A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 53

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 53

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DAVID GOERZ.

Few men in central Kansas have been more important factors in its development and progress than Rev. David Goerz, of Newton, who has induced many to locate in this portion of the state, and whose labors have been of the greatest benefit along the lines of intellectual and moral development. The history of a county as well as that of a state and nation, is chiefly the chronicle of the lives and deeds of those who have con- ferred honor and dignity upon society. The world judges the character of a community by that of its representaive citizens, and yields its tributes of admiration and respect for the genius, learning or virtues of those whose works and actions constitute the rec- ord of a state's prosperity and pride : and it is in their character, as exemplified in prob- ity and benevolence, kindly virtues and in- tegrity in the affairs of life, are ever af- fording worthy examples for emulation and valuable lessons of incentive. Mr. Goerz has done so much for Harvey county that his history forms an integral part of its an- nals and will be received with interest by many of our readers who know of his good work.

Mr. Goerz is now the business manager of Bethel College, of Newton, and the sec- retary of the corporation which conducts this flourishing Mennonite institution. He

was born in southern Russia, June 2. 1849, and there was reared, acquiring a good edu- cation. He displayed special aptitude in his school work and at the early age of seven- teen began teaching, following that profes- sion for eight years in his native land. At length he determind to establish a home in the new world and take advantage of its broad opportunities. Accordingly he crossed the Atlantic to America in 1871, and lo- cated in St. Clair county, Illinois, where for two years he engaged in teaching.

Before sailing for this country Mr. Goerz was married, the wedding being cele- brated on the 21st of June, 1871, Miss Helen Riesen becoming his wife. She, too, was born and reared in southern Russia, and was a daughter of Rudolph and Cather- ine (Friesen) Riesen. Her father was a na- tive of Prussia, and in the old world he fol- lowed the cabinet maker's trade. In the year 1871 he, too, sailed for the new world, establishing his home in Marion county, Kansas, where he turned his attention to farming, and although he had no previous experience in this line of work, he soon gained a familiarity with the work that ren- dered his labors remunerative. In his fam- ily were five sons and four daughters, all of whom were born in Russia, with the ex- ception of the youngest son. The parents died within a few days of each other, pass- ing away in 1893, the father at the age of seventy-one, the mother when sixty-nine years of age. Mrs. Goerz is a lady of su- perior culture and knowledge. She obtained a good education and has been an able as- sistant to her husband in his work, as well as a faithful companion. Unto our subject and his wife have been born nine children, five sons and three daughters yet living. while a son died in infancy. The others are John H., who is employed as a bookkeeper by the Girard Trust Company, of Philadel- phia, Pennsylvania, and is married and has one child : Katie, who attended the Halstead Seminary and possesses considerable musi- cal talent ; Rudolph, who married a daugh- ter of Chris. Krehbiels and is living in New- ton : Helen, the wife of J. P. Isaac, a medi-

ELLE

BETHEL COLLEGE, NEWTON, KANSAS.

David Every

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cal student in Chicago, by whom she has one daughter: Robert, a resident of Newton ; Emma, who is a graduate of Bethel College and is an accomplished pianist : Orlando, who is attending college; and. Williard, a youth of eight years, who completes the family.

Mr. and Mrs. Goerz came to Kansas in 18;3. locating first in Halstead, which was then the headquarters of the Emigrant Aid Colonization Society, of which he became the secretary. He was at Castle Garden, New York, for some time to receive emi- grants and conduct them or send them to their destination in Kansas and the west. For sixteen years he resided in Halstead, and his labors proved of the greatest value in the settlement of the central portion of this state, many being influenced to come to this locality, where they have found good homes and gained prosperity. In 1893 Mr. Goerz came with his family to Newton and took up his abode in his present spa- cious and attractive home. It is a large frame residence situated near Bethel college, and is surrounded by a well-kept lawn adorned with fine shade trees, which were planted by the owner, and the house was erected under his supervision.

If Mr. Goerz has accomplished nothing in life save what he has done in connection with Bethel College he woud not have lived in vain and would deserve the gratitude of the community, which has been so greatly benefited by the institution. He was the or- ganizer of the corporation, and has been closely and prominently identified with it from its inception to the present time. He solicited the funds. negotiated for the site of the buildings, resulting in the location of the college one mile north of Newton. The sit- uation is extremely pleasant. The grounds comprise several acres of land : the college building is a large stone edifice built in mod- ern style of architecture, and presents an imposing appearance, for it can be seen for miles across the prairies. Mr. Goerz collect- ed over one hundred thousand dollars and is really the founder of this institution of learn- ing. Besides the fine edifice there are a number of substantial residences and board-

ing halls, forming a pretty suburban village to the city of Newton, which in itself is one of the most enterprising and attractive cit- ies of its size in Kansas. Mr. Goerz has al- ways been secretary of the board of direc- tors and the business manager of the college, and to him more than to any other one man is due the success of the school. Mr. Goerz is not only a cultured and scholarly gentle- man, but is an astute business manager and far-sighted financier, and possesses great en- ergy and powers of endurance. He carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes,and is still pushing forward the work of Bethel College, which has be- come one of the best institutions of learning in this part of the state.

Mr. Goerz is pastor of the church and college here. He was ordained in Halstead, in 1878, as a minister of the Mennonite de- nomination, and in 1890 was made an elder. His influence is of no restricted order, and there has not been denied to him the rich harvest of his labors. At this point it would be almost tautological to enter into any se- ries of statements as showing Rev. Goerz to be a man of broad intelligence and genu- ine public spirit, for these have been shad- owed forth between the lines of this review. Strong in his individuality, he never lacks the courage of his convictions, but there are as dominating elements in this individuality a lively human sympathy and an abiding charity which, as taken in connection with the sterling integrity and honor of his char- acter, have naturally gained to him the re- spect and confidence of men.

WILLIAM J. MCADOO.

William J. McAdoo, one of the most prominent citizens of Barber county, and in whose honor the townshin of McAdoo was named. was formerly extensively engaged in the stock business, but is now practically living retired from the active duties of life. and is living on the old home farm with his son, Isaac. He was born in Hickman coun- ty. Tennessee, forty-two miles south of

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Nashville, on the old military road blazed out by General Carroll, March 28, 1833.

His father, Barnett A. McAdoo, was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, June 13, 1800. In his native city he served a seven years apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade, and afterward came with his brothers, William, Stevens, Pinkley, Robert. Foster and Eph- raim, and a colony, to America, the party first locating in Buncombe county, North Carolina, but after a time the father of our subject and other members of the colony took up their abode in Hickman county, Tennessee. About 1822 Mr. McAdoo was there married to Sarah Merritt, a member of the colony that came to America from Scot- land, where she was born January 8, 1796, a daughter of John and Rebecca ( Murphy) Merritt. In 1843 he left the state of Ten- nessee for Illinois, where a part of the col- ony, including all of his brothers, but one, had preceded him, and there they founded the town of Liberty. For a time he made his home in White county, but on account of milk sickness there he removed to Jeffer- son county, where he and his wife died on the same day, in 1873, and were buried in the same casket, both passing away in the faith of the Old-school Presbyterian church, of which they had been worthy and faithful members. Of the brothers, Pinkley died in Greene county, Missouri: Billy was living in Tennessee when last heard from: Robert fell in the battle of Cerro Gordo : and another brother died on his way home from service. Eleven children were born unto Mr. and Mrs. McAdoo, namely: Eliza, who became the wife of Isaac N. Pierce and died in Arkansas during the Civil war; Stephen, who married a member of the historic Shel- by family and died in Arkansas, where he had located previous to the Civil war ; John, a minister of the Baptist church and a resi- dent of Cass county, Missouri; Beckey, the widow of Barnett Clinton, and a resident of Illinois; Martha, who became the wife of Finis Shannon, a veteran of the Mexican war, and her death occurred in Illinois : Sarah, who became the wife of Pinckley Vaughn, and died in Missouri: David, who was drowned in California : William J., the

subject of this review; Barnett, who was drowned in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1851, whither he had gone for a bunch of cattle; George, who was a resident of Missouri when last heard from; and Mary J., who died of diphtheria in childhood.

William J. McAdoo was but a lad of about twelve years when he removed with his father to Illinois, and he still retains a vivid recollection of the part he took in the Juvenile Marching Club of "Straight Outs" in one of the heated political campaigns. In 1845 the family located in Jefferson county, Illinois, on the Mississippi river, and it was not until after he had reached mature years and had served an apprenticeship at the car- penter's trade that the son received any ed- ucational advantages, and then, in company with twelve other young men, they secured a private instructor, erected a schoolhouse, and there our subject attended school for thirty-six days, when his funds became ex- hausted and he was compelled to leave the school. Shortly after his arrival in Jefferson county, Illinois, he had been bound out to Scott & Mayberry, contractors and build- ers in Wayne county, with whom he re- mained until his twenty-first year, when he purchased his time, and after his unsuccess- ful attempt to gain an education went to Galveston, Texas, and thence to Appaloose, Louisiana, where he was engaged in fram- ing trestles on the railroad in Turkey bayou. He remained on the railroad for the following four years, during which time he worked from Galveston to New Orleans, but in 1855 yellow fever broke out in his locality and he went to Monticello, Arkan- sas, there working at his trade for several years and built many cotton gins during the time.

In 1855. near Appaloose, Louisiana, Mr. McAdoo was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Henry, who was born in Cheron. North Carolina. September 5. 1836, a daughter of William K. and Harriet P. ( Gruver) Henry, both of Scotch descent. In the spring of 1861, with his wife and two children, he went with team and wagon to Illinois, his starting point being White Oak Bluff, on the Saline river, and after

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reaching that state he remained for a time with his father and followed his trade. In 1861 business called him to Indiana, and in Posey county, that state, he was arrested by Union soldiers on the suspicion that he was a spy in the Confederate service and was taken to Shawneetown, Illinois, where he was recognized by Captain Dave Vote and was released. At his request he was given an escort of six men for a long distance on his way home. . At that time public senti- ment ran very high in the north, and the fact that he had lived for several years in the south caused him to be the object of an unreasonable suspicion and persecution. Col- onel Whitlock, the provost marshal of Ol- ney. Illinois, and who had previously ar- rested him. received an order from Cairo to again arrest him, and about three weeks after the first attempt a body of cavalry rode to his house, but by this time Mr. Mc- Adoo was entirely out of patience with his persecutors ; and seizing an ax he dashed from the house and taking the commanding officer's horse by the bit demanded him to disperse his men on penalty of death, and at the same time informed him that he was as loyal as any man in the county. The officer dismissed his men and when released by our subject put spurs to his horse and dashed away. Knowing his arrest would be certain to follow, Mr. McAdoo was ever watchful and kept a horse ready for use, but in spite of this precaution he was one day surprised by a large number of soldiers and barely succeeded in making his escape to Franklin county, where a friend fitted him out for a journey to Missouri. There he surrendered to McCrea's Confederate com- mand, received a parole and returned to his home. He was afterward arrested at Keo- kuk, Iowa, but after showing his parole was released.

In 1866, however. Mr. MeAdoo abandoned the freighting business and returned to Illi- nois, locating on the farm he had purchased when he had first left the south. From that time until 1881 he successfully followed farming and carpentering, becoming the owner of eight hundred acres of land and also owned a lumber yard at Bellview, Illi- nois. In the latter year he came to the Sun- Hower state, locating for a time in Linn county, where his wife's death occurred. There he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land and engaged in the stock bus- iness and also owned a large feed yard. There he made his home until 1885, during which time, in addition to his many other interests, he also took the contract for erect- ing a church at Middle Fork and erected for himself what was then the finest residence in the county. In that year he sold his pos- sessions there to Boycott & Bradley, of Ot- tawa, and came to Barber county, bringing i with him three teams and wagons and much stock. The first land which he owned here was located on the southwest quarter of sec- tion I, and as the years passed by he added to his original purchase until he owned eigh- teen hundred acres, on which he kept a drove of three hundred cattle. About nine years ago he sold that place and purchased his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres. Dur- ing about four years of his residence here he lived entirely alone, but his son. Isaac, then returned to the home farm to care for him in his declining years.

Mr. and Mrs. McAdoo became the par- ents of eight children, namely : Harriet J., who became the wife of James Jones, and died in Illinois : George Henry, a farmer of Oklahoma; John, who died in Illinois in childhood ; Barnett, a land owner and skilled mechanic of Oklahoma; Anna, the wife of Frank Jones, a carpener of Augusta, Ok- lahoma; Isaac N., on the old homestead ; Amos, who is a prominent farmer and stock- man of McAdoo township, where he owns four hundred and eighty acres of land, and also represents the Northwest Threshing Machine Company of Minnesota; and | Sarah E., the wife of Edward Dilley, a rail-

Making his way to Council Bluffs, he : was sent to Chicago for eleven Schutler wagons, also purchased oxen, and on the IIth of February, 1862, with his wagons 1 loaded with government supplies, he went from Council Bluffs to Fort Carney in a train of one hundred and four persons, un- der the command of Captain George Perkins. 1 road employe in Douglastown, Butler coun-

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ty. Two orphan children also found good homes with this worthy couple-William R. Randoll, a farmer of Jefferson county, Illi- nois, and James Bettis, who is engaged in the mercantile business at Flat Gap, Ten- nessee.

Mr. McAdoo has served his township as justice of the peace and as treasurer. When the first schoolhouse was erected in the town- ship he furnished the teams to haul the lum- ber from Kingman and advanced from his own private means the money necessary to pay the teacher for the first two terms. He has ever since been a member of its board of education and the schoolhouse was named in his honor. In political matters he has given his support principally to the Democ- racy since the Civil war, but at times votes with the People's party. Socially he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He was raised in the belief of the Presbyterian church, but is very liberal in his religious views. Barber county has no more honored or respected citizen than Will- iam J. McAdoo, and his benevolent and pub- lic spirited nature is known far and wide.

ISAAC N. MCADOO.

Isaac Newton McAdoo, a leading and representative citizen of Barber county, is a native son of the Prairie state, his birth hav- ing there occurred in Jefferson county June 24, 1867. The history of the family will be found in the sketch of his father, Will- iam J. McAdoo, in this volume. Our sub- ject received his educational advantages in the common schools of his native locality, and when fifteen years of age he accompa- nied his parents on their removal to Kansas. He remained under the parental roof until his marriage, and during that time he was engaged to some extent in freighting from Hutchinson and vicinity to various points in the state. For a period of six years after his marriage he was engaged in the livery business in Kansas City, Missouri. but on the expiration of that period he sold his possessions there and came to Barber

county, where for the following three years he was engaged in the tilling of the soil. For the succeeding three years he was engaged in farming and stock raising in Cass coun- ty, Missouri, but on account of failing health he was then obliged to leave that locality and returned to Kansas for two years. He next spent six months in travel in Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas, and then, being a great sufferer from rheumatism, he remained at Hot Springs, Arkansas, for eleven months, when his health was entirely restored. The following year was spent by our subject in Cass county, Missouri, for three years was engaged in blacksmithing at Rogers, Arkansas, and thence returned to Barber county to care for his father in his declining years. Since taking up his abode on the old home farm he has been en- gaged in farming, stock raising, blacksmith- ing and threshing, having been more or less engaged in the latter occupation for a period of sixteen years. In partnership with his cousin, Alexander McAdoo, he operated one of the first threshing machines ever brought into Pratt county, it being an old-fashioned horse-power machine. At the present time he owns and operates a Minnesota Giant, a sixteen-horse-power engine and a North- west separator, and during the past season he threshed forty-nine thousand nine hun- dred and twenty-seven bushels of grain in Pratt county, while the year previous he threshed as high as eighty thousand bushels. He is also engaged in the stock business, at the present time owning over fifty head of cattle and horses.

On the 19th of July, 1887, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. McAdoo and Miss Norah E. Jones. She is a native of Cass coun- ty, Missouri, and a daughter of Benjamin and Evaline (Myers) Jones, who claim the Buckeye state as the place of their nativity. There they were married, and in 1867 they took up their residence in Cass county, Mis- souri, where they both still reside and the father is extensively engaged in farming near Strasburg. He was a soldier in the Civil war. They became the parents of seven children, namely: Dow. a farmer of Butler county, Kansas; Sylvia, the

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wife of Henry Austin, a farmer of .Almeda. Oklahoma: Frank, a house carpenter, of Augusta, Oklahoma; Norah, the wife of our subject : Anna. the widow of Harry Semour and a member of her parents' home in Mis- souri : Myrtle. the wife of William Hartzler, a merchant of Pleasant Hill, Missouri; and Ira, who died of consumption at Plevna. Reno county, Kansas, in 1886, at the age of twenty-five years. The union of our sub- ject and wife has been blessed with five chil- dren, namely: Clara, Edgar, Marie, Enid and Oran.

Mr. McAdoo is independent in his politi- cal views.

JAMES M. SCOTT.

Hon. James M. Scott is serving for the third successive term as mayor of Mankato and no higher proof of the love, confidence and trust reposed in him by his fellow citi- zens could be given than the fact that at the last election he received the unanimous support of the voters of the city, being elected entirely without opposition. The in- terests of Mankato are dear to his heart and no man has labored more faithfully and un- selfishly to promote its welfare along all lines of substantial upbuilding and improve- ment. He is a practical, enterprising bus- iness man, and those same qualities are manifest in the discharge of his official du- ties. He is known far and wide as one of the leading horse dealers of the country and his extensive interests in this direction have done much toward promoting business ac- tivity in central Kansas. So widely and favorably is he known and so closely is his history interwoven with that of Jewell coun- ty through the last decade that the annals of central Kansas would be incomplete with- out a full account of his life.

Mr. Scott was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky. May 3, 1846, and comes of a family noted for loyalty to their honest con- victions, for industry and strong determina- tion. His paternal grandparents were Thomas and Mary (Ralston) Scott, who for many years resided in the Blue Grass

state and thence removed to Missouri, where the former died at the age of eighty- two years, while his wife passed away at the age of eighty-nine. Their son, James M. Scott. Sr., the father of our subject. was born in Nicholas county, Kentucky, and in 1854 removed with his family to Mis- souri. He was a farmer and stock raiser. following those pursuits throughout his ac- tive life, but at the time of the Mexican war he put aside all personal considerations, be- ing one of the first to join the American army for service at the front. He married El- len Brown, also a native of Nicholas county, Kentucky, and a daughter of Daniel B. and Margaret (Leary) Brown, who were na- tives of Scotland and the latter was a daugh- ter of one of the Revolutionary heroes. However, he became engaged in the war for Independence on the side of the British and was wounded at the battle of Brandywine. About that time. his sympathies having be- come enlisted on behalf of the colonists, he deserted the English army and joined the American troops, after which he valiantly aided in winning freedom for this land. Mr. Brown died in Kentucky at the age of fifty- six years, after which Mrs. Brown re- moved to Missouri, where her death oc- curred when she was eighty years of age. The father of our subject died in Stone county, Missouri. at the age of seventy-two, and his wife there passed away at the age of seventy-four. They were the parents of ten children, of whom three sons and a daughter are vet living.

James M. Scott was a lad of only eight summers when his parents removed to Mis- souri, and there he was reared on the home farm, pursuing his education in the village schools and also taking a high school course. He was only fifteen years of age when he first became connected with miltary service. enlisting first in the Missouri Confederate State Guards, while six months later he joined the regular army of the Confederacy and was elected third lieutenant. but think- ing he was too young for the duties he re- signed. After two years had passed he was. in 1863. commissioned captain and took part in detached service until the close of the

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Civil war. He was wounded in the left shoulder April 8, 1862; in the fall of that year in the side ; and in 1864 was shot in the right leg. He was a very brave soldier, fear- lessly defending the cause which he es- poused and his valor inspired his men to deeds of courage.

After the restoration of peace Mr. Scott went to Nebraska and crossed the plains to Fort Laramie, Wyoming. He worked as a freighter for a time, then spent four years as a wagon master, after which he returned to Missouri and was married. There on the 14th of September, 1869, he wedded Rachel Barnes, a native of that state, and unto them have been born three children : Glen, who is his father's partner in business and is married and has a son, named for the subject of this review: Garland, who died at the age of four years; and Bertha, who is the wife of D. V. Hanna.

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A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 53

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