A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 58

Author: Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: New York Chicago: The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 1084

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EDWARD S. HANDY.

Edward S. Handy, a prominent real- estate and insurance agent of Hutchinson, has been a resident of Reno county since October, 1872, and during the many years which have since come and gone he has nobly borne his part in the work of progress and improvement which has here taken place. A native of the Prairie state, he first opened his eyes to the light of day in York, Illinois, on the 28th of February, 1846. His father. Thomas Handy, was the first white male child born in Clark county, Illinois, of which state the latter's father. John Handy, was one of the early pioneers.

He was born in the state of New York, and after removing to Illinois took up land in Clark county. From the trees which he there planted people are now gath- ering fruit. Thomas, the father of our subject, was reared to the quiet pur- suits of the farm, but later in life he engaged in the mercantile business. When the trou- ble between the north and south threw the country into civil war, he offered his ser- vices to the Union cause, and for three years was a brave and loyal defender of the starry banner. He became a member of Company F, Seventy-ninth Illinois Infantry, and par- ticipated in the battles of Tulahoma, Liberty Gap and Chattanooga. At the last named engagement he was captured and during his incarceration was in many different southern prisons. He was one of the one hundred and eight officers who dug out of Libby prison, but was recaptured, and was kept a prisoner of war until near the close of hostilities. He proved a true and faithful soldier, and for meritorious service was pro- moted to the rank of captain of his company.

In Illinois, the state of his nativity, Mr. Handy was united in marriage to Jane E. Scranton, and they had six children, our sub- ject being the second in order of birth. The eldest child, Charles, was also a faith- ful defender of the Union cause during the war of the rebellion, serving in the same company of which his father was a member, and he was killed at the battle of Kennesaw Mountain. Another son, George Grant Handy, is now engaged in the hardware business in Hutchinson, he and our subject being the only representatives of the family in this locality. The father was accidentally killed in Illinois, in 1867, and thus passed from earth a brave pioneer and a true and loyal soldier.

Edward S. Handy, the subject of this review, enjoyed the educational advantages afforded by the district schools of his local- ity, and afterward became a student in the academy at Marshall, Illinois. When only sixteen years of age, on the Ist of August, 1862, he, too, offered his service in defense of the Union, entering Company F, Seventy- ninth Illinois Infantry, of which company

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his father was captain. He took part in the battles of Stone River and Liberty Gap, and in the latter engagement was severely wounded and for a time was confined in the hospital at Murfreesboro, after which he returned to his home on a short furlough. Returning to the army, he was for a time commissary of a hospital, and was then only able to walk with the aid of crutches. When his regiment returned from the At- lanta campaign he was again desirous of entering the ranks as a soldier, but his feeble health would not permit, and he was afterward made clerk to the adjutant general of the Third Brigade Second Division, Fourth Army Corps. Mr. Handy subse- quently participated in the battles of Frank- lin. Nashville and Spring Hill, and in June. 1805. at Springfield. Illinois, he was hon- vorably discharged from the service.

Returning to his home with a creditable military record, he was for the following year engaged in mercantile business in Mar- shall, Illlinos, after which he attended a military school at Fulton, that state, for a time. After leaving the schoolroom he again took up mercantile pursuits, following that vocation until 1872, and in that year came to the Sunflower state and secured a soldier's claim in Lincoln township, Reno county, making his home thereon for the following four years. After securing his claim he built a small frame residence, and at once began the arduous task of improv- ing the new land with ox teams, first plant- ing his land with corn and afterward with wheat and oats. During the year of 1874. when the grasshoppers visited this section in such large numbers, he lost his entire crop. and he then returned to Illinois and for a time secured employment in the county clerk and treasurer's office and also taught a three months' term of school. After spend- ing one year in the Prairie state he returned to his farm in Reno county, remaining there until 1876, when he was elected a clerk of the district court. filling that responsible position for four consecutive terms. The next occupation to which Mr. Handy turned his attention was that of a real-estate agent. the boom in Hutchinson having at that time .

just started, and he platted and sold more land' in this city than any other one in- dividual here, the first lands which he placed on the market having been known as Handy's Addition, Riverside Addition, Han- dy & Shadduck's Central Addition, Handy's East Side Addition and many others. He built many of the finest business blocks in the city, among them being the post-office building, the two-story double brick building at Nos. 19 and 21 South Main street, the buildings at No. 5 South Main street, and No. 18 North Main street, and many others that have since been sold. In addition to his real-estate interests, he is now also engaged in both fire and tornado insurance, and has thus connected himself with many of the leading insurance companies known in this country. For a time he was largely inter- ested in farm property, but of late years he has sold his entire landed possessions. He is also interested in lead and zinc min- ing at Galena, having for a time served as secretary of the Hutchinson Mining and Milling Company, and has also mined to a considerable extent in Colorado. The bank- ing interests of this city have also received a portion of Mr. Handy's time and atten- tion. He was one of the incorporators and was for a time president of the People's State Bank, which was later merged into the Hutchinson National Bank, and of that institution he was appointed one of the di- rectors, while for several years he was a di- rector of the First National Bank. of Hutch- inson.

The marriage of Mr. Handy was cele- brated in this city on the 25th of December, 1879, when Minnie A. Hale became his wife. She is a daughter of M. Hale, a prom- inent merchant of Hutchinson. This union has been blessed with three children,-Inez L .. Jessie M. and Carrie J. Mr. Handy's political support is given the Republican party, and he has long been recognized as an influential and prominent worker in the ranks of this grand old party. For a num- ber of years he has served his city as an alderman, and at one time was the choice of his party for the office of mayor, but he refused to accept that honor. In his social

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relations he is a member of Joe Hooker Post. No. 17. G. A. R., in which he has served for three terms as adjutant. Soon after the close of the war the joined a post in Terre Haute, Indiana, which was one of the first organized after hostilities had ceased. Long and actively connected with the leading in- stitutions of Hutchinson and Reno county, he has become widely known in both busi- ness and social circles, and his straightfor- ward methods have ever commanded the confidence and support of the public.

CHRISTIAN RISSER.

The agricultural community of Harvey county, Kansas, knows Christian Risser, of Halstead, as a successful farmer and grain thrasher, and he is known in business cir- cles generally as a progressive and prosper- ous man whose business methods have made his word literally as good as his bond.

Christian Risser was born in West Windsor, Richland county, Ohio, April 23. 1845. a son of Jacob Risser, who was born in January, 1807, and died at Trenton, Clin- ton county, Illinois, in 1865. When, in 1836, Jacob Risser came over the ocean on a sailing vessel, which was forty-two days in reaching New York, he was about twenty- nine years old, and he had only a little while before, in his native land. married Annie Hirschler, who, in 1837, bore him his eld- est child, A. H. Risser, in Ohio. That son. who is a harnessmaker and dealer in har- ness, lives at Attica, Seneca county, Ohio. and has two children. Anna. Mr. Risser's second child in order of birth, is the widow of Christian Gable, lives in Garden town- ship, Harvey county, Kansas, and has seven children. Jacob lives in Halstead township. Mary is the wife of Jacob Linn, also of Hal- stead township. Christian is the immediate subject of this sketch. Eliza married John Lehman, of Halstead township. Christiana is the wife of J. E. Ruth, of Kingfisher, Ok- lahoma. The father of these children was taught farming after the German methods. and was early orphaned and left without

much means, but his success in life was such that he acquired a good farm of one hun- dred acres in Illinois, on which he lived out his days. His wife died in Kansas in 1883, aged seventy-four years. Early in life he served for a time in the German army, but had no experience of war.

Christian Risser early acquired some German education, but was educated mostly in schools in which English was taught. Un- til about 1872 he and his brother Jacob op- erated their late father's home in Illinois. After that for seven years he was a train man in Illinois on the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad. His brother-in-law. John Leh- man, went to Kansas in 1874. and sent back such favorable reports of the country that in 1876 Mr. Risser and James A. Lucas, 'a locomotive engineer, with whom he had worked as a fireman, went to St. Louis, Mis- souri, where they purchased for sixteen hundred dollars, a steam thrasher, which they took to Harvey county, where it was the first machine of its kind. Farmers were afraid that the thrasher would set fire to their stacks and buildings and burn them out, and it was not without considerable dif- ficulty that Mr. Risser and his partner got the machine into anything like general use ; but before the close of the second season the fears of the farmers were allayed, and the threshers had more business than they could attend to. They were partners until 1881, since which time Mr. Risser has continued the business independently, now owning his sixth machine, which, though it cost three thousand dollars, is more profitable than the original sixteen-hundred-dollar machine, because it will do twice as much work with two-thirds as many hands.

December 8, 1870. Mr. Risser was mar- ried in Illinois, to Laura Augusta Ruther- ford, who was born at Trenton, Illinois, February, 1850. a daughter of Reuben and Indiana (Stites) Rutherford, who were well-to-do farmers. As he was then rail- roading, he set up housekeeping at East St. Louis. Mrs. Risser bore her husband two daughters and died at St. Louis, Missouri, September II, 1875, and is buried at Tren- ton, Illinois. She was a true, faithful and

Christian Risser

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affectionate wife and mother, and was deeply mourned not only by her immediate family, but by all who knew her. Her daughter. Ida Pearl, died at Trenton, Illi- nois, aged four years. Her daughter, Em- ma Augusta is the wife of Edward E. Owen, of Shawnee, Oklahoma. Mr. Risser reveres the memory of his departed wife and evidently has no intention of marrying again. Since the marriage of his daughter he makes his home in Halstead, Kansas.

He is a Knight Templar Mason and a past master of Halstead Lodge, Ne. 46, Free and Accepted Masons. Politically he is a Democrat, and he is not without influence in the local councils of his party, but he has never held any public office except as a member of the city council of Halstead. He owns a farm of one hundred and sixty acres. which he bought in 1884, which is run by a tenant and on which he has some fine cattle, and is the owner of four town lots in the central portion of Halstead.

JOSEPH E. MULLIGAN.

Among the young men of central Kan- sas who are awakening public attention by reason of their ability and merit is Joseph Edward Mulligan, the junior member of the law firm of Rees & Mulligan, of Min- neapolis. He is ambitious, energetic and determined, and his character is builded upon sound principles. With such qualifications it is not difficult to predict for him a suc- cessful future and already he has won an enviable position in public regard and in business and professional circles.

his first settlement and the family has non become quite numerous. Thomas Mulligan, the father of our subject, was engaged in business as a dealer in fire supplies. He died in 1887. llis wife was of French extraction on the paternal side, but four generations of the family have resided in Pennsylvania. Her maternal ancestors were of Irish lin- cage. Unto Thomas and Mary Mulligan were born five children: Thomas, who is interested financially in woolen mills in Phil- adelphia : Jeenia, a student in Temple (1- lege: Theresa, who also is a student ; Joseph E. ; and James, a medical student.

In his parents' home Joseph E. Mulli- gan spent his youthful days. After pursuing a preparatory course in Smethport. Penn- sylvania. he was graduated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and in 1891 he entered upon his business career in the employ of the firm of Richard Hey & Sons, owners of exten- sive woolen mills. He remained with that house for seven years, during which time his close application, fidelity to duty and abil- ity won him continued promotion. In the meantime, anxious to improve mentality as well as in the business world, he pursued a college course at night, and in 1897 was graduated at Hartford. Subsequently he entered upon the study of law at George- town, D. C., and was graduated with the class of 1900. In the meantime he had added to his general knowledge by foreign travel. In 1893 he made a voyage to China in the interest of the firm. being sent there to buy wool. He remained for eight months, sail- ing from San Francisco for Honolulu, where he remained for several days, visiting many points of interests on the islands. He suc- cessfully accomplished his work in the Ori- ent and also gained that knowledge and cul- ture which only travel can bring. In 1901 he married Miss Lou Comfortz. of Clyde. Kansas.

A native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. he was born in 1875, a son of Thomas and Mary ( Linea) Mulligan. The father was also a native of the Keystone state and his ancestry in America can be traced back to After visiting Ottawa county several times Mr. Mulligan decided to locate in Minneapolis and after his graduation fr m law school in 1900 he entered into partner- ship with the Hon. R. R. Rees. IIe is a wide-awake, resolute young man, possess- 1752. in which year the great-grandfather of our subject came from Ireland to the new world and located where the city of Philadelphia now stands. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Some of his de- scendants have since resided at the place of | ing the qualification necessary for success at

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the bar. He has mastered many of the principles of jurisprudence and has already gained a good clientage, which is constantly growing in volume and importance. So- cially he is connected with Lodge No. 586 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. of Concordia, Kansas: also belongs to Minneapolis Lodge, No. 246. Knights of Pythias: and to Court No. 52, Foresters of America. He is progressive, in manner af- fable and courteous and wherever he goes wins a host of warm friends.

JAMES R. FEATHER.

The office of register of deeds is one of peculiar importance, for any inability in the official might entail mistakes of far-reaching consequence. Ottawa county is to be con- gratulated on the fact that in this office she has a man as competent and trustworthy as James R. Feather.

This gentleman was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, sixty miles from Pittsburg, in the year 1841, a son of Will- iam and Catherine ( Russell ) Feather, both of whom were natives of the Keystone state. His paternal grandfather, however, was from Germany, while his maternal ancestors were New England people, the family hav- ing been founded in America at an early day. In the common schools of Pennsyl- vania James R. Feather began his education, which he continued in the public schools of Wisconsin, to which state he removed with his parents in 1849. There his father died in 1851 and soon afterward the family re- turned to Pennsylvania. The mother, how- ever, spent her last days in Kansas, taking up her abode in this state in 1871 and here remaining until 1892, when she was called to the home beyond. She was then eighty- eight years of age. She had eleven children, ten sons and a daughter, and of this number five of the sons and the daughter are yet living : John, who was a farmer and stock- man, died in Ottawa county: Joshua is an agriculturist living near Butler, Oklahoma : Mary is the widow of David Taylor and

now resides in Denver, Colorado, with her son; Wheeler, the next of the family. died in 1852: William R. died in Minneapolis, Kansas, in 1897, while Peter W .. his twin brother. is now proprietor of the Valley House at Adams, Nebraska: Stephen is a retired farmer of Ottawa county, Nebraska ; Jefferson died at Annapolis from a wound received at the battle of Petersburg, June 19, 1864; Joseph died about 1858. at the age of eighteen years; and Henry is a re- tired farmer living in Minneapolis,

With the family Mr. Feather, of this review, returned to Pennsylvania, but in 1857 he again went to Wisconsin, where he remained for about three years, when he again went to his native state. There on the 22d of April, 1861, he offered his serv- ices to the government as a defender of the Union, enlisting as a private of Company B, , Tenth Pennsylvania Reserve Volunteers. He served his term of three years, during which time he was in the seven days' battle on the peninsula, in Mcclellan's campaign and the second battle of Bull Run, where he was shot through the right shoulder. He is still partially paralyzed from the injury, which necessitated his remaining in the hos- pital at Chester, Pennsylvania, for about nine months. He was also in the battles of Gettysburg, the Wilderness. Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor and various skirmishes, and at Cold Harbor he was mustered out of active service, receiving an honorable discharge at Pittsburg in 1864.

Immediately afterward Mr. Feather re- turned to his home in Pennsylvania. He then lived on the Ohio line, but in the old home neighborhood. He was a practical engineer, working in the coal mines in that capacity until he came to Kansas in 1878. here joining his mother, who had removed to the state seven years previous. In the western part of Ottawa county Mr. Feather took up a claim, and thereon resided until elected to his present office in 1897.

In January, 1863. in Middlesex, Penn- sylvania, during his stay in the hospital, Mr. Feather was united in marriage to Miss Margaret A. Hawk, a daughter of John ! and Mary Hawk, natives of Pennsylvania.

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Her father was of German descent, while her mother represented an old New England family. Mr. and Mrs. Feather began their domestic life in Ohio, where they remained until coming to Kansas in 1878. They have become the parents of nine children: J. E .. a farmer and stockman who is living in May. Oklahoma; W. H .. who resides in Liberal and is county treasurer of Seward county: Mary A .. the wife of J. B. Lane. of Coffeyville, Kansas; Clara E., the wife of Ford S. Morris, a farmer residing near .Ada, Ottawa county; Annie, the wife of Richard Copeland, who is living near Pella. Iowa, and is employed in a tile factory ; Bernice, the wife of W. M. Mye, a farmer and stockman of Ottawa county: Rov, who is living on his father's farm: and Maggie. who makes her home with her sister. Ber- nice, and is now attending school. The me ther ei these children died in 1886 on the home farm in Ottawa county, and in December. 1888. Mr. Feather was again married, his second union being with Mary L. Nve. a native of Iowa, and the widow of Andrew Nye. One child has been born of this union, Effie, who is attending the gradel schools of Minneapolis.

When elected register of deeds Mr. Feather removed to the county seat and is now serving his second term in that capacity. In politics he is a Republican, earnest in his adv cacy of the principles of the party. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church. while his wife is a member of the Baptist church. He also belongs to the Grand Army Post in Ada. Kansas. He is a molest, unassuming man. entirely free from ostentation, yet his genuine worth makes liim uniformly respected and as a re- labie . fficer and valued citizen he well de- serves mention in the history of his adopted

ANDREW J. SMITH.

The history of mankind is replete with illustrations of the fact that it is only under the pressure of adversity and the stimulus of opposition that the best and strongest in

men are brought out and developed. anything can inspire the youth of our call- ry to persistent, honest and laudable en- deaver, it should be the life recend of such men as he of whom we write. The example of the illustrious few of our countrymen who have risen from obscurity to the high- est positions in the gift of the nation serves often to awe our young men rather than in- spire them to emulation, because they reason that only a few can ever attain such emi- nence : but the history of such men as An- drew J. Smith proves conclusively that with a reasonable amount of mental and physical power success is bound eventually to crown the endeavor of those who have the amli- tion to put forth their best efforts and the will and manliness to persevere therein.

Mr. Smith, who is one of the leading business men and merchants of Minneapolis. was born January 1, 1846. in southern Illi- nois, his parents being Elijah al Jemima Smith. . The father was reared in Tennes- see and Kentucky, but at an early day went to Illinois, locating in the southern part of the state, where his wife died in 1803. He was a progressive man, prominent in pub- lic affairs and was well fitted for a position of leadership. For twelve years he served as county judge of Massac county and fully sustained the dignity of the law. In 1805 he emigrated with his family to Ottawa county, Kansas, and from the government entered a claim which he afterward sold. For one term he served as judge of the Ot- tawa county court. filling the position with credit to himself and satisfactorily to his constituents. In 1875 he removed to Mis- souri, where he died in 1886.

Andrew J. Smith needs no special in- troduction to the readers of this volume. for he is widely known as an enterprising busi- ness man and valued citizen. He entered upon his business career by following vari- mus pursuits which would yield him an hen- est living. He had not enjoyed very good educational privileges, but through practical experience, observation and reading he he- came well informed. In the early days in this county he engaged in trading in horses and cattle and in 1874 he engaged in the

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grocery business with a capital stock of five grinding it. Such conditions. however, hundred dollars. He also owned the build- i have long since passed, and with the introduction of the railroad. have come all the comforts and conveniences of the east. Mr. Smith has ever borne his part in the work of improving and upbuilding of the county, has been a liberal contributor to churches and public institutions and with- · holds not his support and co-operation from any movement which he believes will prove of public good. ing in which he conducted his enterprise. As the years passed he prospered and grad- ually his business was developed into a gen- eral merchandisel enterprise. To this he afterward added a stock of agricultural im- plements and fence wire, and sold enough wire to put a three wire fence around Ot- tawa county and to bound each section line in each direction. In 1884 he sold more wagons than any other retail store in the state ever sold in one year. In June. 1885, he withdrew from the business and during the interval from 1885 until 1898 he was JOHN W. RUTH. engaged in the real estate and chattel loan- ing business, while for about three years he dealt in cattle with excellent success. In 1898, however, he once more embarked in merchandising on a somewhat larger scale than that on which he began in 1874. He now owns and conducts the largest clothing and boot and shoe house in this portion of the country, and his extensive sales annu- ally return to him an excellent profit on his investment. He also owns some valuable real estate in Minneapolis.

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A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 58

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