A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 27

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 27

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JACOB GEISEN.

The old and prominent resident of Garfield township, Ottawa county, Kansas, whose name is the title of this article, and whose postoffice address is Minneapolis, has been a citizen of Kansas, state and territory, for almost half a century, and may be ac- countel a pioneer of pioneers. When he came to Kansas in 1854 it was a new.wild land, inhabited by Indians, wolves and buf- faloes ; it was a scene of terrible local strife, which made life and property unsafe and it gave little promise of the greatness to which it has attained as a state. Central Kansas, which has become to be known as the "Gar- den of Eden" of the central west, was then embraced in a district known as the great American desert.

Jacob Geisen was born on the river Rhine in Prussia, October 11. 1831, a son of Michael and Enne (Graf) Geisen, both of whom were born and reared in Prussia. His father died at the age of seventy-three, his mother at the age of eighty. They had sons named Jacob. Michael. Godfrey, John and Frank. Frank was an early settler at Leavenworth, Kansas, where he located in 1849, having left his native land on account

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of the revolution of 1848. Jacob Geisen at- tended school in Prussia until he was four- teen years old, and after that was engaged in farm work until he was twenty-two years old and he came to the United States on board of a sailing vessel which landed at New Orleans after a voyage of sixty-two days. He came up the Mississippi and Mis- souri rivers to St. Louis, and went thence to Platte county, Missouri, where he re- mained a little while. From Platte county, in 1854. he went to Leavenworth, Kansas, where he entered a homestead on govern- ment land. During the Civil war. as a mem- ber of the Kansas state militia, he did active service in preserving law and order. He was participating in the battle of Westport, Missouri, at the time of Price's raid. He located in Ottawa county in 1865, and was one of the early settlers in the Solomon val- lev, where he took up a homestead and en- tered upon a career as a land owner, which has developed into his ownership of one thousand acres. His home farm is one of the best in the county and he is one of the most successful farmers and stock raisers in his part of the state.

At the age of twenty-six Mr. Geisen was married in Leavenworth county, Kansas, to Miss Anna Linke, who was born in Wur- temberg, Germany, and was brought to all United States by her parents, who after liv- ing for a time in Indiana removed to Spring- field. Illinois, where her father died. Mrs. Geisen's mother, who settled in Saline county. Kansas, in 1858, and founded a prairie home with Indians and wild beasts as her neighbors, was the first white woman who lived in that county. She died at Min- neap lis. Ottawa county. Mrs. Geisen has borne her husband six children. concerning whom the following information will be of interest. Nettie married Millard Robert- son. of Lincoln Center. Kansas. Louisa married John Poage, of Ottawa county. Al- bert married Lorena Wormsley, who has borne him one daughter, named Ella, and a sen. Rolla, the latter living on his father's old homestead. Caroline married Rudolph Rehbery, of Garfield township. Mary is

a member of her parents' household. John died at the age of six months.

In politics Mr. Geisen is independent, re- serving the right to vote for such candidates as he considers best fitted for the offices to which they aspire. He is liberal in his re- ligious views and is a member of Minneapolis Lodge, No. 143. A. F. & A. M., of Mine- apolis, and is one of those Master Masons who has a reputation of striving to live up to the teachings of the order. Jovial, genial and hospitable, he is one of the most popu- lar citizens of his township, and not the least charming of his personal attributes are some quaint mannerisms which suggest his German origin. In 1884 he made a brief visit to his native land.

AMOS A. SPEAR.

The prominent farmer of Concord town- ship, Ottawa county, Kansas, whose name is above and whose postoffice address is Min- neapolis, Kansas, has been a resident of the county since 1883 and has become known as a successful and patriotic citizen.

Amos A. Spear was born in Clark coun- ty, Indiana, April 9, 1832, a son of Ephraim and a grandson of Samuel Spear, both na- tives of Virginia and descended from Irish ancestry, noted for their industry, honesty and patriotism. Ephraim removed to In- diana while a young man and there married Mary Mathews, a daughter of Edward Ma- thews, who was of Welsh descent. He lived successively in Clark. Jennings and Scott counties. Indiana, and died in 1857, at the age of forty-nine years, leaving a widow and a goodly family of children. At one time ten of his children were living, but only three survived him, one of these being the subject of this sketch. Asbury lives in Lin- coln county, Kansas, and Malinda lives in Cloud county, this state. James, Phoebe Elizabeth, Samuel Edward, Elias. William and Charles W. are dead and others died young. Three of his sons were soldiers in the Federal service in the Civil war. Sam-

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uel, who died at Chattanooga : William, who died fifteen years after the close of the war ; and Charles W., who served three years as a soldier and died soon after his return home. Asbury served three years in the regular army of the United States. The mother of these children was born June 30, 1807, and died June 4. 1872. The father was a farm- er, was a Whig in politics, and he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episco- pal church.

Amos A. Spear was reared on his fa- ther's farm in Indiana and educated in the public schools near his home. At the age of twenty-two he married Amanda Wilson, who was born in Jefferson county, Indiana, a daughter of Jesse M. and Mary ( Caotney ) Wilson, both natives of Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are both dead, the latter dying at the age of forty. To them were born twelve children, as follows: Margaret ; Martha, who became Mrs. Whitsett ; Severe ; Amanda, who became Mrs. Spear; Emily, who became Mrs. Thorn : Xantippy, who be- came Mrs. McCartney; Foster ; Columbus : Riley : Finley ; Ashby K. : and Culver. The last mentioned died in infancy. Mrs. Spear's father died at the age of seventy ; he was a successful farmer and an influential Repub- lican.

For a time after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Spear lived in Scott county. Indiana. In 1856 they went to Gentry county, Mis- souri, and after a brief residence there they returned to Indiana, where they remained until 1880. They then went to Appleton City, Saint Clair county, Missouri, where they lived until 1883, when they came to Ottawa county, Kansas. Mr. Spear then bought for twenty-seven hundred dollars his present fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres, on which is a good house, ample barns and all needed outbuildings and a wind pump and all other necessary appli- ances. He is the owner also of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres near Silvia. Reno county, Kansas, which he devotes to grain raising. Mr. and Mrs. Spear have a daughter. Mary Alice, who is the wife of George W. Thompson and lives five miles south of Delphos, Ottawa county, Kansas,

and two sons, Crim O. and Ross Lee Thompson. Crim Q. is married and has a daughter named Cora Fay. and Ross Lee is also married, and both live in Ottawa county, Kansas. Mr. Spear is a genial man and has many friends. He is a prominent and influential Republican and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Minne- apolis, Kansas. His public spirit is such that he may be safely counted upon to assist to the extent of his ability all measures hav- ing for their object the best advancement of the interests of his township and county.

SILAS MAPLE.

Among the prominent old settlers of Richland township, whose well cultivated and productive farm is located in the vi- cinity of Basil, Kansas, is Silas Maple, one of the most progressive men of central Kan- sas. Since 1873 this state has been his home, and he has done his full share toward making it the great commonwealth it is.

Silas Maple was born in Jackson county, Indiana, sixty-six years ago, and he is a son of John and Eliza ( MacHurin) Maple, the former of whom was born in Ohio, and the latter in Jackson county, Indiana. Both parents passed out of life in Indiana, the father dying from the effects of an acci- dent, a tree having fallen upon him, the mother surviving until December. 1846. Their family consisted of six children, the survivors being : William, who was a sol- dier in the Civil war; Martin, who was a soldier in the Civil war and now resides in Texas; John, who lives in Arkansas, served during the Civil war in the Confederate army: Lunsford, who lives in Texas ; Suas, of this sketch: and Austin, who also served in the Civil war.

The father of Silas Maple was a farmer and he reared his sons to agricultural pur- suits, all of them becoming very successful men in that line of work. The home life of Silas Maple encouraged upright living and honest industry, but the mother died when

dilao Maple .

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Silas was only twelve years okl. The edu- cational advantages afforded in the locality were limited, and the youth never enjoyed as much school life as he desired. At the outbreak of the Civil war the spirit of pa- trietism invaded this little farming commu- nity, and among those who left their fields in defense of country and flag were the sons of John Maple. Silas Maple enlisted in 1862, in Company C. Eighty-fifth Indiana Infantry, and with his regiment took part in many of the serious and hard-fought bat- tles of the war. With his regiment he was one of the brave soldiers who faced almost certain death at Missionary Ridge, and was with the army under General Hooker at Lookout Mountain, where our subject was in the charge which took the heights, and there they fought for thirty days, holding the gap during all this time. The regiment was then transferred to General Sherman's command, and Mr. Maple was present at the battle of Resaca, where they were under fire from noon until dark. At the battle of Peach Tree Gap the regiment charged four lines deep, but after a heavy loss they were re- pulsed. The regiment also participated in the battle of Marietta. Georgia. from whence they were driven to Atlanta, where for six days they were in constant battle, and after that engagement Mr. Maple was confined in the hospital for two months and from that time until the following spring he was in a convalescent hospital. after which he joined his command at Goldsboro. From that place they were sent to Richmond, Virginia, thence on to Washington, D. C., where he was ac- corded a prominent place in the grand re- view in that city. While serving with his command in Kentucky and while under de- tail to drive a mule team, he was kicked by one of the mules, and two weeks thereafter was confined in a hospital. While at Nash- ville, Tennessee, while on a forage expedi- tion for the army, with eleven hundred and nineteen privates and many officers he was captured and for a time was incarcerated in Libby Prison. Mr. Maple's record as a soldier entitles him to high regard.

In 1866, in Sullivan county, Indiana. he 58

was united in marriage to Sophia Bussinger, a most estimable woman, who has been his cheerful and capable helpmate through all these years. Her parents came to Reno county, Kansas, and there they spent the remainder of their lives. Her three broth- ers, Martin, James and Henry, were all sol- . diers in the Civil war, and all came to Kan- sas in 1873. Martin was a member of Com- pany K. Eighty-fifth Indiana Infantry, and served throughout the entire struggle, and his brother, Henry, died at Andersonville Prison.

About 1873 Mr. Maple also decided to locate in Kansas. Many of the old soldiers had taken up claims in the rich new lands then opened for settlement, and in his choice of a homestead our subject was very for- tunate, for on his land is an abundance of pure water, its source being the Sweetwater creek, a never-failing stream, and Mr. Maple has utilized this natural feature of his land by turning his attention to stock-raising to a considerable extent. while his land is so well managed and has been so carefully tilled that it has no equal in productiveness in the township. Mr. Maple has one l'in - dred and sixty acres, and his five home. which cost twelve hundred dollars, his flour- ishing orchards, his commodious barns, his groves and flowering shrubs, tend to make this Kansas home one of the most desirable spots in the county.

Mr. Maple has been a hard-working and economical as well as most intelligent far- mer. With the assistance of his sons he has accomplished wonders in a compara- tively short time. His family consists of six children, as follows: William, who is now a prominent farmer of this township, is located on a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres : John, who assists his father on the homestead: Sadie, who is a successful and popular teacher in the public schools of Emporia, Kansas: Mary, who married F. Grice, and now resides on the homestead farm, was also a successful teacher in this county : Eva, who is the capable home house- keeper, and Emma, who is a student at Em- poria, Kansas. All of the children have

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been given excellent educational advantages, and reflect credit upon their parents.

When Mr. Maple first located in Kansas he found plenty of buffalo, and hunting along Sweetwater creek was excellent. Perhaps no change in the country is more . noticeable than the growth in educational opportunities, and in this line Mrs. Maple has always taken a profound interest, sery- ing on the school board for years and doing all in her power to advance the cause, the result being an intelligent and progressive locality. Both he and his wife are mem- bers of the Christian church, and the family has been reared in that faith. In politics he is a member of the Republican party.

ROBERT W. SMITH.

Robert W. Smith of Cloud county, Kan- sas, is one of the oldest settlers in this part of the state, having been identified with the county since 1865, and is one of the most prominent citizens and extensive farmers and stock-raisers of this section. of the coun- try. He is a native of Kentucky, his birth having taken place in that state on the 13th of April, 1841, his parents being Alexander and Margaret (Stout) Smith. His father was the grandson of a noted Presbyterian minister of Pennsylvania, named William Smith, and was a farmer and boat-builder. following the latter vocation in Kentucky on the Ohio river. The mother of our sub- ject was a native of Ohio, her parents emi- grating from Scotland to that state, and her father. Captain Isaac Stout, was captain of an Ohio regiment in the war of 1812.

The parents of our subject emigrated from Kentucky to Missouri in 1857 and in ISp6 went to Mitchell county, Kansas, lo- cating a claim on Brown creek. and were the first settlers in the county. The first year after their arrival there the Indians were friendly and camped near by, but then the Cheyennes. Arapahoes and Sioux Indi- ans became hostile over the building of the railroads. the encroachment of the settlers and the consequent driving away of the buf-

falo and other wild game, and they ordered Mr. Smith to leave. He paid no attention to their demand until they had killed Belle Boygardus, the Marshall brothers and young Thompson. He then with his sons, Robert. A. C. and John, took the family to a place two miles southwest of Delphos, where they located on what is now the Thomas Bennett farm and there prepared winter quarters for them, and Robert Smith, a nephew and a brother went to Ashville where a militia was being formed among the settlers for their protection. On one occasion Alexan- der Smith and his son. A. C. Smith, were plowing near a haystack about a quarter of a mile from the house. when the savages rode up from behind and shot them down. The son was shot in the back and the father was shot through the shoulder near the lung, while a spear knocked his front teeth out and passing through his mouth came out at the side of his neck. The women saw them fall, raised the alarm and ran to the river. wading the stream that the Indians might not track them. while the two wounded men lay all night in the brush where they had dragged themselves. Robert Smith arrived upon the scene the next morning and be- held a sight too horrible to contemplate. His brother's dead body was discovered in the river, where he had probably gone to get water to quench his feverish thirst pro- duced by his wound, lost his balance, fainted and was drowned. His body was not re- covered from the water until two days later. The father was still living, but died at ten o'clock that morning. The women hid in the underbrush by the river while the de- mons destroyed their home. ripping up four- feather beds and scattering their contents to the four winds. The family had laid in a winter supply of provisions, coffee, sugar and three barrels of molasses and flour. The Indians took what coffee and sugar they could and mixed the other articles with the feathers from the beds into one conglomer- ate mass. On this raid they took captive Mrs. Morgan and Mrs. White and killed John Andrews and Peter Carnes. The fol- lowing June they killed a man named Dyer and a neighbor named Wier. They

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al . captured about twenty-four head of heres and were getting out of the white. ment. when, within about two miles of Memory lis, they were met by the inventiers- nen recently organized. They fled in all directives, leaving their booty. Mills and Hendershott followed five of them, killing one. but the others escaped. The mother of our subject died in Minneapolis the is !! "- ing Your.

Robert W. Smith. the subject of this re- rien, was educated in Kentucky and Mis- wari, and in 1857 moved to Carroll coun- ty, of the latter state, but in April, 1861. returned to Kentucky to visit friends, and while there, the Civil war having broken It. he enlisted August 3. 1801. Becoming a member of Company I. Fourth Kentucky Infantry. under Colonel Speed S. Fry, for three years. He participated in thirteen en- gagements and skirmishes, among them be- ing Mill Springs, Kentucky, the second day's battle of Shiloh. Tullahoma, Chicka- manga. Missionary Ridge, Siege of Atlan- ta and minor engagements. He was in Mc- Cook's raid. where he experienced many hardships, and the regiment lost very heav- ily in killed. wounded and captured. Com- panics I and I were andered to hold a bridge, and aby ut daylight the Confederates came upon them, but were driven back. They re-formed. however, but were again repulsed. They then went further down the stream and were soon in possession of the bridge. Mr. Smith being one of the seven- toan who made their escape. Four of his company were killed. nine wounded and the rest taken prisoners. Mr. Smith cut his way through the ranks and was wounded in the hand, but they reached the Chattahoochee riter. swam the stream. though suffering irm hunger and fatigue, having been in the saddle five days and nights without cep and with very few rations, but after be- ing out fourteen days they reached the lines at Marietta. At the battle of Chickamauga he was wounded in the right hand, but he was a brave and loyal soldier, always i und at the post of duty, serving in the Union army three years, three months and four-

After leaving the army Mr. Smith went to Carroll county, Missouri, and after a few ibmthis came to Kansas, October 17. 1865. and tea k up a homestead in S. l. men Valley. and proceeded to make a dugout. in which he continued to live for about seven years. He had but fourteen dollars after securing hi- homestead papers, a pair of horses, a wagen and a com. The second year his horses were captured by the redskins, and the cw died. Then having nothing of this world's goals save his dugent and a wagen. he found employment on the Union Pacific Railroad, which was being constructed at that time near Abilene. He returned to His homestead in December, 1866, and was married to Miss Ann Hendershott. a native of Ohio, who came to Kansas in early pic- neer days of that state, in 1866. with her parents, James and Sarah (Morris) Hen- dershott. The marriage of Mr .. and Mrs. Smith was blessed with eleven children. seven of whom are living, as follows : Frank Wiley, born March 10. 1870. mar- ried Miss Marethea Garten and lives on a farm adjoining his father's: America, born March 5. 1872, became the wife of Pierce Lynch, a farmer living in Oklahoma, and they have one child. Ernest : Minnie Myrtle, born May 5. 1873, became the wife of Will- iam Jones, a farmer of Ottawa county, and they have two children. Esther and Lucy: Alexander. born October 17, 1875. lives at home and is interested in farming and stock-raising: Leroy, born May 31. 1877. is a graduate of Delphos high schmi, it's took a year's course of study in the Wes- levan College, at Saline, and a two years course at the State Normal Scho !. at Em- poria, Kansas. Alva. born August 25. ISSI. is the only daughter at home; aml Archie, bern February 24. 18% F the sims del in infancy. They are as raising a sister's child. Bertha Ellen Lons. born March 10, 1892. The children have all laen principally educated in Delph. .. Kansas, driving to and from the sch

After the uprising of the Indians. ING -- 8. Mr. Smith returned to his home- stead and began raising corn, cattle and h. gs. In 1872 he received one hundred

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dollars additional bounty, which he invested in twenty-five calves, and when they were two years old he sold them and with the proceeds bought fifty more calves, which he sold after two years and bought one hundred more. He raised enough corn to feed his cattle and hogs and shipped them to the markets, getting good prices for them. which enabled him to buy more land and cattle. He now owns twelve hundred and forty acres of land in Cloud and Ottawa counties and engages in diversified farming. raising wheat, corn and alfalfa. He has over one thousand acres under cultivation, and was one of the first farmers to introduce the raising of alfalfa in this vicinity. He has a fine herd of cattle-one hundred and seventy-five head-principally Herefords. and formerly was largely interested in the raising and shipping of hogs, cattle, horses and mules. Mr. Smith and his family lived in a dugout for a number of years, then built a two-room log house, which still re- mains an old landmark of pioneer days. In 1893 he built a magnificent residence of eleven rooms on the banks of the Solomon river, commanding a view for miles around. This stately country place with its barns, cattle sheds, and orchard, windmills and picturesque location would elicit expressions of admiration from the most fastidious. It required years of anxious watchfulness and warfare to secure this western homestead, but peace finally prevailed after much suffer- ing and privation and this beautiful home is the result. Mr. Smith, being a Kentuck- ian by birth, gives to his wide circle of ac- quaintances and friends the characteristic welcome and gracious hospitality of a south- ern gentleman.

In his political affiliations Mr. Smith is a stanch Republican and was the first com- missioner of Cloud county, in 1866, when the towns of Delphos and Beloit were not even thought of nor Minneapolis named. and the settlers were so few that he knew every one between Solomon City and the head of the Solomon river in 1870. So- cially he is connected with the Knights of Pythias, being a member of Delphos Lodge, and he is also commander of Wilderness

Post. No. 116, G. A. R., of Delphos. Mr. Smith's only living brother, John Smith, is a farmer and stock-raiser, living in Beloit, and is one of the first settlers of Mitchell county, Kansas. Mr. Smith of this review is a man of strong character and determined purpose, energetic, enterprising, faithful in all the relations of life and commands the confidence and respect of all with whom he is associated. He has witnessed the changes and progress this county has made from a sandy desert, where the Indians and buffalo roamed at will and where he applied for protection from General W. T. Sherman in 1866, then commanding the United States army. His reply was that the settlement was one hundred miles too far west and the country was only fit for Indians and buf- falo, but now it is the most beautiful and productive farming and stock-raising coun- try in the United States, with fine houses and barns on nearly every quarter section and the schoolhouses and churches will compare with any state in the Union; and with the telephone system and free mail de- livery at nearly every house the family are contented and happy.

JOHN R. CIRCLE.

Kansas is pre-eminently an agricultural state and furnishes to the country a large amount of farm products. Mr. Circle is numbered among those who are following farming with good success in Barber coun- ty. his home being on section 12, Moore township. He owns twenty-two hundred and forty acres of land and his stock com- prises large herds. For almost twenty years he has resided in this county, having ar- rived in 1884. His birth occurred in Bote- tourt county. Virginia, fifty-three years ago, and he represents an old southern family highly esteemed for the possession of up- right qualities, His father. Daniel Circle. was also a native of Botetourt county, and the grandfather. John L. Circle, was a sol- dier of the war of 1812. The family ances- try, however, can be traced still further back. Representatives of the name came

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A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 27

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