A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 129

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

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ri-ivy hay and grain and also making the valuable srules of ! --

ed and in 1000 still another of the same size was purchased. In 1899, however, he retired from business life and now rents his Som to Me - 33. He erected his present

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modern house in Ellinwood, where he is now enjoying a well earned rest.

Mr: Sessler was united in marriage to Miss Joanna Eule, a daughter of Godfrey Eule. She was born in Prussia, Germany, where their parents spent their entire lives. Mr. and Mrs. Sessler have become the par- ents of the following children: Mary, who married a Mr. Snyder and has one son, Everett : Lena, who is the wife of Louis Hagen and has four children, Bertha, Charles, Maude and Beatrice; Barbara, who is the twin sister of Lena, and is the wife of Edward Drake, by whom she has four children, Mary, Beatrice, Gladys and Gertrude; John, a farmer, who married Miss Kate Fuse and has two children living, Eddie and Retta, and one deceased, Edward; Charles, who married Miss Rosa Kaufman and follows farming; Louisa, deceased; and Louis, who is a student.

Mr. Sessler was for a short time a mem- ber of General Mower Post, No. 95, G. A. R., and is a member of the Masonic frater- nity, in which he has taken the Knight Templar degrees, while his two sons are also identified with the lodge. His life illus- trates in no uncertain manner the possibili- ties which lie before young men of deter- mined purpose in this land of the free. With energies guided by sound judgment one can work his way upward, for here ability and worth are recognized and effort finds its just reward.

J. FRANK MEDBERY.

Among the leading citizens of Hutchin- son none are more deserving of representa- tion in this volume than J. Frank Medbery, who for many years has been connected with its insurance interests. He was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on the 30th of Sep- tember. 1849. His father, John W. Med- bery, was born in Saratoga county, New York, in 1806, but about 1840 removed from his native state to Lansing, Michigan, where he was engaged in the manufacture of wooden ware until 1847. In that year

he located in Milwaukee, where he built the Empire Flour Mills and engaged in the mill- ing and pork packing business, there re- maining until 1864. In that year he sold his interests in the Wolverine state and took up his abode in Little Rock, Arkansas, where he purchased what was known as the Home Plantation, consisting of twelve hun- dred acres, and there for the following two or three years was extensively engaged in the raising of cotton. Again selling his in- terests, Mr. Medbery chose Bayou Sara, Louisiana, as his place of residence, there operating the Beauchamp plantation for about three years, which was also planted with cotton. During the last year of his residence there, however, a series of mis- fortunes overtook him, his cotton crop hav- ing been almost a total failure, the planta- tion became involved in chancery and yellow fever became prevalent throughout the coun- try. Accordingly, accompanied by his son, J. Frank Medbery, he removed to Fulton New York, where he purchased complete machinery for the manufacture of wooden ware, which he took to Washington, D. C., and set up in the old government mill built for the army by Secretary Stanton at Gris- boro Point. Associated with him in the en- terprise were Ex-Governor Randell, of Wis- consin, and Cornelius Wendell. After only a short residence in the capital city, how- ever, he was stricken with pneumonia, and after a few weeks' illness was called to his final home, passing away on the 16th of January, 1870, and was laid to rest in the Forest Home cemetery at Milwaukee. Among the prominent men who carried his remains to their last resting place was Mr. Mitchell, a prominent banker. Mr. Med- bery was a very prominent man in the lo- calities in which he made his home, and while in Milwaukee he served as a warden in the St. Paul's Episcopal church. In politics he was a very ardent Republican, and socially was connected with the Masonic and Odd Fellows fraternities.

He was married in Saratoga county, New York, to Mary R. Aldrich, a native of the Empire state and a daughter of William and Mary ( Robinson) Aldrich. The par-

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ents also claimed New York as the state of their nativity, and the mother was a member of the celebrated family of Wind- sors, of Revolutionary fame. Mrs. Medbery still survives and now makes her home with her son, John H. Her brother, William Aldrich, a resident of Chicago, was for two terms a member of congress from the first district of Illinois, where he served as chair- man of an important committee. His son, Frank A., succeeded him in congress, and became a very popular man and a great fa- vorite of Tom Reed, who made him man- ager of his campaigns. He was named to succeed General Lee in Havana, but his plans were disarranged by the death of his wife. He is now in the office of the comp- troller of currency. At the last inaugural ball he met Miss Mithelde Again, a noted society belle, and a short time afterward they were married. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Medbery were born four children. The eldest, John H., became one of the carly pioneers of Reno county, where he was ex- tensively engaged in farming and stock- raising on the Ninnescah, and was after- ward associated with C. H. Sweetser, of Hutchinson, in the real-estate business. He is now residing at King Fisher, where he is engaged in business. His mother came to Reno county about the same time of his location here. and she is now associated with him in his business. J. Frank Medbery, the subject of this review, is the second son in order of birth, and the two youngest chil- dren. William and Benjamin, died in child- hood in Milwaukee and are now sleeping beside their father in the Forest Home cem- eterv.

J. Frank Medbery was educated in the public and military schools of Milwaukee. and also in the college at East London. Ontario, and is a graduate of the Columbus Law School. of Washington, D. C. While a student in the military academy he was a schoolmate of McArthur, late in command of the American army in the Philippines. When our subject was only fifteen years of age his intense patriotism prompted his en- listment in the army, but his parents with- heid their consent to his becoming a stiller

at that early age, and he was accordingly sent to the college in Ontario, where he could see nothing of recruiting of water ing, there remaining for two years. At the expiration of that period, then starten years of age, he joined his father on the Beauchamp plantation, where he ably as- sisted him in its supervision, often taking entire charge when his father was ab-ent on business trips to Havana and Boston. On leaving the plantation he went to St. Louis, where he remained until his father's affairs were settled, after which he joined him on his trip to Fulton, New York, to purchase machinery for his plant and re- mained with him until his death. Through the influence of Mathew Carpenter, spero. tary of the interior. Mr. Medbery was given a good position in the interior department, receiving twelve hundred dollars per year. but after six years' service therein he ten- dered his resignation and came to Kans .. purchasing lots in Wichita. Shortly after- ward. however, he returned to Washisom and resumed his former position, where die remained until 1883, and during that time his salary was increased to eighteen hun- dred dollars per year. While in the cap? . ' city, in addition to his regular duties, he also served as private secretary to his uncle. William Aldrich. Returning again to tile Sunflower state. he purchased two farms in the Ninnescah, in Reno county, als- in Wichita, and for a time made his hier on one of these farms. In 1883 he va- cji- pointed chief clerk to Judge W. R. Bacon. in the land office, serving in that caseft for almut www Netre .:

to Hutchinson. selling his interests in Reno county. In 1888. for the third time. he went to Washington, D. C. there hemming associated with George E. Lemon, who was then doing the large .:

claim agent in the city, having

time one hundred thousand claims file. which amount was

the fon Wing Lem

ceiving one milliifni

Medbery thus spent five years in lo cie after special claims in the podle die". ment and introducing special bills . com.

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gress. Returning to Reno county, Kansas, in 1893, he engaged in the real-estate and insurance business, but after a time aban- doned the former and has since devoted his attention exclusively to insurance. He has the reputation of having written up more insurance and brought more money into this locality than any other man in Huachinson. In 1893 he organized the first Woodmen lodge in Hutchinson, also the first Knights and Ladies of Security the following year, and in 1895 organized the Court of Honor in this city. He has also founded that lodge in many other points throughout Kansas. In 1897 he also organized the Modern Ton- tines of Hutchinson, which now has a mem- bership of five hundred, and at the present time he represents the Modern Tontines and the Mutual Casualty Company in what is known as the Kansas City district of Kan- sas, the latter organization being for the benefit of the sick and those disabled by ac- cident.

On the 28th of April, 1875, at Wash- ington, D. C., Mr. Medbery was united in marriage to Effie D. Pyfer, the Rev. Dr. Addison, of the Episcopal church, perform- ing the ceremony. The lady was born in Baltimore, Maryland, a daughter of Philip and Mary (Dorsey ) Pyfer, both also natives of that commonwealth. The Pyfers are an old and prominent family of Maryland, and there the father of Mrs. Medbery was a wealthy planter and slave owner. He was strongly opposed to the slave traffic, how- ever, and afterward liberated them under an act of congress. The Dorsey family were equally prominent among the aristoc- racy of Baltimore. A sister of Mrs. Med- bery married Captain Crandell, of the United States army, he having served as brigadier general under General U. S. Grant during the Rebellion and is now a re- tired major of the United States army. He was at one time senior officer at Fort Reno, Kansas, also at Fort Houston, Texas, and at the time of his retirement was at Fort Douglas, Utah. His daughter, Margaret Crandell, married Captain Leitch, also of the United States army. The latter served throughout the Spanish-American war, par-

ticipated in the terrible fight at San Juan Hill, and was afterward stricken with yel- low fever at Santiago and was obliged to return home. After recovering his health he was assigned to Presidio, California, was afterward ranking officer at Fort Houston, Texas, and from there was sent to Fort Logan, Colorado. On his way to the lat- ter place he passed through Hutchinson, [. where his train was held for an hour, and he there visited with his family and friends. From Fort Logan he was ordered with his regiment to Manila, where he is still sta- tioned, and his wife is now with her mother in Washington. The union of our subject and wife has been blessed with six children, namely : J. Frank, who was born in Wash- ington, D. C., on the IIth of March, 1876, was educated in the public schools of Hutch- inson and Washington, and is now a resi- dent of the latter city, where he is asso- ciated in business with D. M. Walford, a prominent dealer in jewelry and sporting goods ; Philip P., also born in Washington, D. C., December 10, 1877, was educated in Larned and Hutchinson, Kansas, and in Washington, and spent the winter of 1901, in Florida, representing the Union News Company, but has now gone to the "strip" to take up land; Aldrich, born in Washing- ton, February 13, 1881, was educated in his native city and Hutchinson, and is now with the Harvey News Company; Fred, born in Hutchinson in 1886, received his education in this city and Washington, and is now attending the North Side School ; Mary, born in Washington, in 1887, is at- tending school in this city; Dorothy was born in Pretty Prairie, Reno county, Kan- sas, in 1893.

The Republican party receives Mr. Med- bery's hearty support and co-operation. His social relations connect him with the Knights of Pythias fraternity, joining B. B. French Lodge, of Washington, D. C., when twenty-one years of age, but afterward be- came a member of Peabody Lodge, of Al- bany, New York, which he joined while with Hood, the noted jeweler of Albany. He also holds membership relations with the Royal Arch Masons, Lodge No. 2, of

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Washington. He was reared in St. Paul's Episcopal church in Milwaukee, and his wife is also a member of that denomination.

NOAH WARNSTAFF.

Noah Warnstff, one of the best known of the early pioneers of Barber county and a venerable and highly respected citizen of Lake City township, took up his abode on the old homestead on section 2, twenty-six years ago and here he has since maintained his residence. He is now advanced in years and lives retired from active work. together with his faithful wife. In their old age they are living with their son Henry, who carries on the work of the farm, while the latter's wife contributes in every way possible to the comfort and welfare of the parents.

Noah Warnstaff was born in Pendleton county. Virginia, February 17, 1823, and is a son of Jacob Warnstaff, who was born in Monroe county, Virginia, April II. 1793, and had a family of two sons and a daugh- ter. As far as is known, the family is of English lineage on the paternal side and was founded in Virginia at an early date. but meager records have been kept and our subject knows but little of his grandfather, save that he was a farmer and died at the age of sixty-four. The family seems to have mainly followed agricultural pursuits, although the father of our subject in early life engaged in carpentering. He served as a member of the cavalry in the war of 1812 and at its close returned to the farm, where, as the years passed, he became well-to-do. He cultivated a large tract of land and also operated a tanyard. He died at an ad- vanced age respected by all who knew him. His political suport was given to the Whig party. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Catherine Pope, was a daughter of Peter Pope, and survived her husband for many years, dying at the advanced age of ninety in the faith of the Methodist church, of which she had long been a member. In their family were nine children. Susan i- living on the old homestead. Noah is the

subject of this sketch. Peter is still living on the old homestead with his sister Susan. Rebecca was the wife of Charles Dasher, but She passed away in Moniteau county, Mis- souri, July 8, 1868. John followed the car- penter's trade and at the time of his death, which occurred in 1888 in Ray county, Mis- souri, he was holding an official position in the county. Mary was the wife of Samuel Trumbull. She died on the 18th of March, 1866, in Pendleton county, West Virginia. Sarah is the next in order of birth. Cather- ine died on the 19th of October, 1831. Ja- cob passed away on the 6th of September, 1844. Josephine died September 27, 1836.

Taking up the personal history of Noah Warnstaff, we present to our readers the life record of one who is widely and favor- ably known in Barber county. He was reared on the old family homestead in what is now West Virginia, but he was so close to the division line of the Old Dominion that he attended school in Rockingham, Vir- ginia, as well as in his own district. Ile was married September 20. 1854, on the south fork of the Potomoc river in Pendle- ton county, West Virginia, to Aseneth Con- ger, who was born in that county October 7, 1828, a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Randall) Conger. Her father was born in Pendleton county, May 13, 1781, and her mother was born in Hardy county, Virginia, October 3, 1784. He became one of the prosperous farmers of his na- tive county and there both he and his wife resided for many years, the father. dying December 8. 1852, while the mother passed away September 26. 1858. They had ten children : Abel, who was born on the 31st of October. 1806, was a blacksmith of Pen- dleton county, where he died August 30. 1846. Jacob, whose birth occurred on the 6th of February, ISon. is a resident of l'ex- dleton county. George, born January 13, 1812, was a farmer of Pendleton county and po-se l away there. Jesse, also a farm- ." of Pendleton county, was born June 13, 1814, and passed away in the same county. Job carried on farming in eastern Iown. Noah was born October 17, 1816. and died in Cass county, Missouri, about 1875. An-

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drew, who was born October 9, 1821, died in childhood. Hannah E., born June 19, 1824, died in Marion county, Ohio. Amelia R., who was born March 17, 1826, is the widow of Solomon Judy and resides in Cass county, Missouri. Mrs. Warnstaff completes the family.

After the death of his father, which occurred June 22, 1850, Noah Warnstaff remained on the home farm, which he op- erated in partnership with his brother Peter until 1857, when he sold his interest to his brother and removed with his family to Marion county, Ohio. After a year they went to Hardin county, where our subject purchased one hundred acres of land, carry- ing on its cultivation until 1864. In the meantime he served for one hundred days as a member of the One Hundred and Thir- ty-fifth Ohio Infantry, being sworn in at Camp Chase. From there the regiment was sent to Martinsburg, Virginia, and on to Harper's Ferry, aiding in recapturing that important point and also Maryland Heights. In one of the engagements of that locality Mr. Warnstaff was run over by a cavalry wagon, having his hip badly hurt. About one-half of the regiment, while guarding the railroad, was surrounded in a block house at Point of Rocks, and captured, but Mr. Warnstaff was not with that portion of the regiment at the time. He was largely engaged in guard and skirmish duty and on the expiration of his term of service, re- turned to Ohio, but after two weeks had passed he removed to Knox county, Illinois, where he spent the succeeding winter. In the spring of 1865 he went to Clinton coun- ty, Missouri, and after a year there passed, took up his abode in Cass county, Missouri, where he purchased a farm of more than eighty acres, his attention being given to its cultivation until 1876.

That year witnessed the arrival of Mr. Warnstaff in Barber county, Kansas. He had been preceded by his son and son-in- law. His goods were shipped through to Hutchinson and then brought the remainder of the distance by team. He brought with him to his new home a number of horses

and cattle and after locating on the farm where he still resides, he was extensively engaged in the raising of stock and the cul- tivation of the fields. During his residence here he has added one hundred and twenty acres to his farm, has fenced the entire area and now has one hundred and twenty acres under cultivation. He also has a fine herd of seventy-five head of domestic cattle, in- cluding Herefords, red polls and Shorthorns. He also has a good orchard and a comfort- able residence upon his place ..

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Warnstaff has been blessed with five children: Re- becca, the wife of Ben English, a farmer of Lake City, Barber county; Susan, who married John Davis, a farmer and carpenter of Woods county, Oklahoma; Jacob, a stockman of Barber county; Henry T., who has charge of the home farm; and Ida, the wife of Gidd Miller, a farmer and stock- man of Barber county. The youngest son was married June 9, 1896, in Barber coun- ty, to Minnie Marsh, who was born in Clay county, Missouri, a daughter of Benjamin and Melissa ( Berryman) Marsh, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Mis- souri. Her father died in Barber county in 1894 and her mother is now living with her son on a farm south of Lake City. In their family were six children: Flora, the wife of John McCambley, a farmer of Barber county, Kansas; Ida, the wife of George Tuggle, who is a farmer of Ray county, Missouri: Charles, who carries on farm- ing in Barber county, Kansas; Minnie, the wife of Henry T. Warnstaff; Tommie, living with his mother ; and Edward, who is living with his brother Charles.

Since coming to Barber county Mr. Warnstaff of this review has been called upon to fill many of the local offices. He was justice of the peace for ten years, has been township treasurer and clerk for sev- eral terms and has frequently served as a delegate to the county conventions of the parties. He was formerly a Republican but is now a Populist. He belongs to Lake City Camp. No. 4673. Modern Woodmen of America, and to the Grand Army Post, be-

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ing chaplain of the latter. Both heat : Ms m 1801, he enlisted in Company 1. Ninth wife are faithful and devoted members of the Methodist church of Lake City, in which he has served as class leader and stewand.

.A. J. MALICK.

Pennsylvania has contributed to Kan- sus an admirable element of its prestatie. which is worthily represented at Hutchinson by A. J. Malick, farmer and real-estate leal. ur. Where residence is at number : Nein Monroe street.

A. J. Malick was born in Erie cammy. Pennsylvania, February 28, 1837, 2 -11 0 Jacob Malick, also a native of the Keystone state, who was a farmer and stock-raiser. In common with others in his locality at that time Jacob Malick was obliged to labor hand to pay for land and support his family in a rugged and measurably unproductive coun- try, but he was a man of strong character who put forth strenuous efforts to succeed. Politically he was a Democrat and he was a consistent member of the Baptist church. He married Catherine Henebaugh whose early life was spent in Crawford county. Pennsyl- vania, and who bore him seven children, of whom four survive: A. J. Malick, who is the immediate subject of this sketch: John B., who is an oil operator at Bra-liord coca- ty. Pennsylvania : Sarah, who married Mr. Cady, a lumberman at Cold Water. Michi- gan: and Samuel L., who is a carpenter a Hutchinson, Kansas. A. J. Malick's mother clied when he was six years old and his fa- ther. unable to look after his children and attend to his daily labors found them have. with friends and relatives and for year- five! a lonely life until he married Angeline Rates. of Erie county, Pennsylvania. He Sol in his Pennsylvania home in 1863.

The subject of this sketch grew to man- heal without the care of a mother and with- out home influences and received meager education. Almost as a mere boy he worked around his neighborhoo ting tif ferent farmers and he was employed to farm hand until at the age of twenty-four. 93

Ne, to August, 1865, who. : 1 ceived an honorable discharge at Buffalo.

anlat Battres. Maurer and after that he participated in the defense of Washington, Speelvania tout Base and other points thembut and in Sheplan. i Riescoall be sms active and arduos. in the dash 1. Harper's Ferry and fought under Sherman in all his battles with Early in the Shenandoah valley. At Berryville, near Winchester in the fight known as the Wife of Winchester. he was struck in the bread by a musket ball. but though he was ren (lered insensible and carried off the field he was not seriously wounded for the reason that the force of the ball was broken by a mass of cartridges in an outside pocket. When he was carried off of the field he was thought to be mortally wounded, lait soll recovered and was a member of General Grant's escort when that officer rode for- want to meet Lee at Appomattox. His brother Samuel saw service during the en- tire period of war in the same company. During the past eighteen years Mr. Malick has drawn a person of twelve calles.

After the war Mr. Malick returned to Erie county, Pennsylvania, farmed there on et for force years cowi during re- lence there he married Dunn, whose parents were native D' yi vanians. In 1868 he removed with his fam- E to Marion county, Indiana, where he bought a farm of eighty acres in the midst met amlash trees. He made a little vier

ont sitten le (ms-four feet. He then constructed a sawmill and began to manufacture lumber, a for which ther. Er. .. time after- wird. By means of rails which he sollte:

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on his farm he fenced his place into four distinct fields. He raised miscellaneous crops and stock and planted and made other improvements, remaining there five years. He then sold his Indiana farm and went to Reno county, Kansas, making the journey by team, taking along altogether three horses. He rented one hundred and sixty acres two miles northeast of Hutchinson and engaged in general farming, his principal crops being corn and oats. In 1876 almost all of his crops were destroyed by grasshop- pers. During the next few years he had practical experience of hard times, and was unable to make more than a fair living which he eked out by hunting, killing deer and antelope and other game. Buffalo meat could be bought very cheap within fifty miles of his prairie home. After farming there five years he rented another farm about two miles northwest of Hutchinson, on which he lived two years, until he bought ten acres of railroad land. all of which is now within the corporate limits of Hutchinson, on which he built a box-house with a floor area of sixteen by twenty-four feet. A little later he received back pension from the United States government to the amount of seven hundred dollars and added to his cash cap- ital by selling a small herd of cattle which he had accumulated. and thus he was en- abled to build a substantial addition to his house at an expense of five hundred dollars and to add fifty acres more land to his place, which like his original ten acres is now wholly within the limits of the city of Hutch- inson. Though his land is all surveyed into lots he operates it as a farm. Shortly after his first purchase of ten acres he planted many fruit and shade trees on the land, and when Hutchinson's boom came he was of- fered five hundred dollars an acre for the ten acres, with the understanding that he should have the privilege of removing from it all fruit trees, shade trees and shrubbery. He accepted the proposition and, buying forty acres of land two miles west of Hutch- inson, transferred the trees and shrubbery to it, but continued to live in his old resi- (lence. Eventually the man who had bought the ten acres and who had paid more than

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A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 129

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