A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 21

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 21

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).

FRANK YIENGST.

One of the younger representatives of the agriculturist interests in Kingman coun- ty, Frank Yiengst is the owner of a valuable farm on section 17. Vinita township. He

was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, on the 18th of October, 1872, a son of Jere- miah and Mary ( Sherman) Yiengst. The father was born in Berks county, Pennsyl-

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

vania. In 1880 the parents took up their abode in Washington county, Kansas, where they remained for four years, and then came to this township. The mother passed away in death in 1900, but the father is still liv- ing and is a prominent farmer of Kingman county. He is a carpenter by trade, and is a member of the Dunkard church, with which religious denomination his wife was also identified. This worthy couple were the parents of four children, but only two are now living, the brother of our subject, being George, a resident of Vinita township.

Frank Viengst, whose name introduces this review, was brought to the Sunflower state when only eight years of age, and here the remainder of his life has been passed. He was early inured to the labors of the field and meadow, and upon reaching years of maturity he chose as a life occupation the vocation to which he has been reared. He now owns a valuable farm of two hundred and twenty acres, and his well cultivated fields annually yield to their owner golden harvests in return for the labor and care bestowed upon them. The marriage of Mr. Viengst was celebrated in Oklahoma, when Lou Harter became his wife. She was born in Missouri, and was there reared and edu- cated, and is a daughter of James and Jane Harter, of Oklahoma. The father was a native of Ohio and a farmer by occupation, while the mother was a daughter of Robert Maxwell. a native of Kentucky and also a farmer. The union has been blessed with two children-Harvey and Goldie, and they also have one child deceased. Both Mr. and Mrs. Yiengst hold membership in the Dunk- ard church, in which he is serving as a dea- con. Few men have more devoted friends than he, and none excel him in unselfish de- votion and unwavering fidelity to the worthy recipients of his confidence and friendship.

C. C. PECK.

The successful and popular citizen of Concord township, Ottawa county, Kansas. whose name is above and whose postoffice

address is Minneapolis, has lived in the township since 1879. He was born Sep- temiber 21, 1846, in Fairfield township, Fairfield county, Connecticut, six miles from the city of Danbury. He came of good old colonial stock and his ancestors for generations have been law abiding men, grounded in honesty and morality. His fa- ther. Benjamin H. P'eck, also a native of Connecticut, was the son of a Revolution- ary soldier and he himself was a soldier in the Civil war, in the Twenty-third Regi- ment, Connecticut Volunteer Infantry. Hle married Susan Northrop, who came of an old New England family and . eventually went west, locating near Rochelle, Ogle county, Illinois, where he remained until 1879, when he removed with his family to Ottawa county, Kansas, and located on the farm now owned by his son, the subject of this sketch. There he died at the age of seventy-three years. His widow, now sev- enty-five years old and in full possession of all her faculties, lives in Concord township, where she is esteemed for her many noble qualities and is a devout member of the Free Methodist church, with which her late husband was connected until his death. Mr. Peck was a man of influence and a factor in the development of the communities in which he lived. A Whig in early life, he became a. Republican in 1856, and from 1860 until his death was known as a "dyed in the wool Abraham Lincoln Republican." Mr. and Mrs. Peck had three children : C. C., who is the immediate subject of this sketch : Sarah E., who is the wife of G. W. Miller, of Concord township; and Mary, the wife of W. B. Bennett, of Concord town- ship.

C. C. Peck was reared on his father's farm in Connecticut and educated in the ex- cellent common schools near his father's home and was early taught the practical business value of industry and personal in- tegrity. He accompanied his father to Ogle county, Illinois, and came with him to Kan- sas in 1879. He was married November I. 1883. in Concord township, to Miss Phobe J. Miller, a woman of culture and intelligence, who was born and reared in

882

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

New York. Her father died in her native state and her mother is also dead. She is a sister of G. W. Miller, a well known cit- izen of Ottawa county, Kansas. She has borne her husband two children: Guy H., born August 10, 1884, and Mattie E., No- vember 9, 1888.

Mr. Peck has one hundred and sixty acres of good farm land, adapted to all the purposes of general farming and including a good orchard and a fine grove. It is di- vided into convenient fields of meadow, grain and pasture land and is fenced with thre miles of fine hedge. Mr. Peck gives special attention to a good grade of stock, and is regarded as a progressive and suc- cessful farmer. In politics he is a Prohi- bitionist and he is not without influence in the councils of his party, and he is a devout and active member of the Free Methodist church. A man of much public spirit, he is ready at all times to advance interests which in his judgment promise to benefit his fellow citizens, and he takes especial pride in the progress and prosperity of his township and county.

HERMAN HOLSCHER.

Herman Holscher, a leading and influ- ential agriculturist of Farmer township, re- siding on section 36, owns and operates two hundred and forty acres of valuable land, all of which is under a high state of cultivation and well improved. He is a na- tive son of the fatherland, his birth having occurred in Prussia, Germany, on the 5th of April. 1839. His parents. Herman and Mary ( Monica) Holscher, were also na- tives of that country, and the father died in his native land at the age of fifty-nine years, but the mother, long surviving him, passed away in Indiana, at the age of sev- enty-five years. This worthy couple were the parents of seven children, five of whom stili survive,-Herman, Elizabeth, Chris- tina. Reka, and Wilhelm, who resides in Germany.

Herman Holscher, the immediate sub-

ject of this sketch, was reared to manhood in the land of his nativity, there receiving a good education in the German tongue. At the age of fourteen years he put aside his text-books and entered upon his business career, choosing the life of a farmer. In 1860 he sailed from Bremen for the United States, landing at Baltimore, Maryland, after a voyage of seven weeks. He then made his way to Evansville, Indiana, where he found employment in a foundry. In 1863 he responded to the call of his adopted country, loyally offering his services to the Union cause as a member of Company I, Thirty-second Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in which he remained a loyal soldier until the close of hostilities. He participated in the battles of Missionary Ridge and Re- saca, was in a number of skirmishes in Tennessee, and with his regiment was with- in twenty-four miles of the battle of At- lanta when they were ordered back, as many of the men's time had expired. Mr. Holscher next went to Chattanooga, Ten- nessee, where the regiment was equipped with new guns. At Nashville, Tennessee, on account of sickness, he was confined in hospital "H," for several months, when he was transferred to a hospital at Washington, D. C., and was in that city at the time Lincoln was assassinated. After the long and terrible struggle was over Mr. Holscher was honorably discharged and returned to his home with a creditable military record. In Evansville, Indiana, in 1867, he was united in marriage to Wilhelmina Springer, who was born in Prussia, Germany, and she was only four years old when brought by her parents to the new world, the family locating in Indiana. She is a sister of Rob- ert Springer, a resident of Farmer town- ship, Rice county. Unto this union have . been born seven living children,-Henry; Anna, wife of Thomas Boss; Lena; Hul- dah, wife of George Parker, of California ; Robert : Emma ; and Freda. They also lost one child by death. Mr. Holscher remained a resident of Indiana until 1877, when he came to the Sunflower state, locating on a tract of unimproved land in Farmer town- ship. His first place of abode was a sod

883

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

house, fourteen by sixteen feet, but as time passed this was replaced by a tasteful and comfortable residence, which was erected at a cost of two thousand dollars. He has also erected good barns and outbuildings, and a beautiful grove and orchard add much to the beauty of the place. His fine farm of two hundred and forty acres is one of the desirable places of the locality, and the well tilled fields annually yield to the owner a handsome financial return.

Mr. Holscher exercises his right of fran- chise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party, but has never sought or desired office, preferring to give his undivided time and attention to his ex- tensive farming interests, in which he has met with such a high and well merited de- gree of success. He maintains pleasant re- lations with his old army comrades of the blue by his membership in the Grand Army of the Republic. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Epis- copal church. From the little German home across the sea he made his way to the new world and entered upon a career which seems most marvelous, yet it is not the out- come of propitious circumstances, but the honest reward of labor, good management, ambition and energy, without which no man can win prosperity.

C. H. WEIHE.

Classed with the leading and represent- ative agriculturists of Farmer township. Rice county, is C. H. Weihe, whose beauti- ful and attractive place, located on section 23. is one of the fertile tracts of this lo- cality. He was born in a little German home across the sea, having first opened his eyes to the light of day in the province of Prussia, on the 17th of February, 1850. His father, Frederick Weihe, was a native of the same place, and was there reared and educated. He was united in marriage to Elizabeth Oecheman, also a native of the province of Prussia, Germany, and they be- came the parents of five children,-C.

Henry, Fred, Caroline, Ernest and Mary, all born in Germany. With the exception of the subject of this review, the parents and their children still reside in the father- land.

C. Henry Weihe received a good edu- cation in his native language, having at- tended school until he was fourteen years of age, and from that time until his seven- teenth year he was employed on a dairy farm. In company with an aunt he then bade aklieu to home and native land, and from Bremen sailed for the United States. After landing in New York he proceeded on his way to Washington county, Illinois, and afterward was employed on a railroad in eastern Kansas for fifteen months. His next location was in Warrensburg, Mis- souri, where for eighteen months he helped make the brick used for the State Normal School there. In Warrenton, that state, he was a student in the Central Wesleyan Col- lege during the season of 1871-2 and also during a part of the year 1874-5. After leaving that institution he was engaged in business for himself four years, dealing in sewing machines in Nashville. Washington county, Illinois, in which industry he met with a fair degree of prosperity. Mr. Weihe remained a resident of the Prairie state until 1879, the year of his arrival in Kansas. After coming to this state he pur- chased eighty acres of unimproved land in Farmer township, Rice county, where he immediately began making a home for him- self and family. After ten months had passed he bought an adjoining eighty acres, and from time to time has added to his place until it now contains five hundred and sixty acres. By earnest and indefatigable labor he has placed his land under a high state of cultivation and has erected thereon a beautiful residence at a cost of fifteen hun- dred dollars. One of the attractive features of the place is his beautiful grove, and a glance at the neat and thrifty appearance of the farm will indicate to the passer-by the supervision of a progressive owner.

In Nashville, Illinois, in 1875. occurred the marriage of Mr. Weihe and Miss Car- rie Korf, who was born in St. Louis, Mis-

884

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

souri, a daughter of Fred and Augusta Korf. The father is now deceased, but the mother still survives and is a resident of Bushton, Rice county, Kansas. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Weihe was blessed with seven children, but a little son died at the age of four weeks. Those living are: Ber- tha, who is a popular clerk in the post- office at Bushton; Arthur, at home; Theo- dore. a student in the Enterprise Normal School: and Mata, Luther and Walter, all at home. Both Mr. and Mrs. Weihe are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a stanch advocate of Republican prin- ciples, and has been the choice of his party for trustee, assessor and treasurer of his township. In all these positions he dis- charged the duties which devolved upon him with honor to himself and satisfaction to his constituents, and both his public and private life are above reproach.

ROBERT SPRINGER.

The list of the leading agriculturists of Rice county contains the name of Robert Springer, who is extensively and success- fully engaged in farming on section 35, Farmer township. His record as a soldier and as a business man has indeed been hon- orable and has gained for him the confi- dence and good will of all with whom he has been brought in contact. He was born in Prussia, Germany, in 1833, a son of Gott- lieb and Anna (Volkman) Springer, natives also of that province. In 1849 the family left their little home across the sea and sailed for the United States, landing at New Or- leans after a voyage of six weeks. They went up the Mississippi and Ohio rivers to Evansville, Indiana, where they remained until 1870, and in that year located in Wa- baunsee county, Kansas. The father was called to his final rest at the age of seventy- two years, and the mother survived until seventy-five years of age, both dying in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which they were active and worthy mem- bers. The father was a miller by trade, and

also followed farming. This worthy couple were the parents of ten children, of whom five are now living, namely: William, Charles, Robert, Paulina and Mena Holsch- er, of this township.

Robert Springer, the subject of this re- view, was reared on a little German farm, and was early taught lessons of industry, honesty and economy. He was fourteen years of age when his parents came to the United States and located at Evansville, Indiana, and there he continued his labors on the farm. When the trouble arose be- tween the north and the south his patriotic spirit was aroused and he valiantly offered his services to his adopted country, becom- ing a member of the First Indiana Battery. He participated in many of the noted bat- tles of that memorable struggle, including the battle of Pea Ridge, the siege of Vicks- burg and many others on the Mississippi river and in the vicinity of New Orleans. He took part in the Red river expedition with General Banks, and was there wound- ed. When the country no longer needed his services he returned to his home in In- diana, where he remained until 1870, and in that year accompanied his parents o11 their removal to Wabaunsee county, Kan- sas. At that time the Indians were still numerous in that locality, and everything was new and wild. People of the present day can scarcely realize the struggles and dangers which attended the early settlers, the hardships endured, the difficulties over- come, for, far removed from the privileges and conveniences of city or town, the strug- gle for existence was a stern and hard one. Their first residence was a little log cabin, fourteen by sixteen feet, but in this primi- tive dwelling hospitality reigned supreme and the latch string was always out. In 1881 Mr. Springer came to Rice county, locating on his present farm of six hun- dred and forty acres, on which he has erect- ed a fine dwelling', at a cost of fifteen hun- dred dollars, and there he is engaged in general farming and stock-raising. His fields are under a fine state of cultivation, and everything about the place indicates the supervision of a neat and progressive

885

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

owner. Ile also has real estate in Denver, Colorado.

In 1867. in Indiana. Mr. Springer was united in marriage with Frederika Allinger, a native of Germany. She was only five years of age when she was brought by her parents, Henry and Catherine ( Shaaf ) Al- linger, to the United States, the family lo- cating in Spencer county, Indiana, where she was reared to womanhood and received her education. Her parents were also na- tives of the fatherland, and their emigra- tion to the new world occurred in the year 1853. The had a large family of fourteen children, of whom ten are now living, as follows: Lewis, who was a soldier in the Civil war and now resides in West Virginia; Henry, Catherine, Frederika, Godfrey, Fred, Charles, Mena, Ed and Rosa. Chris- tina died at the age of thirty years and a son, Charles, died in infancy. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Springer has been blessed with ten children. but a son. Clarence, died in his eighteenth year. Those living are: Albert. Louis, Lydia, Ida, Clara, Louisa, George, Otto and Edna. Louisa is now an excellent musician, having studied at War- rington, Missouri, and at Lindsburg, Kan- sas. Mr. and Mrs. Springer are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he is serving as class leader. The family have a delightful home in this beautiful and fertile section, and they are held in highest esteem throughout the community.

FRANK SHONYO.

In the year 1874 Mr. Shonyo cast in his lot with the early settlers of Rice coun- ty. and through the period which has since elapsed he has been an important factor in the progress and development of the state. He is a native of Vermont, born in Cale- donia county, November 12. 1836, and is a member of a prominent and influential family of that state, noted for longevity, a number of its members having lived to the extreme age of one hundred years. His maternal grandfather was a native of

France, and his grandmother was born in Canada, of English parentage. Michael Shonyo, the father of our subject, was born in the province of Quebec, Canada, but was reared in Vermont. He was there married to Lucy Hill, who was born, reared and ed- ucated in the Green Mountain state, and was a daughter of Dr. Samuel Hill, a prom- inent and influential citizen of Vermont. His wife was a Miss Norris, and was a daughter of Captain Norris, a Scotchman and a prominent sea captain. Dr. Hill aided the colonists in their struggle for in- dependence and took part in the battle of Lexington. Michael Shonyo and wife had six children, three of whom still survive,- Frank, the subject of this review : Orrmel, who resides in Brown county, Kansas. near White Cloud: ankl Martin, a resident of Colorado. The deceased children are: Samuel, who died in Canada: Diana Bachelder, who died in Mobile, Alabama; and Merrill, who served for three years as a solklier in the Civil war, being a member of the Third Vermont Volunteer Infantry, and when last heard from he was in Min- nesota. The father of this family had three brothers who served in the war of 1812. Michael Shonyo was a carpenter by trade, and his political support was given the Re- publican party. His wife was called to the home beyond at the comparatively early age of fifty years, but her husband survived her many years, passing away at the ripe old age of ninety-two years.

Frank Shonyo, the immediate subject of this review, was reared to manhood on a Vermont farm, and his education was re- ceived in the public schools of his neighbor- hookl. On the 27th of July, 1861, at the outbreak of the Civil war, he became a member of the Third Vermont Infantry, Company B. in which he served for three years. He became a member of the Army of the Potomac and took part in the Wilder- ness campaign, after which he was on de- tached service as a member of Battery F, of the Fifth Regulars, serving therein from November, 1861. until February. 1864, when he returned to the Third Vermont. He was wounded by a minie ball and spent

886

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

some time in a hospital, after which he was honorably discharged, and with a good military record he returned to his home in Vermont. Later Mr. Shonyo removed to Cerro Gordo county, Iowa, locating at Owen Grove, near Mason City, where he still owns a well improved farm of two hundred and forty acres. He remained on that place un- til 1874, when he came to Kansas and se- cured a claim of one hundred and sixty acres in Rice county. As the years have passed success has rewarded his well di- rected efforts, and he has added to his orig- inal purchase until he now owns a beauti- ful and highly improved farm of six hun- dred and forty acres, one of the best farm- ing properties in central Kansas. His land is located one mile from Bushton, and there he is surrounded by all the comforts and conveniences of life, his long years of toil having secured to him a handsome com- petence. He has also eighty acres in Mitchell.

In Cerro Gordo county, Iowa, Mr. Shonyo was united in marriage to Miss Alice Wilson, who was born in Lasalle county, Illinois, but was reared and edu- cated in Iowa. For a number of years be- fore her marriage she was a prominent and sticcessful teacher of Cerro Gordo county. Her father. Alonzo Wilson, was a prominent early settler of that county and was engaged in the loan. land and brokerage business. In 1855 Alonzo Wilson came with his wife, who was in her maidenhood Catherine Reynolds, to Cerro Gordo county, Iowa, casting in their GEORGE CRAMM. lot with the early pioneers of that locality. They were the parents of eight children, as One of the large land-owners of Rice county is George Cramm, whose posses- sions aggregate twelve hundred and ninety acres, constituting a very valuable property. For his success in life Mr. Cramm deserves great credit, depending entirely upon his own resources, he has realized the value of energy and perseverance in the industrial world, and his close application and unre- mitting diligence have enabled him to ad- vance steadily to a position of affluence. follows: Mrs. Alice Shonyo; Bruce A., a resident of Mason City, Iowa; Emma C., deceased : Buferd B., who resides in Lyons, Kansas: Nora, now Mrs. Squire, of Cerro Gordo county, Iowa: John, of Mason City, that state : Mary, now Mrs. Barber, of Ma- son, Iowa : and Gertrude, who became Mrs. Williams and resides in Washington, D. C. The father of these children was a Democrat in his political views, and religiously was a member of the Congregational church. In A native of the Hoosier state, he was an early day the Reynolds were a prominent | born in Spencer county, Indiana, on the family in the east and were members of | 12th of January, 1845, a son of John

the Catholic church, many of its members having served as bishops therein. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Shonyo has been blessed with ten children, namely: Wilson D., proprietor of the Bushton Machine Shops, of Bushton, Kansas ; Ben F., who re- sides near Beloit, in Mitchell county, Kan- sas ; Burton C., who is engaged in business with his brother, Wilson D .; Martin L., a grain merchant of Bushton; Shirley B., at home; and Aaron and Olin, twins, aged thirteen years, also at home. The three who have passed away are: Frederick, who was drowned while attending Manhattan College, and was then a bright young man of eighteen years; Victor H., who died at the age of seven months ; and Melville, who died in infancy. Mrs. Shonyo is a leading member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and is also identified with the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, of Frederick, Kansas. Our subject exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and meas- ures of the Republican party, and in his social relations he is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, in which he main- tains pleasant relations with his old army comrades. He is a man of sterling worth, and in his upright and useful life has gained not only a competence, but has also won that good name which is rather to be chosen than great riches.

887

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

Cramm, of that county. The father was a native of Germany, reared and educated there. When a young man he came to the United States and was here married to Louisa Smatch, also a native of the father- land, where her girlhood days were passed. For two years they resided in Pittsburg, and then removed to Troy, Perry county, Indiana. The father was a cabinet-maker by trade, but after some years he abandoned that pursuit and carried on agricultural in- terests in Spencer county. His life was a busy and useful one, and was terminated in death when he was eighty-one years of age. He voted with the Republican party and thus supported the principles which he believed were most conducive to good gov- ernment. He held membership in the Lutheran church and his wife was also identified with the same denomination. She passed away at the age of seventy-seven years. This worthy couple were the parents of five children, three of whom are yet liv- ing : Mollis, a resident of Louisville, Ken- tucky; Mrs. Minnie Drushel, of Spencer county, Indiana; and George, whose name begins this review. The two who have passed away are Fred, who died at the age of twelve years, and August, who died at the age of forty-five. He was a veteran of the Civil war, filled official positions in Spencer county, and was one of the most prominent citizens of that portion of In- diana.

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 21

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