A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 140

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 140

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

ed that his is one of the best stock farms in this locality, while his well directed ef- forts have contributed in no small degree to the advancement of the stock industry in this section.

At the age of twenty-two years Mr. Set- tle was united in marriage to Miss Anna Schlup, a lady of most excellent traits of character, and she has proven herself a most devoted wife and mother. She was born in Ohio but was reared in Missouri, to which state her parents removed when she was a child. Her father, Christian Schlup, was born in Germany, whence he emigrated to America in early life, becoming a success- ful farmer. He showed his loyalty to his adopted country by rendering efficient serv- ice as a U'nion soldier during the war of the Rebellion. He eventually became a resident of Kingman county, Kansas, and here he died in 1887, at the age of fifty-seven years. His widow, whose maiden name was Mary Schlup, was likewise born in Germany, whence she came to the United States in early life, and she is now the wife of Henry L. Irwin, and they reside near Cunningham, this county. To Mr. and Mrs. Settle were born five children and all are living except Ada, who died in infancy, the others being here named in order of birth: Henry Lee, Esty, Veta and Mattie.

ALBERT C. JOHNSON.

During the years which mark the period of Dr. Johnson's professional career he has met with gratifying success, and during his residence in this city he has won the good will and patronage of many of the leading citizens and families of the place. He is a great student and endeavors to keep abreast of the times in everything relating to dis- coveries in medical science. Progressive in his ideas and favoring modern methods as a whole, he does not dispense with many of the true and tried systems which have stood the test of years.

A native of the state of Missouri, his

1625

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

years later they moved to Keytesville, Mis- : a soldier in the Confederacy serving

birth occurred in Chariton county in 1865, and he is a son of M. A. and Martha R. ( Brooks) Johnson, early settlers of that county and the parents of six children. The father was a son of A. C. Johnson, one of the first settlers of Chariton county, and a native of Kentucky. He was married in Breckinridge county, Kentucky, December 18, 1834, to Miss Eliza Clarkson and ten souri, where for six years he worked at his trade as a saddler and harness-maker. In 1851 he entered the land on which he spent the remainder of his life. his death occurring at the advanced age of eighty-seven years. His wife, known as "Aunt Eliza," passed away at the age of eighty-four years and both were respected by all who knew them. The father of our subject served as a Con- federate soldier during the war of the Re- Tellion. The maternal grandfather of our subject was a Union soldier during that memorable struggle. Albert C. Johnson, of this review, is indebted to the public school system of Chariton county, Missouri, for the educational privileges which he enjoyed in his youth, and later he entered the Columbia College of that state, where he enjoyed su- perior advantages. Desiring to enter upon the practice of medicine as a life occupation. he then began the study of medicine under the preceptorship of his uncle, Dr. E. Brooks, one of the pioneer physicians of Missouri, and later studied under Dr. J. R. Gaines, a well known physician of Chariton county. In 1893 our subject entered a col- lege in Keokuk. Iowa, in which he was graduated with honor after a three years' course. Since 1886 he has spent most of his time in Kingman county. During his resi- dence in Kingman county he has built up an enviable reputation for skill in his chosen line of endeavor, and he now takes rank among the leading practitioners of the county.

In 1888 Dr. Johnson was united in mar- riage to Nettie Jaco, a native of Chariton county, Missouri, and a daughter of O. R. and Nancy (Rogers) Jaco, also of that county, but natives of Tennessee. O. R.

Jaco was born in Tennessee, gained hi- clu- caution at the public schools, and as a young man taught school in that state. Later he went to Chariton county, Missouri, took up land there and became one of the leading and successful farmers of that counts. He is still living on the farm which he originally entered and has reached the advanced age of three-fourths of a century. He also was throughout the war. Unto this union have been born three children,-Lola, Jessie and Albert C. In his social relations Dr. John- som is a member of the Masonic and Wood- men fraternities and of the Southern Med- ical Society. Religiously he holds member- ship with the Cumberland Presbyterian church. The Doctor and his estimalle fam- ily are highly esteemed in this community, and their well wishers are legion.

JAMES H. ROBBINS.

Pioneer experiences on the plains of the west are familiar to James II. Robbins, who located in central Kansas when this was largely an unclaimed locality, when the land was wild and unimproved, when the homes of the settlers were little dugouts or sod houses and when the work of progress and civilization had scarcely been begun. The introduction of the railroad, the telegraph, the telephone was a work of the future. as was the establishment of industrial and com- mercial concerns. With the work of re- claiming the wild land for purposes of civil- ization Mr. Robbins has been actively iden- tified for many years, and to-day he owns a valuable farm of fine bottom land. compris- ing six hundred and forty acres on sections 12 and 13. township 16. range 7. in Ells- worth county. A native of Virginia, he was born in Berkeley county, on the 25th of July, 1847. and his parents. Levi and Sarah (Myers) Robbins, were also natives of the Old Dominion. The father was a planter and slave owner, and on leaving Virginia removed his family and their household ef- fects by team to Platte county. Missouri,

102

1626

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

where he became extensively engaged in ag- ricultural pursuits and in stock-raising. He owned a farm of four hundred acres and thereon he spent the remainder of his days, passing away in 1866. He had fourteen children, of whom the following are living, namely : Conrad, a farmer of Ottawa county, Kansas; Aaron, who is engaged in agri- cultural pursuits near Topeka, Kansas ; Pe- ter, a farmer and stock-raiser of the same locality: Annie, the wife of J. B. Smart. of Armourdale, Kansas; Sarah E., the wife of John Harrison, of Johnson county, this state; Catherine, who is the widow of John Cook, and a resident of Abilene, Kan- sas; Job, George and John, who are resi- dents of Platte county, Missouri.

James H. Robbins spent his youth at home until eighteen years of age, being reared upon his father's farm, while in the district schools, which he attended during the winter terms, he acquired the education which fitted him for life's practical duties and the transaction of business. When about fourteen years old he engaged as a driver with Kitchner Brothers, freighters on the old Santa Fe trail. going westward from Leavenworth. Mr. Robbins drove six yoke of cattle in an ox train from Leavenworth to Fort Lyons, as far west as the "Picket Wire" in Colorado. This was late in the fall and was a very severe trip, as the snow lay deep upon the ground much of the way. It was a hard beginning for a boy who was scarcely tall enough to yoke up his team. However, he performed his duty very satis- factorily and received a man's wages, sixty dollars per month. In 1867 he went by team to central Texas, visiting Dallas, Waco and Sherman. He spent one year in the Lone Star state and then returned to Johnson county, Kansas, where he engaged in farm work for his brother-in-law. John Harrison, for two years. He then again went to Texas and was engaged in business in Dallas for a year, after which he removed to Jacks- boro, that state, and joined the Texas Rang- ers, as a member of the Seventh Company. For fifteen months he was engaged in fron- tier service. His experiences have been

varied and connected with all the different modes of life upon the plains of the west.

In 1873 Mr. Robbins took up his abode in Topeka, where with his brother he was engaged in farming for two or three years. In September, 1877. he came to Ellsworth county and engaged in herding on the range for two years. With the money which he saved from his earnings he purchased a small herd of eighteen head of two-year-old cattle and started in the cattle business on his own account. About the same time he purchased his present homestead of eighty acres, for which he paid Aaron Adams three hundred dollars. It was a claim which Mr. Robbins pre-empted, and at the same time he homesteaded another claim of one hundred and sixty acres, comprising the southeast quarter of section 12, in one of the town- ships, for which he paid four hundred dol- lars. The only improvement upon the place consisted of a sod shanty. From this point of operation he engaged in the raising of grain and stock, and as the years have passed he has prospered in his undertakings, as is manifest by his additional purchases of land. He first added a tract of eighty acres and in 1890 bought three hundred and twenty acres more. He now has in one body an entire quarter section and about two hundred acres within the river bottom, constituting a farm admirably adapted to stock and grain purposes. He keeps from one hundred to one hundred and fifty head of cattle and feeds all of the corn which he raises. His farm is one of the best improved in the river bottom. His elegant home, the most attractive feature of the landscape, was erected in 1898, and he has a good class of buildings upon his place, together with a fine orchard and other accessories which indi- cate his progressive and enterprising spirit. His barn is commodious and well arranged, its dimensions being forty-four by thirty- two feet. In connection with his other busi- ness affairs Mr. Robbins has served as di- rector of the Citizens' State Bank of Ells- worth.

On the 7th of July, 1881, occurred the marriage of Mr. Robbins and Miss Eva

1627

BIOGRAPHICAL. HISTORY.

Gilkison, a daughter of Abner Gilkison. She was born in Ohio and came to Kansas with her parents. Before her marriage she was a well known and successful teacher. She presides with gracious hospitality over her pleasant home and like her husband has many friends in the county. In his political views our subject is a Democrat on national issues, but votes independently at local elec- tions, supporting such men and measures as in his estimation will best promote the pub- lic welfare. He has twice received the Democratic nomination for county treas- urer. His wife is now treasurer of school district No. I and is deeply interested in ed- ucational affairs. Fraternally Mr. Robbins is a Knight Templar Mason, and is a suc- cessful self-made man who has realized that man's heritage is work, and in close applica- tion to business and through keen discern- ment he has acquired prosperity, being to- day one of the substantial citizens of his adopted county.

GEORGE E. CONLEY.

In George E. Conley, who is a promi- nent citizen of Kingman county, the state of Kansas has had a valuable factor in its educational and agricultural life, for a period of twenty-four years. As trustee of Bel- mont township he enjoys the esteem and confidence of his fellow citizens, and is known to be one of the most progressive and public spirited of its residents.

William Conley married Eliza J. Ryan, of Virginia, a most estimable, Christian woman, who accompanied her husband and family to Kansas, where she died in 1888, at the age of fifty-eight years. Both Mr. Conley and his wife belonged to the Chris- tian church. Mr. Conley is connected po- litically with the Democratic party.

The six children born to William Con- ley and wife were as follows: A. F., who resides in McLean county, Illinois : William, who is a resident of Indian Territory; Douglass, who is a farmer of McLean coun- ty, Illinois; David, who died in Nebraska; Mrs. Catherine Johnson, who resides in Reno county, Kansas; and George E., the subject of this sketch.

George E. Conley was six years old when the family moved from Virginia to Darke county, Ohio, and later to McLean county, Illinois, and it was in the latter place that he obtained his primary education. His educational advantages were superior to those enjoyed by many youths, as he was enabled to pursue his course in the normal school of McLean county. With this excel- lent preparation he engaged in the profes- sion of teaching, following the same for fif- teen terms in that state, with unqualified success. While at the normal school, he formed the acquaintance of the intelligent young lady who later became his wife. Her name was Florence Hess, and she was the estimable daughter of Levi and Dorothea (Trubo) Hess, the former of whom is dead, and the latter is residing in Kansas. They were among the early settlers of LaSalle county, Illinois. To this marriage were born three children, namely: Edward, who is a resident of Fort Scott. Kansas : Charles A., who resides at home: and Mabel D., who is also at home. These children under the fostering care of their educated parents have been thoroughly equipped for the struggle of life and are highly respected members of society.

The birth of George E. Conley was in 1851. in West Virginia, a scion of a family which has always been noted for good cit- izenship. His parents were William and Eliza J. (Ryan) Conley, the former of whom was also born in Virginia, where he grew to manhood. During the progress of the Civil war William Conley testified to his loyalty to the Union by becoming a soldier in the Federal army, and after the close of the war he returned to his own locality, but When Mr. Conley came to Kansas it was to have a wider field of operation and ever since he has resided here, he has taken that remained there only until 1878, at which time he moved to Kansas. He is now a resident of Sylvia. Reno county, Kansas. | intelligent interest in public matters which

1628

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

marks the good citizen. Upon his first lo- cation in Kingman county, he purchased a farm in Belmont township, but in 1888 he moved to Fort Scott and engaged there in business until 1900, when he again re- turned to this township and resumed farm- ing. He has been very successful in his ag- ricultural operations and has developed the natural advantages of his estate to a sur- prising degree. Mr. Conley is much more. however, than a prosperous farmer. for he possesses the esteem and confidence of his community in such high degree, that he has not only been made township trustee, but other positions of trust await his accept- ance. His conscientious discharge of duty makes him a safe repository of responsibil- ity, while his intelligence and education fit him for any walk in life. Mr. Conley is a leading member of the United Brethren church: Mrs. Conley adheres to the faith of the Church of God, while Miss Many 1- connected with the Methodist church, all of them being valued and esteemed in the high- est degree. Their pleasant home is one of hospitality and their friends are numbered by many score.

DANIEL SICKMAN.

Prominent among the business men of Hutchinson, Reno county, Kansas, is Daniel Sickman, poultry buyer and shipper, whose place of business is at 1109 South Main street, and whose residence is at 547 avenue B. east.

Daniel Sickman was born in Medina county, Ohio, February II. 1842, a son of Philip Sickman, who was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, about the year 1800, of German ancestry. Philip Sickman, who was a farmer and stock dealer, removed to Ohio in 1809, shortly after his marriage. His mother's ancestors and his wife's an- cestors were some of them patriots who fought for the Revolutionary cause, and others of them did gallant service for their country in the war of 1812-14. When Philip Sickman arrived in Ohio he had little

in the way of property except the ox team with which he had come out from Pennsyl- vania and the ax and the gun which no pioneer could have done without. He set- tled on one hundred and sixty acres of tim- ber land. on which he was obliged to chop out a little space on which to erect a log cabin. Gradually he cleared his farm and put it under cultivation and in time erected better buildings upon it. He sold the place in 1848 and removed to Medina county, Ohio, where he bought three quarters of a section of improved land, on which he built a new house and barn and remained ten years. farming extensively and dealing in stock. His enterprise was amply rewarded and he accumulated much property and be- came known as one of the big farmers of Medina county. He bought three sections of land in Indiana and a quarter section near Hillsdale, Michigan. A man who gave his attention strictly to his own affairs, he never sought public office, yet was an influ- ential citizen, active and prominent in all good works. He was a member of the Lu- theran church and while a citizen of Wayne county, Ohio, donated several acres of land to that denomination on which to erect a church and establish a cemetery. Politically he was a Whig and Republican. At his death, which occurred about 1860, at about the age of sixty years, he was reputed to have been worth about fifty thousand dol- lars, which was a good fortune for any man to make in the country at that time. He was married in Pennsylvania, to Hannah Crits, who was born in that state in 1803, and died May 28. 1872, at the age of sixty- nine years.

Daniel Sickman is the ninth in order of birth of the ten children of Philip and Han- nah (Crits) Sickman, only three of whom are living at this time-Celina, who is the wife of George Styre, a farmer at Ottum- wa. Iowa: Daniel, and Hannah, who lives in Michigan. The names of those who are dead are Peter, John, Margaret. Henry, Jonas and Bernhart. The subject of this sketch was about six years old when his father moved from Wayne county, Ohio,

1029

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

to Medina coup DE tat que; election as he obtained he acquired in the common chef Medina county. He assisted his father in farming, in handling his stock and in Ser work, and passed much of his youth in the saddle and helped his father to oper- atte a large linseed oil mill which the latter established on his farm and at the age of sixteen took charge of the engine of that establishment, which he ran about three He had begun to see the advisa- bility of obtaining a good education and he had paid his tuition at Heidelberg College at Tiffin, Ohio, and was about to become a student at that institution in 1802. but changed his mind and enlisted August II. that year, in Company K. Forty-second Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which entered the service under command of Col- onel afterward General James .A. Garfield. He participated in every engagement in which that regiment took part while it was led by Colonel Garfield. Later the organi- zation was sent back to Cincinnati and thence it was sent to Memphis, Tennessee. where, under General Sherman. it partici- pated in the attack on Chickasaw Bayou and

later in the capture of Arkansas Post. From there it went to Milliken's Bend and helped

to dig the great canal which, with a great strategic purpose in view was destined to change the course of the Mississippi. After that work was finished the regiment passed the Confederate batteries at Vicksburg and took part in the campaign in the rear of that town. Mr. Sickman took part in the battle at Port Gibson, the battle of Champion Hill and the fight at Big Black and in the siege and capture of Vicksburg. After that he participated in the capture of Jackson, Mis- sissippi, whence his regiment was sent to New Orleans to participate in the Red River campaign under General Banks. At Ap- paloosa Mr. Sickman was taken prisoner and was kept in the Confederate prison pen of Alexandria. Louisiana, where with other prisoners he suffered terribly for lack of food and clothing and because of the unsani- tary condition of the prison generally. His physical suffering's told on him to such an extent that he became little more than a liv-

ing skeleton and when he was exchanged after six months' imprisonment there his friends did not know him. Rejoining his regiment he went across the gulf to Mobile and thence up the Tombigbee river, where he participated in the capture of Dick Tay- 1 : and in the assault on Spanish Fort. In the last engagement mentioned he was wounded in the shoulder by a piece of shell. He fought afterward at Blakely and at Whistler Station, which was the last en- gagement in which he participated. He was discharged at Mobile and mustered out of the service at Columbus, Ohio.

After the war Mr. Sickman conducted a restaurant at Wadsworth, Ohio, for a time and later became a stationary engineer. From Wadsworth he removed to Marshall county, Indiana, where he built a sawmill. which he operated for a considerable period. Then returning to Ohio, he located on the old family homestead in Medina county, to the ownership of which he succeeded by buying the claims of all other heirs and on which he carried on an extensive business as a farmer and stockman until 1884. In the year last mentioned he removed to Reno county. Kansas, and bought a quarter sec- tion of land in Reno township. Later he bought other land and has owned altogether a section and three-quarters in Reno and ton counties, but has sold all his land ex- cept a quarter section in Henry township, Barton county. He has proven himself a shrewd dealer in real estate. having bought and sold farms while engaged in other busi- ness and having always sold at a profit. He has dealt largely in city property also and at one time his holdings were so extensive that he paid a yearly tax of three hundred and fifty dollars. He has been buying and selling real estate in .Hutchinson ever since he took up his residence there and is the owner of much valuable property in differ- ent parts of the town.

In 1886 Mr. Sickman engaged in the furniture trade, in which he continued suc- cessfully for a year. Then for several years he bought and sold stock and operated a meat market. Later still for five years, un- der the name of the Sickman Coal Company,

1630

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

he dealt extensively in coal until he turned the business over to his son, Jesse A. Sick- man, who still conducts it. Three years ago. he engaged in the poultry business, of which he has made a notable success. His large building on the bank of the Arkansas river at 1109 South Main street is one of the land- marks of Hutchinson, and is fitted up with every facility for the transaction of a large business in his line. His business is so ex- tensive that he employs from ten to twelve hands in dressing and shipping poultry, buys at times poultry to the amount of three hundred and fifty dollars per day and makes an average net profit of one hundred dollars a month the year round, his profits in the busy season running from one hundred and twenty-five dollars a month to two hundred dollars a month. He has a good local trade and beyond that his sales are made entirely in the west, in California, New Mexico, Arizona, Washington, Utah, Colorado and Idaho. Mr. Sickman is a Republican and is prominent and influential in the work of his party, but is not in the accepted sense of the term a politician. He is a member of Joe Hooker Post, Grand Army of the Re- public. Mrs. Sickman is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and is a mem- ber and was for four years president of the local branch of the Woman's Relief Corps of the Grand Army of the Republic. Mrs. Sick- man was Miss Artemisia Culver, a native of Ontario, Canada, and a daughter of Austin and Mary ( Overholt) Culver. Her parents were both natives of Ohio, and her father was of Connecticut stock. Mr. and Mrs. Sickman were married in Medina county, Ohio. in 1865, and have one son, Jesse Austin, born in Ohio, May 9, 1867, who succeeded his father in the coal business at Hutchinson, as has been stated.

IRA S. BROTHERS.

Tra S. Brothers is proprietor of the Shade Land Stock Farm, one of the most desirable farm properties in this portion of Kansas. He is extensively engaged in the

breeding of Galloway and Berkshire swine, and has done much to improve the grade of stock in this locality.

A native of Wayne county, Indiana, he was born near Dublin, September 19, 1859, and is a son of Nathan Brothers, whose birth occurred in North Carolina. The name is of English origin and the family was founded in America in the Caro- linas prior to the Revolutionary war. Nathan Brothers was married in Guil- ford county, North Carolina, to Miss Abi- gail Moore, also a native of that county, and a daughter of Samuel Moore, deceased, who made his home in the same state. Un- to Mr. and Mrs. Brothers were born three children. On migrating from North Caro- lina they made their way with teams across the mountains to Wayne county, Indiana. A few years later, however, they took up their abode in Henry county, that state, and for some time afterward resided in that lo- cality, their home being in the vicinity of Lewisville, Indiana. The father has de- voted his entire life to agricultural pursuits, but now at the age of seventy nine is living in quiet retirement from labor. In ante- bellum days he was a stanch Abolitionist and frequently aided slaves to escape, his home being stationed on the under-ground railroad. Both he and his wife are identi- fied with the Society of Friends or Quakers. The lady is now eighty-five years of age. Their children are: Mrs. Mary A. Hall, Mrs. Sarah Bundy, Mrs. Rebecca Thomp- son, and Mrs. Melissa Ballard. all of Rice county, Kansas; Joel, who was a well known and honored citizen of Rice county, where he died at the age of thirty-eight years, leav- ing a widow and three children, of whom two still survive,-Clem and Ora : Ira S., of this review ; and one child who died in early life.

Ira S. Brothers was reared upon the old home farm in Henry county, Indiana, and his labors in field and meadow developed an excellent constitution. He acquired a good education in Indiana and in the public schools and has also largely supplemented his knowledge by experience and observation

1631

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

in the business world. At the age of twen- ty-four years he married Miss Ella Lamb, who was reared and educated in Lafayette, Tippecanoe county, Indiana, and was a daughter of Phineas and Minerva (Sayre) Lamb. Her father was born in North Caro- lina and died in Douglas county, Kansas, at the age of fifty-three years, while his wife was a native of Ohio and passed away at the age of sixty-two years. Mrs. Brothers was called to her final rest in Rice county, Kansas, in June, 1899. at the age of thirty- nine years. She was a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal church and a lady of many excellent traits of character. Five children were left to mourn her loss. namely : John M., Lloyd N., Lucy A., Pearl and Irving S. On the 12th of August, 1900. Mr. Brothers was again married, Mrs. Eldora Newby becoming his wife. She was the widow of L. B. Newby, and is a lady of intelligence and good family, born, reared and educated in Westfield, Indiana. Her parents were Nathan D. and Mary ( Wheel- er ) Coffin, the former a native of Guilford county, North Carolina, and the latter of In- diana. Mrs. Coffin died in 1892. By her first marriage Mrs. Brothers had two chil- dren, Orlando Carlos and Floyd, the latter now deceased.

Mr. Brothers resided in Indiana until 1884, which year witnessed his arrival in Rice county, Kansas. He located in Atlanta township, where he purchased three hundred and twenty acres of land and engaged in farming and stock-raising. meeting with success in his efforts. He has continually added to his property as kis financial re- sources increased until he now owns eight hundred and twenty acres. The home farm -Shade Land-is supplied with all modern conveniences and accessories. A nice resi- dence stands upon a natural building site, being built in a pleasing style of architecture and is tastefully and comfortably furnished. Large barns, good sheds and feed lots have been arranged for the stock. and the water is supplied by the force of a windmill. His stock consists principally of Galloway cattle and Berkshire swine, of which he has been

a successful breeder. His ranch is well equipped in every part. In addition to the management and care of the farm Mr. Brothers is serving as postmaster of Sax- man.

O. S. WILKINS.

(). S. Wilkins, a banker and capitalist of Frederic, has for many years been prom- inently connected with the business history of Kansas, and his name is an honored one in commercial and social circles. He was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, in 1854. His father, Ephraim Wilkins, was a native of the Keystone state, where he grew to manhood and became a farmer and cabinet-maker. He was there married to Polly Price, a native of Pennsylvania. The father has reached the age of seventy-four years and the mother is also seventy-four years of age, and both are members of the Christian church. This worthy couple be- came the parents of ten children, seven sons and three daughters, namely: Oliver S., Scott. William, Margaret. Simon, Anna, George. Jane, David and Marion.

O. S. Wilkins. the subject of this review. spent his early life on a farm in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, and there learned the cabinet-maker's trade. At the age of twenty-one years. in Bedford county, he was united in marriage with Barbara Jane Straight, a member of a prominent and in- fluential family and a daughter of John and Hannah Straight. The marriage of our subject and wife has been blesse! with ten children, but one daughter is now deceased. The living are: Albert. Lydia, the wife of B. L. Turner, of Victoria township, and Si- mon. Garfield, Gertrude, John. James, Ol- iver S. and Virtus.

After his marriage, in 1880, Mr. Wil- kins removed to Van Buren county, Iowa, locating in Pittsburg, where he conducted a general store until 1888. the year of his arrival in Rice county, Kansas. Since that time he has been prominently connected with the banking circles in this community.

1632

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

He is a man of known reliability and su- perier business ability, and his connection with the financial interests of Rice county has done much to give the commercial inter- este a stations that has caused the rapid growth and development of the city. His bank building is a large and beautiful struc- ture twenty-four by sixty feet and his bank- ing row is twenty-four by thirty-two feet. In addition to his general banking business Mr. Wilkins is also prominent in trade cir- cles, long proprietor of one of the largest furniture stores in Frederic. ITis sure Tight i- twenty-five by forty feet ,and in it he carries a large and well selected stock di goods. His reliable business methods have secured to him a large and constantly grow- ing patronage. In his political affiliations Mr. Wilkins exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Repul Hean party. He is a prominent Ma- son, and is also identified with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows. Since coming to Kansas Mr. Wilkins has had un- limited faith in its future and has in every way fostered and encouraged its advance- ment. His intimate relations with its lead- ing capitalists and bis long connection, finan- cially and otherwise, with its most prom- inent interests, liave closely identified him with its success, and he is regarded as one of the best and most useful citizens.

HIE JANSSEN.

One of the business citizens of Lorraine. Ellsworth county. Kansas, is Hie Janssen, who, with his brother. Herman Janssen, form the well known firm of Janssen Broth- ers, who conduct one of the largest general mercantile establishments in the county. Their stock comprises almost all kinds of merchandise, well selected and disposed of at popular prices.

The birth of Mr. Janssen was on October 20, 1876, and is a son of Her- man and Sadie ( Vosberg) Janssen, who were natives of Germany. They did not come to America until 1859. and first lo- cated in Freeport, Illinois, moving from

" there to Winford county, where they bought land and engaged in farming until 1886, when they removed to Ellsworth county, Kansas, Here father Janssen bought land in Green Garden township and still re- sides upon it there, being one of the most successful farmers in that part of the county.

Mr. and Mrs. Janssen reared nine of the twelve children born to them, these be- ing as follows: John, a farmer of Ells- worth county : Harry, also a farmer of Ells- worth county: Herman, a member of the firm of Janssen Brothers ; Louis, a farmer of this county; Ibie, the subject of this sketch ; Katie, the wife of John Ontjes, a farmer of Rice county: Mattie, the wife of M. J. Huntling, a merchant of Beatrice, Nebras- ka: Reka. the wife of W. J. Spiliter, a far- mer of Ellsworth county; and Dena, at h me.

Mr. Janssen, of this sketch, was a lad of ten years when he accompanied his pa- rents to Ellsworth county, and he remained on the farm assisting his father, until he was seventeen years of age, attending the schools of his neighborhood during the win- ter seasons. Then he was sent to Beatrice and there entered the high school, spend- tig a year in study in that excellent insti- tution and going from there to the Cen- tral Normal School, at Great Bend, Kan- sas, in order to prepare for a commercial career. One year later he went to the Wes- leyan Reserve College, in Salina, and there took both a literary and commercial course, graduating in both. in the class of 1897.

With all this preparation Mr. Janssen was a very desirable acquisition to any business and soon after his return he en- tered the employ of B. M. Pauls as book- keeper of the Lehigh Company, of Lehigh, Kansas, and remained with him through one season. On August 21, 1897, the present partnership was formed with his brother, the business being in the general mercan- tile line, including dry-goods, groceries, hardware, jewelry, boots, shoes, crockery, hats, caps, harness, farm implements and vehicles of all kinds and they also handle a fine line of the standard farm machinery, such as the J. I. Case plows. This business

1633

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

was formerly conducted by S. M. Frantz, but since its purchase by the Janssen Broth- er». has grown to very large proportions. The honorable methods pursued as well as the excellence of the goods offered, have Want the confidence of the public, and the business is one of the town's largest and most important interests.

In politics our subject is independent, voting for the man rather than the party, upholding law and order and supporting cheerfully all measures for the benefit of the community. In religious matters Mr. Jans- sen has long been one of the active and lead- ing members of the German Baptist church, to which he is a liberal contributor.

Hernan Janssen, the other member of the firm of Janssen Brothers, was reared on the farm and until he entered the present enterprise was engaged in farming for him- -elf. He was united in marriage to Mi- Emma Mollhagen, who was a daughter of William and Caroline (A-hling ) Mollha- gen, and to this union were born three chil- dren,-Irvin. Elmer and Leslie. Mrs. Jans- -en died on March 28, Iyol.

The firm is public-spirited and progress- i've and fitly represents the business circles of Lorraine and surrounding country. Both members are highly esteemed and their suc- cess is a matter of congratulation to a wide circle of personal friends.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 140

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