A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 136

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 136

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ISAAC W. WATERS.

Isaac W. Waters, a practical and enter- prising agriculturist, owns and operates a valuable and highly improved farm m sec- tion 7, Eureka township, Kingman county, Kansas. His possessions have been ac- quired through his own efforts, and as the result of his consecutive endeavor he has won a place among the substantial citizens of his adopted county.

A native of Ohio, Mr. Waters was born in Brown county, July 8, 1842, and is a son of John Waters, who was born in 1815 in either Ohio or Kentucky. His great-grand- father, Isaac Waters, was a native of ling- land and was the founder of the family in the new world. On coming to America he lo- cated near Paris or Lexington, Kentucky, and was there united in marriage with a Miss Onsett'er, who was of German birth. Their last days were spent in Ohio. James Waters, our subject's grandfather, was probably born in Kentucky and at an early day emigrated to Ohio. He purchased a quarter section of land in Brown county, where he spent the re- minder of his life, engaged in agricultural pursuits. His death occurred in that county absent 1804. He participated in one of the early wars. probably that of 1812. He was twice married. his first wife being a Miss Wallace, by whom he had three children : John. the father of our subject : Isaac (. : and Basil, who was drowned when a young man. For his second wife he wedded a Miss McKee, and to them were born four chil- dren, namely: America. Margaret. Nancy and Alexander, all residents of Brown coun- ty, Ohio.

John Waters spent his early life in Ohio. principally in Brown county, where he was reared upon a farm, and there he was mar-

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ried. September 5. 1839, to Miss Retta Ann Glaze, who was born December 20. 1820. He owned a good farm of one hundred and twenty acres of land in Brown county, which he continued to operate until our sub- ject was several years old and then removed to Indiana, where he resided for a few years, but finally reurned to Brown county, Ohio. his wife having interest in an estate there. of which he had charge for a number of years. His last days, however, were spent in Vermilion county, Illinois, where he died on the Ioth of March. 1877. honored and respected by all who knew him. He was a life-long member of the Christian, or what was then called the Newlight, church, and was a Democrat in political sentiment. His wife still survives him and now makes her home with her children in Stafford county, Kansas. In religious faith she is a Baptist and is a most estimable woman. The family of this worthy couple consisted of ten chil- dren, namely: Malila A .. born January 24, 1841, died in infancy : Isaac W .. our subject. is the next in order of birth : Retta E., born November 8. 1844. died June 7. 1880: Mar- garet J., born December 17. 1848. is the wife of William Roush, a farmer of Pratt county. Kansas : James D., born June 18, 1851, died November 24. 1877: Nathaniel T., born March 10. 1854, is a farmer of Oklahoma, living twenty miles east of Pond Creek : George W., born January 22, 1856, died Oc- teher 31. 1860: Aaron B., born February 8. 1859. died October 31, 1860; Maria J .. born September 8, 1862, died March 2. 1864: and Walter I .. born January 24, IS67. is a resident of Stafford county, Kan- sas.

In the county of his nativity Isaac W. Waters grew to manhood, and gave his fa- ther the benefit of his labors upon the home farm until he attained his majority, also working as a farm hand by the month to some extent. On October 31, 1867, he was there united in marriage to Miss Margaret Roush, who was born in Highland county, Ohio. November 8, 1844. Her parents, Henry and Rachel (Wilken) Roush, were both natives of Pennsylvania and of Ger- man descent. They were married. however.

in Ohio, and when Mrs. Waters was quite small removed to Huntington, Indiana, where the father became owner of a farm. He subsequently returned to Ohio, and still later removed to Missouri, from which state he came to Kansas, locating at Norwich, Kingman county, where his death occurred March 9, 1900. His widow is still living and makes her home with a son in King- man county. They were the parents of four- teen children, who in order of birth are as follows: Emanuel, a farmer of Missouri; Margaret. wife of our subject : William, a farmer of Pratt county, Kansas: Daniel, a resident of Nevada. Missouri : George, who (lied in that state ; Leah C .. wife of Fred Mil- houser, a farmer of Pratt county, Kansas ; Jacob, a farmer of Kingman county; Ste- phen, a railroad man living in Vernon coun- ty. Missouri : Harriet, wife of John Shankle, a farmer of Bell township, Reno county, Kansas : Luella, wife of Isaac Shankle, who is employed at the elevator in Penalosa, Kingman county; Milila A. and Mary E., twins, who died in infancy; Abraham, a farmer of Kingman county; and two who died when young. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Waters have been born ten children, as fol- inus : Rachel A., who died in Summit coun- ty. Kansas: Ida L., wife of D. M. Wise, a farmer of Reno county, Kansas: John L .. who died in infancy in Missouri: Isaac P .. a farmer of Dresden township, Kingman county, Kansas: Robert B., William T .. George R .. Chloe and Edna L., all at home ; and one who died at birth.

After his marriage Mr. Waters remained in Brown county, Ohio, for about eighteen months. his time being devoted to farming. and then removed to Marion county, Mis- souri. where he spent four or five years, working by the month a part of the time and being engaged in farming for himself the remainder. He next made his home in Cole county, Missouri, for two or three wears, and from there removed to Cham- paign county, Illinois, where the following year was passed. For six years he was a res- ilent of Vermilion county, Illinois, and from there he came to Kansas in 1882, stopping first at Pretty Prairie. Reno county, where

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he followed farming one year. At the end " his farming operations, however. he has of that time he removed to Kingman county, run a threshing machine nearly every fall since coming to this county. His first machine was run by horse-power. but he later owned a fine J. I. Case threshing outfit for a period of two years. and on selling that in 1892 bought a half interest in an Avery separator and engine in partnership with E. H. Murry, who was killed by stepping into the cylinder. Mr. Waters belongs to that class of men whom the world terms self-made. for coming to this county with only a dollar and a half in his pocket. he has conquered all the wi- stacles in the path to success, and has not on- ly secured for himself a comfortable proper- tv but by his efforts has materially advance i the interests of the community with which he is associated. He is a Democrat in poli- tics and has efficiently served as township clerk three terms and road overseer several terms. Fraternally he is a member of Turin Lodge, No. 358. A. F. & A. M., and the Odd Fellows Lodge at Lerado, in which he has filled all the chairs. His estimable wife is a ment ori the United Brethren church. and pre-empted the southeast quarter of section 7, Eureka township. Mr. Waters brought with him only one horse and al- though he bought another soon after locat- ing here it unfortunately died, leaving him without a team. Upon his place he erected a box house, fourteen by sixteen feet, board- ed up and down, and broke about ten acres of his land, but having no team he was ob- liged to work for others for about two years. He was then able to purchase a yoke of steers, and with them broke forty acres of his land. He also saved enough to buy a cow, for which he paid forty dollars, but be- ing greatly in need of a well he gave the cow to a man to bore a well for him. The work. however, was dishonestly done and proved utterly worthless, so that he lost the entire amount. In those early days Mr. Waters traded considerably and at length became the owner of two suckling colts. which he kept until they were two years old and then sold them. He continued to work for others for some time, but was at length able to devote his entire time and attention to his farm. Since then he has steadily pros- pered, although at one time he was obliged to mortgage his place, but it is now free from ANDREW KIPP. debt. and one hundred and twenty acres of the farm are under cultivation. In 1899 he erected a good substantial house, and also built a double granary sixteen by twenty- four feet.

Success having attended his efforts, Mr. Waters has been able to add to his property. and in September, 1900, purchased the southwest quarter of section 12, Dresden township. of which forty acres had been fenced and one hundred acres were under cultivation. Since then he has fenced the entire amount. has put up a windmill, and made many other useful and valuable in- provements. He gives his attention prin- cipally to general farming and makes a spe- cialty of his wheat crum, raising feer the1- sand bushels last season. He has two hun- dred and twenty acrs of land under cul- tivation, and devotes nearly the entire amount to that crop. In connection with

Andrew Kipp, who follows general farming and stock-raising in section 9. Black Wolf township, is a member of one of the most prominent German families of Ellsworth county. His landed possessions have become very extensive and his life de- monstrates the possibilities that lie before young men of determined purpose and tin- flagging perseverance in this free land. where labor is recognized and true worth is rewarded.

Mr. Kipp was born in Wurtemberg. Germany, October 9. 1850, and has been a resident of Ellsworth county since 1877. His parents were Jacob and Anna Kipp. the former a farmer, miller and brick manufac- turer. In their family were four children, of whom our subject is the youngest and the only one now living. He spent the first ser- enteen years of his life in his native

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land, and then. hoping to benefit his financial condition in the new world, an : prompted by a spirit of adventure ar l a desire to see this country, crossel the Atlantic with some cousins. His fa- ther had died in the meantime and he was dependent upon his own resources for a liv- ing. After sixteen days spent upon the ocean he landed in New York and thence made his way to Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, where he was employed as a farm hand for a year and a half. Later he made his way westward to Illinois, where he followed farming for two years, and for four years was employed in an organ fac- tory in Mendota, Illinois. In 1877 he started for Kansas, bringing with him grain and lumber for a house. His father-in-law had here a quarter section of land, which was broken, but no improvements had been made upon it. This was the southeast quarter of section 9 and is the site of Mr. Kipp's pres- ent home. On reaching the county he turned his attention to the raising of wheat, and for some time that was his principal crop. the rich soil yielding good returns, and as his financial resources increased he began to engage in stock-raising, and now makes a specialty of a good grade of shorthorn and Hereford cattle. He keeps about forty head of cows and raises calves for feeders. He also operates five hundred acres of land, which is planted to corn and wheat, and the remainder of his extensive realty is rented. He made judicious investments in property as the years have passed, and is now one of the most extensive land holders in the county. His residence and buildings are an ornament to the locality. In 1894 he built a fine barn, thirty-two by forty-eight feet, and there are good sheds and necessary out- buildings upon his place, all being kept in good condition, showing no lack of repair. In 1897 he erected what is one of the finest country residences in this portion of the state. It is large, built in modern style of architecture and its exterior adornments are equalled by its tasteful and rich furnishings. Mr. Kipp has been one of the progressive men of the locality, has with courageous spirit met the difficulties occasioned by the

hard times and now he is one of the most prosperous men of the county and one of the heaviest wheat growers.

On the 7th of March, 1872, Mr. Kipp was united in marriage to Miss Caroline Ultch. a daughter of John Peter Ultch. Her father was born in Germany, was a blacksmith by trade, and in 1848 came to America. He then secured a homestead in Bureau county, Illinois, and was very suc- cessful in his work there. Mrs. Kipp is the eldest of six children, and by her mar- riage she has become the mother of five chil- dren : Fred, who died at the age of twenty- five years; John, who is engaged in farming in Black Wolf township; Aaron, who is at- tending school in Kansas City; Letty; and Carrie. Until of late years Mr. Kipp has always voted with the Republican party, but the honors and emoluments of office have no attraction for him. For a long period he served on the school board, the cause of edu- cation receiving his ardent support. He is a member of the Evangelical church and is deeply interested in everything pertaining to the welfare and progress of the community. He ranks among the most capable, reliable and successful business men of Ellsworth county and in this history well deserves rep- resentation.

NICHOLAS M. MEYERES.

No life history presents more forcibly the lesson that diligence and enterprise are a power in the business world that accom- plishes great results than does the record of the career of Nicholas M. Meyeres, who is engaged in merchandising in Willowdale, Kingman county. He is also the postmaster there and he has valuable farming interests in the county. He was born in the province of Luxembourg, which is now under the protectorate of the Belgium government, his natal day being May 13, 1853. His father, Dominick Meyeres, was a native of the same province and was there reared. He mar- ried Catharina Wildgen, whose birth also occurred in that locality, and in the year 1855 they emigrated to America, our sub-

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ject being at that time two years old and the youngest of their eighteen children. The parents located near Port Washington, Wis- consin, where the father purchased forty acres of land, of which his son Michael tock charge, afterward enlarging its boundaries through additional purchase. The father died in 1876 and the mother passed away in Port Washington in 1885. Both held mem- bership in the Catholic church and the for- mer was a Democrat in his political affilia- tions. Their son Michael remained on the old homestead at Port Washington until 1873. when he was accidentally killed by a horse. Another brother, who like our sub- ject was named Nicholas, is now engaged in farming near Chilton, Wisconsin, while a third brother is engaged in farming in Ben- ton county, Kansas. Two sisters are also living -- Elizabeth, the wife of John Webster. of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin; and Barbara. who is the widow of Nicholas Sterns, who conducted a hotel. She now resides in Chi- cago and some of her children are employed in the large mercantile establishment owned by Marshall Field & Company.

In the district schools of Wisconsin Mr. Meyeres of this review mastered the com- mon branches of English learning and later attended the high school of Port Washing- ton. He remained at home until sixteen years of age, when he went to Sheboygan county, Wisconsin, where he remained for years, engaged in farm work. On the ex- piration of that period he removed to the mining district of Michigan and for three years worked in the mines as a surface hand. In the fall of 1877 he came to Kansas, lo- cating in Barton county, where he secured a timber claim, but the trees did not grow and he afterward obtained possession of it as a homestead claim.

Mr. Meyeres was married January 24. 1883, to Catherine Thrill, who was born in Sheboygan county, Wisconsin, a daughter of Nicholas and Catherine ( Schecheir ) Thrill. both of whom were natives of Lux- embourg. Germany, and in childhood came to the United States. They were married in Wisconsin, where the father followed farm- | received twice each week. ing until 1883, when his death occurred.

His widow still lives on the home farm in that state, and six of their children vet sur- vive, namely : Frank, a resident farmer of Lyon county, Kansas ; Christina, the wife of August Good, also a farmer of Lyon county ; Elizabeth, the wife of Nicholas Majams, who lives near Coldwich, Sedgwick county, Kansas, where he devotes his energies to ag- ricultural pursuit ; Lena. the wife cf Demi- nick Paradeis, of Meyer county, South Da- kota; Peter, a farmer of South Dakota: and Rose, the wife of Mr. Paradeis. a farmer of western lowa.

After his marriage Mr. Meyeres made his home upon his claim until 1892, when he sold that property for twenty-four hun- dren dollars, having made many excellent improvements upon it in the meantime. He then removed to a farm seven miles distant, situated in the adjoining township, and pur- chased three hundred acres of raw land. which was his place of residence for eight years, during which time he successfully car- ried on general farming and stock-raising. Of this two hundred acres is under cultiva- tion and the remainder is devoted to pastur- age purposes. During the season of 1901 he rented one hundred and sixty acres of his farm and operated the remainder. There were one thousand bushels of wheat raised on his farm that season, one hundred and sixty acres being planted to wheat. In the fall of 1900 Mr. Meveres sold his farm and removed to Willowdale, where at a cost of fifteen hundred dollars he erected a building. twenty-four by forty feet and a story and a half in height, with a basement. To the main building there is also an addition. twelve by sixteen feet, the entire building serving as a dwelling, store and postoffic ... The store occupies space twenty-four by twenty-four feet in the front and is filled with a good stock of general merchandise, including provisions, dry goods, hardware and other marketable commodities to the value of three thousand dollars. The post- office is a special one, the mail route being between Willowdale and Zenda and the con- tract was given to Mr. Meyeres, mail being

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Meyeres were born

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seven children, all yet living, namely : Nich- olas, a carpenter and painter of Barton coun- tv. Kansas; and Christina, Maggie, Peter, Elizabeth. Veronia and Johnnie, all yet at home. The faithful wife and mother de- parted this life in Barton county, March 1, 1896, and was laid to rest in St. Mary's cemetery, at Odin. In his political views Mr. Meyeres is a stalwart Democrat where national issues are involved but at local elec- tions he is absolutely independent of party ties, supporting the men whom he thinks best fitted for the offices. For three terms he held the office of township trustee, was township clerk for two terms and has been a member of the school board. He is a prominent member of St. Peter's Catholic church, at Willowdale, and is a public- spirited and progressive citizen who gives an earnest support to every measure which he believes is for the general good.

WILLIAM PELLS.

William Pells. a popular and efficient passenger engineer on the Santa Fe Rail- road, maintains his residence at No. 128 Tenth street, Hutchinson. He was born in London, England, on the IIth of April, 1850, a son of James and Susan ( Smith) Pells, both also natives of that country. The father was engaged in the manufactur- ing industry on an extensive scale until 1852, when, with hundreds of others, his life's labors were ended in death during the cholera epidemic of that year. After the death of her husband the mother, with the aid of her eldest sons. carried on the business until her death, which occurred about 1867. She was a woman of energy and resource, and when left a widow she successfully man- aged the large business entrusted to her care and succeeded in keeping her family to- gether. Since her death the enterprise has been conducted by the sons at 56 Palmyra street, Victoria Park, where they have two large houses. In their family were five chil- dren, four sons and one daughter, as fol- lows: James, who resides in London : Rob-

ert, who carries on the business established by his father; Mary, the wife of Landslet Bell and a resident of London; William, the subject of this review; and Charles, who is the manager of a large dry-goods house in London.

William Pells attended the city schools of London until his fifteenth year, when he entered a dry goods store and was there em- ployed in the capacity of a clerk and sales- man for four years. When but nineteen years of age he established a small store of his own on Milerend road, in the eastern part of London, which he conducted for the following two years. He was then mar- ried, Miss Emma Trotter 1.ecoming his wife. She, too, was born in the city of London, and was a daughter of James Trotter. Af- ter his marriage Mr. Pells received his por- tion of the estate, and he then started for America, and on his arrival in this country he located in Grovesport, Ohio, where he had relatives living. There he purchased a small fruit farm, on which he made his home until his removal to Kansas, purchasing one hundred and sixty acres of unimproved land in Newton county. His land was located southeast of the town of Newton, on Jester creek, and the purchase price was four dol- lars an acre. This he improved and made his home for the following three years, when he removed to Peabody, this state, purchas- ing a team and a number of cows and hogs, paying fifty dollars apiece for the latter. With this outfit he began farming opera- tions, and at that time his only experience in this line of work was on the little fruit farm in Ohio. His surroundings here presented a marked contrast to his London associa- tions. Buffaloes, antelopes and other wild animals were then numerous and everything was in its primitive condition. He at once began the arduous task of placing his fields under cultivation, erected a comfortable resi- dence, and at the end of three years of hard labor there he sold his place and removed to Newton, where he was first engaged in freighting from that place to outside points and later was interested to some extent in the real-estate business, spending in all four years in that city. He then took up his

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abode in Marion county, Kansas, where he pre-empted an eighty-acre tract and also se- cured a timber claim of one hundred and sixty acres, on which he erected a good resi- dence, and there engaged in general farm- ing and stock-raising.

While there residing, through the influ- ence of an old friend, James Davis, then master mechanic of the Santa Fe round- house at Newton, Mr. Pells concluded to embark in the railroad business, and again took up his residence in Newton. He com- menced at the very bottom in this under- taking, and after spending about three years in the roundhouse he was made a fireman on engine No. 7. under Isaac Conroy, one of the old-time Santa Fe engineers, his run being from Newton to Emporia. In the former city he had erected a comfortable residence, in which he made his home until the division was moved to Nickerson, and he was then put in charge of an engine, run- ning from Nickerson to Dodge City, a dis- tance of one hundred and twenty-five miles. This made it necessary for him to remove to the former city, where he remained until had charge of a passenger engine. In 1890 he took up his abode in Hutchinson, since which time his run has been from that point to Kinsley, a distance of one hundred and sixty-eight miles, and he makes the round trip daily. Mr. Pells is known as one of the most careful, competent and popular engi- neers on this division, and during his twenty-two years in this line of work he has never had a wreck of any importance. Since locating in this city he has erected and fur- nished a beautiful home on Tenth avenue, in one of the most desirable residence por- tions of the city, and in addition he also owns other residence property and a busi- ness house at Fourth and Main streets. He is also a stockholder in the Citizens National Bank.

1891, and during a portion of that time he . ern Star. He is past noble grand of Nick-

In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Pells are four sons and two daughters. William Charles, the eldest son, served his time as a machinist in the Santa Fe shops at Nick- erson, and from that city he went to San Francisco, California, where he was engaged

in work on the battleship Olympia. Since 1895 he has been in okdl Mexico, as a mas- ter mechanic for the Mexican Railroad Com- pany. The eldest daughter, Lilla, is at home. Charles is assistant cashier for the Citizens State Bank of Hutchinson. The three youngest children, Frederick, Alden and Edith, are at home. In the public affairs of the city Mr. Pells has taken a prominent and active part. For six years he served as a member of the city council, was made an alderman of the first ward, was a member of the Republican county central committee and has been a delegate to various state and county conventions. The cause of Chris- tianity also finds in him an active and effi- cient worker, and for several years he has served as a member of the official board of the First Methodist Episcopal church of Hutchinson, of which his family are also members. In his fraternal relations he has attained the Knights Templar degree in the Masonic order, and he is also a member of Reno Lodge, No. 140, Reno Chapter, Coun- cil and Commandery, while both he and his wife are identified with the order of the East-

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A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 136

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