami- ther, once owned the land on which the city of Syracuse, New York, now stands, having purchased the entire tract from the Indians at twelve and a half cents per acre after the Revolutionary war. The land be- ing low and swampy and conducive to ma- Maria, he finally sold it amirenot to Bemy sylvania, locating ner Vion. there be bought land and built one of the first saw- mills in tirent b cality. There he spent the re- mailer of his life. In his seven or eight sons, including Wolse . Ben- jamin, Michael. Daniel, Reuben and Lor- enzo. Wie

S New York, served a war. and another son took part in the same struggle. From New York Benjamin re- m wel to Hutchinson, Kansas, and pur- chased land of Brown & Bigg, but later sold out and came to Kingman county. making his home near Cunningham for a nul .. ci ver -. About 1888, however, he et Fish Creek, Wisconsin, not far from Green Bay.

Lorenzo Magee, the father of our sub- iect. was born on the present shed csc. New York, but was quite small when the family removed to Pennsylvania. where he grew to manhood. For some time he re- -sided on a farm at Raki

the same in connection with a sawmill. which was salsequently swept away by the innat- ing of a poser. i cay ley, the water coming down in a great flood, which Neste and carried away the mill. While residing there the mother offar sobie " josi and the father traded his farm for a canal

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boat, which he ran for several years on the New York & Genessee Valley canal, but later in life turned his attention to shoemak- ing. His last days were passed in Avon, New York. Politically he was a Jacksonian Democrat, and was very well versed in polit- ical matters. He was thrice married, and by the first wife had three children. but our sub- ject remembers the names of only two of these: Phœbe, the wife of Lafe Baley, a farmer of Livingston county, New York; and Mary, now deceased. For his second wife he wedded Mary Rutter, the mother of our subject, who died near Rockford, Penn- sylvania, about 1858, and to them were born eight children, namely: Enoch, who served three years in the Union army during the Civil war and was with Sherman on his famous march to the sea, is now a railroad conductor residing in Cedar Rapids, Iowa ; John died in Detroit, Michigan, about 1899; Lorenzo is a brick mason of Cedar Rapids, lowa; Henry G. is the next of the family ; Andrew is a carpenter living in Fillmore, New York: Irinda married twice, her first husband being Henry Race, and the second Amenzo Reed, she died in 1890: Henriette also married twice. her first husband being Reubin B. Franklin, and the second, Mar- sillo A. Dean, she died in 1867; Harriette was married to Wesley Race and is now a widow. living in Perry, New York. For his third wife the father married Sarah Blankenship, who died in Avon, New York.

As his mother died when our subject was only two years old, he made his home with his grandmother Magee until he was six, and then went to live with a man by the name of Miner Morse, with whom he re- mained for eight years, when Mr. Morse died and the farm was sold. Mr. Magee next made his home with an aunt until twen- ty-two years of age, in the meantime work- ing out upon a farm. His education was mainly obtained in the district schools of Livingston county, New York, the family being residents of that state.

On the 18th of September, 1878, at Fill- more. Allegany county, New York, Mr. Magee was united in marriage to Miss Delia E. Hoadley, a native of that county and a

daughter of Henry and Lorinda (Willy) Hoadley, who were natives of Ohio and New York respectively. Her father, who was a mechanic, was of English descent. Among the most prominent representatives of the family was Governor Hoadley, of Ohio, who was a cousin of Mrs. Magee, and her uncle, Isaac Hoadley, of Pennsylvania, the inventor of a valuable oil packer, for which he received fifteen thousand dollars. Her father was a soldier of the Civil war and en- listed in Allegany county. New York, in the One Hundred and Fourth New York Volunteer Infantry. Three times he was taken prisoner and was at last confined in Andersonville prison, where he starved to death. Mrs. Magee's mother is still living and is now a resident of Attica, Wyoming county, New York. For her second hus- band she married Eugene Merrill, a manu- facturer of fine shoes, and a brother of Senator Merrill. By her first union she had three children, namely: Delia E .. the wife of our subject ; Julliette, who died in Alle- gany county, New York, in 1872; and Henry, an extensive traveler now. living in North Dakota. Mr. and Mrs. Magee have six children : Franklin, Charles B., John H., Onnolee L., Guy E. and Arthur R.

For a year and a half after his marriage Mr. Magee continued to reside in the Empire state, where he was engaged in farming, but in the spring of 1880 came to Kansas, and on the 7th of April pre-empted a claim. Upon this place he has since made his home. The land on which he located was all wild and unimproved, and the few settlers in his section of the county were widely scattered. Among the number were Mr. Watkins, Will- iam and Thomas Bainumn and one or two others. For the first year Mr. Magee lived with his brother north of the Ninnescah river, but in 1881 he built a good sod house on his own land, fourteen by twenty-eight feet, divided into two rooms. The follow- ing year he received permission to abandon his claim from the government but did not use it. During the year 1881, he had broken fifteen acres of his land and had raised a crop of corn, and decided to stay upon his claim during the discouraging period of

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1882. The next year he built a frame house. sixteen by sixteen feet in dimensions, which now serves as a kitchen to his present resi- dence, and in 1886 built a dugout, which was his winter home for several years and proved a very comfortable residence.

It was in July of that year that the com- munity was thrown into a sudden and vio- lent panic by the report that Indians to the south of them were on the war path and coming their way. This report, which was probably started by herders, soon spread with great rapidity and was continually magnified, it being rumored that many had seen the Indians, and that they were almost upon them. Some even went so far as to say that they had seen them murdering the settlers. Mr. Magee was then harvesting wheat near the newly started town of Nin- nescah, and decided to investigate the mat- ter for himself before yielding to the panic. So he climbed the frame work of a hotel be- ing erected there, from which he could get a good view of the surrounding country, but no Indians were in sight. Returning to the field for his team he then started home to look after his family, but on reaching there found that they had left. He then spent the night with Mr. Bainumn, but was exceedingly anxious and worried about his wife and children, from whom he heard nothing. On the first alarm the majority of the population had fled for McPherson and Hutchinson and this section was almost de- populated, but some of the sturdiest re- mained at home. The following day Mr. Magee took his team and buggy and started toward Hutchinson, searching for his wife and children, but did not find them. After a time the refuges began to pluck up courage and return, among them being the family of our subject, who were brought back by Mr. Rush. That gentleman started for Mc- Pherson when the alarm first sounded, and on the way picked up all of the settlers that would go with him. among the number being our subject's wife and children. There was no truth whatever in the report that the In- dians were coming, and it was thought by many to have been a scheme of the herders to get the settlers out of the country.

In April, 1888, a cyclone passed through the neighborhood, tearing down Mr. Ma- god's barn and destroying about one hun- dred and fifty apple and peach trees on his place. Again on the 17th of May. 1898, he was caught in a terrific cyclone whi i totally wrecked the town of Cunningham, situated only about three-quarters of a mile - anh west of his farm. When the storm ap- proached he was in town with a team and wagon, and is was fairly upon Une lefre he realized the nature of it. Hastily hitch- ing his team to a rack, he made the great sprint of his life for Jack Mane there a number were already con regales. While he and Mr. Manuel were 1 ago che the door the cyclone struck the and the door was torn off and whisked away in an instant. After the storm passed i. went to look for his team and found that one horse had been killed and the other was so badly injured that it died a few days later. while the wagon was a total wreck. Strange as it may seem not a life was lost. although the town was practically destroyed, but the people had been watching the cake and found shelter before the storm broke. It passed from southwest to northeast. leaving a mass of wreckage, and at the present writ- ing its path is readily traced as far as Nin- nescal by bits of the wreck which still re- main. The ground was left exceedingly hard and difficult to cultivate, and the bot- tom of the Ninnescah laid bare where the cyclone crossed it, while the mud from the stream was thrown on two houses a mile apart.

Mr. Magee has converted his tract of wild land into a well improved farm, and has a fine grove of stately cottonvais cover- ing three acres, which he planted from cut- tings, and also has a good orchard of apple and peach trees. His farm is now all fenced, and all the land is under cultivation with the exception of forty acres which is in pasture. In addition to the operation of his own farm he rents considerable land. and during the mist season raised one hundred and thirty- five acres of wheat, one hundred and ten acres of corn, and forty-two acresof Kafir- corn and oats. Two years ago he bought

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fifty head of cattle and has since given con- siderable attention to the stock business, which he finds quite profitable. He has upon his place twelve fine thoroughbred Poland China hogs, two of which are registered. His present residence he moved from Cun- ningham to his farm in 1895, and attached to it his first frame house, so that he now has a good comfortable dwelling one and a half stories in height. There is also a sub- stantial barn, fourteen by sixty feet, and a granary upon his farm.

In his political views Mr. Magee is a Re- publican, and he has creditably filled the office of road overseer, township clerk and treasurer of the school board. Fraternally he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America, and religiously both he and his wife are members of the Christian church. They are people of the highest respectability, and well deserve the regard in which they are held in the community which has so long been their home.

W. W. MILLER

Certain sections of the country are char- acterized by lines of business peculiar to the region. Kansas is pre-eminently an agricul- tural and stock-raising state; nowhere in this broad land can be found finer stock farms than are seen within its borders, and the proprietors of these are mnen of enter- prise who have done much to improve the grade of stock raised in the country. From these farms cattle are shipped to all sections of the United States and fill a large market demand. W. W. Miller is actively associ- ated with this business as proprietor of the Maple Grove Stock Farm, and is also in- ventor and owner of the Miller Wheat Drill.

Mr. Miller was born in Schuylkill coun- ty, Pennsylvania, October 15, 1848, and is a son of Joseph and Polly ( Whetstone) Miller, both of whom were natives of the Keystone state. The great-grandfather on the maternal side was Burkhard Moser, who discovered the first anthracite coal in Penn-

sylvania and carried it over the Blue moun- tains to use in his own forge. The family is of Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry, noted for industry, honesty and patriotism. Joseph Miller was kicked by a horse and died in forty-eight hours after the accident, when our subject was only six years of age, and at his death left a widow and six children. The mother, long surviving him, died in Buffalo, New York, at the age of seventy- four years. The children were as follows : John, who is now living in New York; Anna, deceased ; Emma, who has also passed away; Mrs. Carrie Kauntz, of Philadelphia; W. W., of this review; Mrs. Mary Hart, of Rollo, Missouri; and E. W., a resident of Lyons.

Mr. Miller, whose name begins this rec- ord, spent his boyhood days in Pennsylvania and entered school there. He acquired a good education prior to the time of his en- listment in the Union army. He was only fourteen and a half years of age, when, on the 3d of March, 1862, he responded to the country's call for troops and joined the Thirty-ninth Pennsylvania Infantry. March 3, 1864, he re-enlisted in Company K, Forty- eighth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, First Brigade, Second Division, Ninth Army Corps, commanded by General Burn- side until July 30 and afterward by General Parks until the close of the war. He was the youngest soldier that went to the front in the spring of 1862 and carried a gun, but he displayed valor and bravery equal to that of many men of twice his years, and his war record is one of which he has every reason to be proud. He served under General Burn- side in the Army of the Potomac and par- ticipated in the Wilderness campaign, the battles of Gettysburg and Cold Harbor, the siege of Petersburg and was present at the mine explosion there. At Cold Harbor he was wounded by a musket ball in the left leg but escaped further injury and was ever found at the post of duty, loyally defending the old flag, the emblem of the Union. He was clischarged as a non-commissioned officer.

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A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 125

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