A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 59

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 59

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).

Mr. Smith has been twice married. On the Ioth of March, 1874, he wedded Anna Ellison, a native of Ohio, who died No- vember 5, 1892, leaving a son, Frank, who was born April 26, 1882. He completed his education in the Minneapolis high school and is now emploved as a clerk in his fa- ther's store-a young man of good business qualifications and with a promising future. On the ed of January, 1894. Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Mrs. Louie Smith, the widow of Elijah Smith, and they now have one child. Ray, born in Minneapolis, March I, 1897. Theirs is one of the most beautiful homes in Minneapolis-a palatial residence standing in the midst of beautiful grounds. Mr. Smith has practically grown up with the country. He cast in his lot with the early settlers here and had some narrow escapes during the Indian raids. He lived here at a time when one had to pay a dollar a bushel for corn and then haul it all the way to Junction City. where the price of forty cents per bushel was demanded for

This prominent retired farmer of Hal- stead, Harvey county, Kansas, who is living on one of his farms in section 13, in the township mentioned, was born in Bavaria, Germany, May 8. 1838, a son of David Ruth, who brought his family to the United States in 1852, landing at New York Au- gust 3, fifty-two days after he left Munich. June 12, following, he left New York for Iowa, and arrived in Lee county, that state, October 8. Some idea of the inconvenience of such a journey may be afforded by the statement that at this time one may come to Kansas from Bavaria within two weeks.

Mr. Ruth and his family made the trip to Iowa as members of a party of seventy- two persons, old and young. They made the journey from New York to Albany by steamer, from Albany to Buffalo by rail, from Buffalo to Henry, at the head of Lake Erie, by boat : from Henry to Chicago by rail, from Chicago south to the Illinois riv- er by canal. then floating down . the riv- er some distance to a point where they took a steamer for Peoria, whence the journey was made to Burlington, Iowa, by stage. They were detained in Buffalo five days, and were there exposed to cholera, and one of the party died of that disease while en route from Buffalo to Henry, and Mr. Ruth's brother came near dying. The sub- ject of this sketch was then fourteen years old, and was one of eight children, who ac- companied their parents on that memorable

MR. AND MRS. JOHN W. RUTH AND FAMILY.

1117

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

journey. As may be imagined, there were few heads of families of that party of emi- grants where means were not limited. De- vid Ruth sold his farm in Bavaria, which comprised forty acres of the old farm of his father, which the latter divided among his sons, and with the money he received for it sought to establish himself in the new world. David Ruth married Katharine Strohn in 1837, and John W. Ruth was the first horn of their eight children born in the in therland. A daughter and a sin were born to them after their arrival in America and three . i their daughters and five of their sons are living at this time. All of their children who grew to manhood and woman- hond married and had large families. Bar- bara, who married David Lehman, has fif- teen children. Susan, another sister of the subject of this sketch, married the Rev. Christian Krehbiel and had thirteen chil- dire, seven seas and three daughters of whom survive. David Ruth died in St. Clair county, Illinois, and his widow married Michael Lehman, and died at Halstead. Kansas. in 1886, in her seventy-fourth year. She isried Mr. Lehman, who came early from Germany to Ohio, at Halstead, in 18-0.

john W. Ruth has made a success of life by honesty, industry and frugality and other traits which characterize truly self-made men. He remained on the home farm until he was twenty-three years old. In March. 1861. he married Miss Eliza Strohn, of Bavarian birth, who came to the United States in 1853 and who bore him twelve children. of whom one son and five daugh- ters are livng. the first-born daughter hav- ing fiel at the age of one year. Clara mar- ried Gustav Haury, a professor in Bethel C Hege at Newton, Kansas, and has three Sen -. Edward. who has a wife and a daugh- ter lives in Oklahoma, as does also Anna. w !. married A. T. Kruse and has one s. n. Emma. Ida and Hilda, all well educated young holies, are members of their father's hou-che MI. Mrs. Ruth died March. INGS. at the age of fifty-three years. Mr. and

Mrs. Ruth were Mennonites by religion- faith and early united with that church. ni which their children are also members.

Mr. Ruth is the owner of seven hundred and ten acres of land all of which except three eighty-acre farms in Macon township is in Halstead township. Five of his farms are occupied by tenants, for since ISON be has not been actively engaged in farming. but has been living in partial retirement. Politically he is a Democrat, and he has dur- ing all his active life been interested in edu- cation, and for many years has been a mem- ber of the school land, and he has also lang filled the office of treasurer of his school district. When in the spring of 1875, twenty-seven years ago, he located on the naked prairie where now is his m lern home, he was. comparatively speaking, a poor man with his fortune all before him. His first house, which was built in the fall of 1874, was a sixteen by twenty -foot struc- ture, which is a part of his present large two-story, nine-room residence, the main portion of which was erected in 1879. In January, 1874, he bought a half of a sec- tion of railroad land for ten hundred and forty dollars. Later he bought eighty acres for twelve hundred dollars, a quarter sec- tion for eighteen hundred dollars and an- other quarter section for four thousand dol- lars, being an aggregate of eight thousand and forty dollars for the several purchases. He erected his first barn in the fall of 1875 and it was the first red barn in its vicinity. and its heavy timber frame is a substantial that the structure is still in good condition. Tle has two orchards, aggregating six acres. Formerly cottonwood trees grew in it :1 af his place a half a mile along the road until in prosecuting the work of improvement be cut them down.

The family of Ruth is a w stay well- ingristed one and most of it- manthere are fine, large, well proportioned men and women of exceptional mentality: and it is waste of note that in all generation and in nearly all branches the family has been a 1 50c .ne. Nine of Mr. Ruth's court-

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

did soldier's duty in our Civil war and some of them lost their lives in defense of the flag under which they fought.

W. S. ELLIOTT.

The farming interests of Ottawa county are well represented by W. S. Elliott, who is one of the substantial agriculturists of Logan township. His father. George A. Elliott, now deceased. was one of Ottawa county's honored early settlers. He was born in Cattaraugus county, New York, in September. 1829, and was a representative of an honored and well known family. His father, Alvah Elliott, was also a native of the Empire state. Alvah Elliott, the father of George A., died when George was four years old. Then he and his mother lived with his uncle till 1841, when they came with George's uncle to Wabash, Indiana. where his eldest brother was located, and lived there till he was twenty-one years of age. Then George went to Trowbridge; Michigan. After he was located a while his mother went and kept house for him till after his marriage. After that she lived with her oldest son a while, then with the next youngest, who lived in Sturgis, Michi- gan, where she died.

in 1898, the father at the age of sixty-eight years, and the mother when she had reached the age of sixty-four years. At their death they left two children, and the daughter, Mrs. Emma J. Tasker, now resides on the old homestead farm. The father gave his political support to Republican principles. He was at one time a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, but afterward be- came identified with the Wesley Methodist church.

W. S. Elliott, whose name introduces this review, claims Michigan as the state of his nativity, his birth occurring in 1862. When nine years of age he accompanied his parents on their removal to the Sunflower state, and in early life he assisted his fa- ther in the difficult task of improving wild land, while the educational privileges which he enjoyed were those afforded by the schools of Logan township. His life has : been characterized by energy, perseverance and hard work, and to those principles his success is due. His homestead farm com- prises two hundred and forty acres of as fine land as can be found in Ottawa county, and to its cultivation and improvement he devotes his time and attention. A beautiful grove and orchard adds to the value and attractive appearance of the place, and it is further improved by a commodious resi- dence. barns and a windmill, while in his pastures are found a high grade of stock.

George A. was reared to manhood on his father's farm, receiving his education in In 1893 occurred the marriage of Mr. Elliott and Miss Viola Ruggles. The lady was born in Shelby county, Indiana, a daughter of William and Catherine ( Went) Ruggles, who came to Kansas in 1882. Mrs. Elliott has one living brother. James A., who makes his home in Indiana. Unto our subject and his wife have been born four children, Flossie Phebe, Paul Walter. Mary Viola and Ross Augustus. Both Mr. and Mrs. Elliott are members of the Evangelical Lutheran church, in which he has served as a deacon for five years. In his social re- lations he is a member of the Independent the schools of Indiana. After reaching years of maturity he removed to Michi- gan. and in Trowbridge. that state, he was united in marriage with Phebe Barney, who proved to him a faithful and loving companion for the journey of life. She was born in Ohio and was of Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry. In 1863 Mr. and Mrs. Elliott re- moved to Wabash county, Indiana, where they resided until 1871, and in that year came by railroad to Kansas, locating in Logan township. Ottawa county. : There the father secured a homestead claim, on which he erected a small box house, and Order of Odd Fellows, and Sons and soon began the arduous task of improving Daughters of Justice, and his political sup- port is given to the men and measures of the Republican party. For ten years he has wild land. There the parents spent the re- mainder of their lives, both passing away

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

served as a member of the school board, and has also held the position of central com- mitteeman of his township. He is a capa- ble and efficient business man, of excellent habits and high moral character, genial and polite in manner and a favorite with a large circle of friends.

GEORGE W. LOTT.

George W. Lott, who resides on section 24. Turkey Creek township, is one of the most prosperous and progressive farmers and stockmen of Barber county. He was born in Shelby county, Ohio, February 4. 1855, a son of Charles O. Lott, who was born in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, Oc- tober 20, 1818. The family is of German lineage. The grandfather, Zephaniah Lott, died in the Keystone state before the birth of our subject. He was married in Penn- sylvania to Rachel Brown, a lady of Scotch lineage, whose death occurred in Ohio. In their family were five children, all of whom are i w deceased. The following is the family rec nl as far as it can be obtained : Harrison, who was a prominent nurseryman . i Newark, Ohio; there died about twenty- five years ago. John was a leading grocery- man vi that place and died in 1898. Lucy lecame the wife of Mr. Postlewaite, and Mary Jane became the wife of a Mr. Orr. Charles O. La it. the father of our sub- ject, went to Ohio with his mother in early life and was reared to manhood in Licking county, where he married Miss Morrison. There he followed farming for a few years. Three children were born by the marriage and then the mother died. Soon afterward the father removed to Shelby county, Ohio. where he wedded Martha Holmes, a native of Clark county, Ohio, and a daughter of Andrew: and Susan ( Overpeck) Holmes. who spent the greater part of their lives in Clark and Shelby counties. both dying in the latter county. Charles O. Lott entered land from the government in Shelby county and in the midst of the forest developed a farm, upon which he resided for forty years.

He then removed to Jackson Centre. Shelby county, Ohio, where he lived retired for a number of years. While visiting his chi :- dren his death occurred in Warsaw, Indi- ima. He passed away October 15. Jul. at the age of eighty two years. The mother had passed away many years previously. She died in the faith of the German Baptist church and her life was ever in cashier harmony with its principles. The third wife of Mr. Lott bore the maiden nanie ci Jeannette McKercher, and her death pour. red in 1890. Mr. Lott was a man well known throughout the county, was highly respected for his upright character and was regardel as a substantial citizen. In politics he was a Republican. By his first marriage there were three children. of whom two are living : Mary J., the widow of William Kirtley, and residing at Warsaw, Indiana. at whose res- idence the father died : and Rachel, the wife of John Arnett, a farmer of .Allen county, residing near Algier. By his second mar- riage there were eight children : William H .. a painter of Sun City, Kansas : Susama. a resident of Jackson Centre, Ohio; George W., the subject of this sketch; Sarah. who died in Shelby county, time, at the way of seventeen ; Levi A., who resides on the ahl homestead in Shelby county. OM : D r. who died in infancy: Find I. e .... William Kirtley, a farmer and st du. Crats. Pratt county, Kansas, his wife keep- ing the hotel there: and Emma, wh weil in infancy. The children of the third mar- rage were Mazy, wa died at the age vi fourteen years, and Delia, who flint in it .- fancy.

Upon the home farm in Skulle omaty. Mr. Lott was reared and in the common schools was educated. He remained under the parental roof until twenty-three years of age. On the Ioth of February. 1878. in Jackson Centre, Ohio, he married Ella B. Van Horn, who was born in Virginia, a daughter of Austin R. and Ellen |twee Van Horn. Her father was an extensive farmer and stock dealer and rem vol item Virginia to Ohio, where he spent three years. In 1878 he went to Pawned & tttt. Kansas, where for eighteen years hie was

II20

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

engaged in farming. During that time his wife died. He afterward came to Barber county, where he now makes his home with his daughter, Mrs. Thomas T. Hatfield, just west of Sun City. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Van Horn were born five children: Dora, the wife of Thomas T. Hatfield. a farmer and stockman of Sun City : Mrs. Lott ; Artha L., the wife of Joseph P. Massey, one of the prominent citizens and an extensive farmer and stockman residing near Sun City ; Flora. who married V. C. Crane. an extensive stockman of Pawnee county, Kansas; and Lewis W .. a conductor of the Choctaw & Southern Railroad, and residing in Okla- homa City, Oklahoma.

After his marriage Mr. Lott remained in Shelby county, Ohio, and engaged in farming for eleven years, coming to Kan- sas in 1889. After a year spent in Pawnee county he removed to Barber county in 1890, and for two years operated a tract of rented land. after which he purchased his present farm of nine hundred and sixty acres. It is a splendid body of land, located on Turkey Creek. which is a never failing stream, bordering its entire length with good native timber. The farm was partially fenced and partially improved when he made the purchase. Since that time he has com- pletely fenced it and has made many sub- stantial improvements. He now has one hundred and fifty acres of land devoted to the raising of crops and makes a specialty of corn, wheat, sorghum and alfalfa, having twenty acres planted to the last named, which he regards as one of the most valua- ble crops that can be produced in this lo- cality. He also has a herd of one hundred and fifty head of cattle, which he has devel- oped from a small herd of twenty-five head. These are shorthorns and Herefords. His home is a modern story and one-half resi- clence of six rooms, and in addition to this he has built a stable, planted an orchard and added many other modern equipments.

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Lott has been blessed with four children, Lillie B .. Tiry C., Charles V. and Laura B., all at home. Lillie B., the oldest daughter, married Rob- ert L. Kennedy, a farmer of Indianapolis,

Indiana. March 23. 1902. The parents are highly respected people and Mr. Lott is a self-made man who justly merits his pros- perity, which is the reward of his own la- bors. He has served as trustee of his town- ship for one term and as treasurer for five terms, holding the latter position at the present time. He votes with the Republi- can party on state and national questions, but at local elections casts an independent ballot. Fraternally he is connected with Sun City Lodge, No. 262. I. O. O. F., in which he has passed all the chairs.

HENRY G. RUTH.

The prominent farmer and stock-grower, a brief account of whose career it will be attempted here to give, lives in section 21. Garden township. Harvey county, Kansas, and his post office is at Mound Ridge. Mc- Pherson county.

Henry G. Ruth was born in Bavaria. Germany, June 27. 1847, and was taken to Lee county, Iowa, in 1852. by his parents, who then located there with eight of their ten children, two of whom were born after their arrival. David Ruth, his father, with his family landed at New York. August 3. in the year mentioned. fifty-two days after they left Bavaria. On the 12th of the following June they departed from New York for Lee county, Iowa, where they arrived October 8. An interesting account of their journey is given in the biographical sketch of John W. Ruth. Henry G. Ruth's brother, which appears in this work.

In 1837 David Ruth married Catharine Strohn. He died in St. Clair county. Illi- nois, and his widow married Michael Leh- man and died at Halstead, Harvey county, Kansas, in 1886, some time after her ser- enty-third birthday. Her second husband, who came early from Germany to Ohio. passed away before she did and is buried at Halstead. The following facts concerning the children of David and Catharine (Strohn) Ruth will be of interest in this

MR. AND MRS. HENRY G. RUTH AND FAMILY.

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

correct n: The eldest daughter. Mrs. Christian Krehbiel, bore her husband thir- teen children, seven sons and three daugh- tors i whom survive. This work also con- tains a biographical sketch of the Rev. Chris- tian Krehbiel. Their daughter Barbara married David Lehman and has borne him Bitten children, all of whom are living. Their . " David C. Ruth lives at Halstead, Kansas. Mrs. K. N. Krehbiel was the fifth in order of birth: and Henry G., the sub- ject .if this sketch, was the sixth. Their son Tacob E. Ruth lives at Kingfisher. Okla- hama. Their son. Gierbaid B. Ruth, is also in Oklahoma. Mollie, one of their children born at Franklin, Iowa, died in Lee county, Iowa. je 1800, aged six years.

David Ruth gave his children a good einentin both in German and English, and his son Gierhaid B. Ruth had the advantage of e Regate training and has been a success- ful teacher. Henry G. Ruth was taught farming in the days of his chldhood and vouch, and has been a farmer during all of his active years, except during the period INvery, when he worked at the carpenter's track, which he had learned in St. Clair county. Illinois, and at Kansas City, Mis- sour. The family moved from Lee county, Iowa, to Illinois, in the spring of 1865 and there the father bought one hundred acres of her ! at one hundred dollars an acre. In 188,, Henry G. Ruth moved to Kansas and locatel n section 21, Garden township. where he had bought a half section of land in IN-4. paying two dollars and seventy-five cents an acre. The place is now worth twelve thousand dollars. He now has about three acres of forest trees, one hundred and thirty-one apple-trees, thirty-six peach- trees and thirty-six pear and cherry trees. On his farm is a good residence. ample barn and outbuildings 'of all kinds. and almost its entire acreage is inclosed in wire fencing. He devotes two hundred to two hundred and fifty acres to wheat, thirty acres to rye and one hundred acres to corn, and these crops are produced by his two sons and such as- sistants as are necessary from time : time. the lahor of ten to twelve horses being re-

quired. One of his sons manages his half section farm and the other his quarter-se tion farm. He has given considerable at- tention to stick and can- one hundred and live head, including thirty-nine Herefond. Hle raises Poland-China hogy, of which he markets considerable number -.

Politically he is a Republican and he is not without influence in the local councils of his party. His interest in education has led him to accept membership of his till- ship school board, to which he has been so- eral times elected.

Mr. Ruth was married July 24. 2020 ... Mary A. Hirschler, who was born in Ba- varia, Germany, and was brought to the ton county, Illinois, in 1855. by her parents, Daniel and Mary & Schmidt, Hirschler, wo had seven daughters and three sons. Her no ther died in Illinois, April. IS; . , at tit age of forty-three years. Her father, who was born in 1828, died in Illinois in 1888. He was a harness-maker and farmer and he and his wife were members of the Mennon- ite church. Mrs. Ruth has borne her hus- hand children as follows : Hugo. Alvin, Arthur, Walter. Rosa and an iniam daugh- ter, all of whom are dead, and Mollie. Ar- 1. 1.1. Alma, Elmer, Homer and Edna, who are living. Hugo died at the age of four- teen months, Alvin at the age of four years and six months. Arthur at the age : thures years. Walter at the age of seventeen months, and Rosa. August 2, 1887. aged Six- Iten vers. The Beer has died in Whois and the two daughters in Kansas, and three of their children named died within five days of pneumonia. Mollie married G. A. W'all, of Blackwell. Oklahoma, and has to hi- dren. Arech wh has

majority, is a member of his parents' base- hold.

at Newton, Kansas. Elmer is a student at the Mound Ridge high school. Mound Ridge, Kansas. Homer. a boy of fifteen, is stich a practical and enthusiast farmer that he ::

his father & what item

teen years old, is a student at the

" fear her home. Mr. and Mrs. Ruth

1122

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

have reason to be proud of all their children, not only for the pleasing appearance but for their mental and moral worth, for there is not a dull or disobedient one among them. Members of the family of Ruth are mostly large and well proportioned men and women, of good intellectual capacity, and the family has been prolific in all generations and in nearly all of its branches. Nine cousins of Mr. Ruth fought gallantly in the war of 1861-65 and some of them died on the field . of battle.

G. W. SMITH, M. D.

It is widely acknowledged that heredity and environment are potent elements in shaping man's destiny-that his ancestry and his surroundings largely mold his ca- reer. Perhaps these two elements entered into Dr. Smith's choice of a profession, for his father was a physician and from boy- hood he was more or less familiar with the talk and practices of the medical fraternity. but though this may have influenced his choice of a life work it could not win him success therein as that can be gained only through the direct result of the individual. whose advancement in professional circles must result from strong mentality, close application and broad sympathy.

Dr. Smith, although one of the recent arrivals in Minneapolis, has for a number of years been a practitioner in Ottawa, and soon after coming to this place he was widely known through the liberal patronage ac- corded him. He was born in Tennessee in 1842, a son of Dr William and Margaret Alice Smith. His father, a native of Ire- land. was a graduate of a medical college there and soon after completing his course he came to America with a colony that located in Richmond, Virginia, where he engaged in practice for some time. In 1854 he re- moved with his family to Knox county, Ten- nessee, and during the war went to Pulaski county. Kentucky, where his death occurred in 1868. His wife was a native of Tennes- see and died during the early boyhood of the Doctor.

G. W. Smith spent his boyhood days in his parents home and pursued his early edu- cation in the public schools. In 1856 he began the study of medicine with his father and Dr. Thompson, and in 1860 he entered upon a course of medicine in Nashville Uni- versity, but when the call for volunteers came he responded, enlisting in Company G; Second East Tennessee Regiment, under Colonel Carter, joining the army for three years. Subsequently he entered a regiment of state guards-the Seventh Tennessee Mounted Infantry and remained until mus- tered out by general order. He was wound- ed near Rogersville, Tennessee, in the right arm and was left on the field with the other wounded and the dead. Later he was picked up by citizens and taken to Morris- town. The entire regiment was captured and taken to Belle Isle, with the exception of the officers, who were sent to Libby prison, being incarcerated there until lib- erated by Sherman on his march to the sea.

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 59

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