A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 69

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 69

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In the year 1883 Mr. Wynn was united in marriage with Miss Ella F. Sapp, a lady of intelligence, culture and refinement. She was born in Peoria, Illinois, where she was also reared and received her education. She is a daughter of Edgar Sapp, a well known citizen of Lyons. He is the father of two children, and the son, Oliver Sapp, is a prominent farmer of Rice county. The union of our subject and his wife has been blessed with three children: Pearl A., Lau-

ra A., and Charles Leslie. Mr. Wynn af- filiates with the Republican party, and in his social relations is connected with the Mod- ern Woodmen of the World. Mrs. Wynn is a member of the Congregational church. Mr. Wynn has the respect of all with whom he comes in contact, and his friends are many. for his life has ever been honorable and upright, true to every manly principle.

JOHN F. CROWL.

John F. Crowl was born in Wells county, Indiana, November 26, 1858, and through- out his entire life has engaged in the tilling of the soil, so that long experience has made

him a capable and enterprising farmer. His parents were John D. and Barbara ( Hoy ) Crowl, the former a native of Maryland and the latter of Ohio. Mr. Crowl was of Ger- man descent and in his business career de- voted his energies to farming. At an early day he and his wife took up their abode in Wells county, Indiana, where they under- went all the hardships and privations of pio- neer life. They lived in that state when fever and ague were common ailments among the pioneers, and thus they had to contend against ill health, as well as the discomforts incident to founding a home in the fron- tier region. Mr. Crowl was a patriotic and loyal citizen. and when the call came for aid to preserve the Union he volunteered in the service of his country and went to the front to do or die, serving throughout the Rebellion. He was never captured or woun- ded, and at the close of hostilities he re- ceived an honorable discharge, returning to his home with a creditable military record. for on many a field of battle he had dis- played great bravery. After his return he resumed farm work, and thus his remaining days were spent. his death occurring in January. 1898. His political views were in harmony with the principles of Republican- ism. His wife died in December. 1860. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, while he was of the Presbyterian faith. Their union was blessed with four children: Mary, who became the wife of T. Hanna: Lewis D .. of Indiana: John F. : and Albert, of Lyons, Kansas. The father was four times married, the mother of our sub- ject being his second wife. His first union was with a Miss Avis, by whom he had four children, namely : Robert, who is living in Rice county : Elizabeth, the wife of R. M. Hays, a Presbyterian minister: Byron and Theodore, both of Indiana. For his third wife Mr. Crowl chose Mary A. Dillon, and they had three children: Sarah E., who he- came Mrs. J. Morgan : Josephus E., of In- diana : and Martha, wife of P. Jones. After the death of the mother he wedded Mrs. Re- becca Bird, a widow, who is yet living in Indiana.

No especial event occurred to vary the

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

routine of farm ffe ir Lobn F. Crowd m

eighteen years of age and they shirt. :

hand. In 1879 he made a prospecting t to Kansas and was pleased with the p .... bilities and advantages of Rice county. He then returned to Minots and son after his marriage, which occurred in 1881, he agam came to the Sunflower state. Here he purchased a farm and has made substan- tial improvements upon his land. After seven years, however, he returned to Illi- mis, Believing that he would have letter opp riunities in that state, but he sees found that he was mistaken and again came to Kansas, in 188. since which time he has re- maine ! continuously upon his farm in Rice county, perfectly satisfied with the advan- tages here offered. He now has his land all fenced and under a high state of cultivation, an l a goed. commodious farm residence, a large barn and other substantial outbuildings stand as monuments to his thrift and enter- prise. An orchard yields its fruit in sea- » n and there is also a beautiful grave upon the place. His farm is conveniently h cated twi milles northwest of Mitchell and is now a valuable property, for the labors of man and nature have wrought great transforma- tion there. He carries on general farming and raises some stock, and his well directed business efforts have year by year increased his capital until he is now the possessor of a very comfortable competence.

In 1881 occurred the marriage of Mr. Crowl and Miss Nellie M. Sutton, who was born in Illinois. April 24. 1861, her pa- rents being Nelson and Mary ( Holland) Sutton, the former a native of Michigan and the latter of Ohio. Both represented fam- ilic- . i honest farming people. Mrs. Sut- ton died in 1885. but the father of Mrs. (r wl is still living and finds a good home among his children. Both he and his wife Were for many years faithful inHower- if the Baptist church, in which he still holds wendershin. He has four daughters and one sen. namely: Minnie. now the wife of R. L. Dick: Katie, who married H. E.

Bonne: George, of Ris canty: Jennie, the wife of C. C. Williams; and Ne Mr. and Mrs. Cp w mm seven children : John, wh ruary 3, 1882: Nelson, born April 21. 1884; Cafel. born in September. 1887: Last. where birth occurred in August. Frank, who was born in July, 1892: Art. born in January, 1894: and Ernest, born in home with their parents and the family is me widely and favorably known in the city munity. Mrs. Crowl is a member of the Baptist church, and to her in real she is - been a faithful companion for the journey of life since their marriage, which was det. brated twenty years ago. Mr. Crawl votes with the Republican party, but takes tive part in politics, preferring b time and attention to business interests. f which he has met with celle rate ...

J. J. FISHER.

J. J. Fisher, an hengred and High spected citizen of Buckeye township. ha- many years been prominently identi.i. : the development and progress of Ottawa county. He is a native of the Ker- state, børn in Cambria county, Oct -e: : 2. 1847, a son of Ulrich and Margare .. man) Fisher, both natives of Germany. His maternal grandfather, Peter Gilman, was also a native of the fatherland, and after coming to America he became one of the early and influential settlers of Per nia, where he spent the remaining his life. He was the father of fire Jacob, who died in Pennsylvania : Marga- ret. the mother of our subject : Charlotte:

Ulrich Fisher. the father of him whose the only America, and after his arrival here he also located in the Keystone state, where he was married and began farming opened a.

following those vocations in connection with

IISO

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

his agricultural pursuits. He was success- ful in his business ventures, and by his straightforward dealing and unremitting laine he gained a place among the leading and representative citizens of his locality. He was called to the home beyond in 1872. while his wife survived until October, 20. ISso, when she. too. passed away. He was a member of the Catholic church, and she was identified with the Lutheran faith. Their children were as follows : John, a resident of Lincoln. Nebraska: Elizabeth. wie is still unmarried: Jacob J., our sub- ject : George, who also makes his home in Lincoln, Nebraska: Margaret, the wife of J. Hermick, of Johnstown, Pennsylvania : Joseph, who is engaged in railroad work: and Ulrich, who died at the age of twenty- nine years.

T. J. Fisher remained under the paren- ta. roof until reaching mature years, where he was reared to the honest toil of a farmer. He later learned the carpenter's trade. which he followed for a number of years. In ISto be journeved west to Nebraska, where he fell aved his trade until the following fall, when he came to Kansas, locating in Saline county, but shortly afterward re- moved to Rice county, where he located a homestead claim, erected a small cabin and began the improvement of his land. He sub- sequently sold his land for five hundred dol- lars and returned to Saline county. where. in 1875, he was married and began farming (11 rented land. continuing in that county until 1878. That year witnessed his arrival in Ottawa county, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of school land on section 16. Buckeye township, his residence being a small box house, and there he began the arduous task of improving his land. In

that early day Indians were still numerous in this part of the country, game of all kinds was plentiful and large herds of buffaloes and antelopes were yet seen roaming over the broad prairies. In this frontier locality the struggle for existence was indeed a stern and hard one, but this brave pioneer battled earnestly and energetically, and hy indomi- table courage and integrity he has achieved both character and success. As the years

have passed he has been enabled to add to his landed possessions until his homestead farm now comprises three hundred and twenty acres of the finest land to be found in Otta- wa county. His fields are under a high state of cultivation, and are divided into en- venient size for the raising of grain and stock. He also owns three other well im- proved farms, thus increasing his acreage to twelve hundred. His last work at the car- penter's trade was the erection of his own commodious two-story frame residence, which is located on a natural building site and is surrounded by a beautiful grove and orchard, while large barns and all other necessary outbuildings add to the attrac- tion and value of the place. His farm is located four miles southeast of Benning- ton.

Mr. Fisher was united in marriage with Miss Caroline Link, who was born in Allen county, Indiana. on the 7th of April. 1853, a daughter of Cornelius and Catherine

(Raugh) Link, both natives of Germany, where they were also married. They after- ward came to America, locating in Indiana, where the father died in 1859. He was a jeweler by occupation. After his death the family remained for a short time in Indiana, and then came to the Sunflower state, lo- cating in Saline county, which had just been organized, but the town of Salina had not yet been platted. The mother secured a homestead claim in the valley of the Smo- key and Saline rivers, where she erected a log cabin, and began the improvement and cultivation of her land, making her home thereon for fifteen years. She then sold the land, and assisted her son in building his house and improving his land. She was a noble mother and made many sacrifices to keep her children together and secure for them the comforts of life. They have all become an honor to her name and are now occupying leading and influential positions in society. In later life the mother removed to Minneapolis, where she passed away in death on the 22d of January, 1885. Both she and her husband were zealous and wvor- thy members of the Lutheran church. Their children were as follows: Anna, who !e-

BIOGRAPHICAL. HISTORY.

came the wife of J. Gessen : Jacob, who died in Saline county: Mary, now Mrs. Israel Markley, of Minneapolis; Caroline, the wife of our subject ; and Bathed, the wine of I. C. Williams. Mrs. Fisher never tere in the tasks assigned her during these early days, and much of her time was spent n in fechack herding cutie. She well ve- members the Indian troubles and of the winter spent in a fort, and her early school privileges were those afforded by the sub- scription schools, which she attended for three months during the year. When the family first came to Saline county the near- est mill was at Leavenworth, and with ox teams it took four weeks to make the re- turn trip. When meal could not be obtained the coffee mill was used to grind the grain. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Fisher has been Blessed with three children, namely: Charles, who was born September 13, 1870. @ R . engel in farming at the . homestead: May, who was born September 17. IST8: and Bessie, born January 14, 1883. the family hold members> relations with the protection church. in this sedition anlass Mr. Fisher is identi let with the Repr lican party, and has held the offices .i : wasip trustee am assessor. Frater- nally he is a member of the Knight- of l. - tas a.r.l the Ancient Oder of United Work- men. His has been a well spent life, true to all public and private duties, and his scru- nous regard for the right has gained him

a large circle . i frei.

H. E. MATTHEW'S.

Almost a quarter of a century since I. E. Matthews took up his amit is Kansas, and goon his prevent fam resisted since 1883. During the Ted

ri mel the welfare and pogre -. He has always restitu west of the Mission his birth having assured at the haska county. I was on the 283 18:2. His father. a promine ::: : sentative business man of that ch

in North Carolina, but spent his chili. .; in Alabama, where he obtained his ciu: - tion. For thirty years he lived in the wall and then went to lowa, becoming an active factor in commercial circles of his quiupte! city. He was married in Sigourney, Keokuk county, Iowa, to Mary Hogan, a native of Maryland, and a representative of an wil family of that state. her parents being Mr. and Mrs. James L. Hogan, who spent their last days in the Hawkeye state. Taking up his alable in Sigourney. F. B. Matthew . w. a leading merchant there until 1878, when he came to Kansas and social homestead, which is still sexupiet by his widow. He passed away at the age of seventy-nine years, respected by all we had! known him. His political

the Democracy. At the time of the Civil war he strongly endorsed the U'nin mese. and went to the front as a meml : . f :1 Iowa regiment. His religious faith was that of the Methodist Episcopal church. all times he was an uprigin.

who deserved! the cond lence i

men. In the family were eleven namely : J. H .. H. E., and E. F.

iment st chomen of this

whe is a merchant of Lie

Ida Porterfield, { This .

a well known as mer is:

Dakota ; Ella, v.

and four wie died in child1

Mr. Matthen -. "

this record. sent the at

youth in Sigourney. 1- played as a salesman

Later he agreed in mer

as clerk in the shoe -tos

until 1878. when the

ber county, Kansas, : :

farm he located in the

has three hundred

improved land vation. He an! F .. are well k. of the state ar

hundred head of stock eacl

Matthew- is an excellent

1 is thus enabled :

vestments and

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

In 1886, in Kiowa, Kansas, was cele- brated the marriage of H. E. Matthews and May Rumsey, a daughter of Charles Rum- sey, a well known attorney of Kiowa, who is numbered among the early settlers of this portion of the state, and also among the veterans of the Civil war. Mrs. Matthews was born in Illinois, but spent her girlhood in Rice county, Kansas, and by her mar- riage has become the mother of four sons and four daughters: Gertrude. Fenelon, Van A., Alice. Jessie, Carrie. George and Frank. Mr. Matthews exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and meas- ures of the Democratic party, and for two years he served as deputy sheriff under O. Mills. He and his wife are widely and fa- vorably known in this portion of the state. His business reputation is a creditable one, winning for him high regard and confidence. He has never had occasion to regret his re- moval to the Sunflower state, for here he has prospered and is to-day a substantial citizen.

WILLIAM PURSEL.

Captain William Pursel, of Concerd township, Ottawa county, Kansas, whose postoffice address is Minneapolis, has made a record as a citizen and as a soldier which does him the greatest credit. Captain Pur- sel. who located in Ottawa county, in 1882. is an Iowa man, who enlisted in June, 1861. in Company D. First Regiment Iowa Vol- unteer Cavalry. His company commander was Captain P. Gad. Bryan, and his regi- mental commander was Colonel Fitz Henry Warren. Soon afterward, at the suggestion of Adjutant General Baker, of Iowa, he be- came a member of Company I. Fourth Iowa Volunteer Cavalry, and December 5. 1861, he became captain of his company and com- manded it until the close of the war. His regimental commander was Colonel A. B. Porter, and his regiment fought under Gen- eral Curtis in Missouri and Arkansas. La- ter it participated in the siege of Vicksburg and under General Sherman in the Meridian campaign. After that Captain Pursel vis-

ited his home on a furlough. Rejoining his command he took part in the Guntown ex- pedition under General Sturgis, and fought at the battle of Tupelo, Mississippi. He then scouted through the southwest, and in 1864, again under command of General Cur- tis, fought the forces of Price and Marma- duke in southwest Missouri and Arkansas. His regiment afterward saw service at Montgomery and Selma. Alabama, and in Georgia, and then went to Louisville, Ken- tucky, where it was mustered out with a record for bravery on many battlefields, which insures it an enviable place in history.

Though Captain Pursel went to the war as an Iowa man, he is a Hoosier by birth. and was born August 29, 1831, at Craw- fordsville, Montgomery county, Indiana, (the home of General Lew Wallace ). a son of Basil and Ann ( Nicholson) Pursel. Basil Pursel was born in Kentucky. a son of John Pursel, who descended from French ances- tors and was born in Pennsylvania. Basil Pursel served under General Wayne in In- dian wars and was a soldier in the war of 1812. He was married in Ross county, Ohio,' to a daughter of Robert and Ann ( Mullen) Nicholson, and they had children as follows : Joshua B., Cyrus. John. Reuben, William, A. K., Josephine, Emily, America and three others who died young. In 1819 the family removed to Montgomery county, Indiana, where they were among the early settlers in a country thickly populated by In- dians and infested by wild animals. In 1850 they removed to Iowa and located in Madi- son county, where they were among the pio- neers and where the father died in 1885, the mother at the age of eighty-five years. When he went to Iowa the subject of this sketch was nineteen years old. He became a farmer and a man of influence there, and in 1856 was elected clerk of Madison coun- tv, in which office he served until the out- break of the Civil war. He was married in 1853 to Miss Jane Sturman, a native of Coshocton county, Ohio, and a daughter of James and Eliza Sturman, natives also of that state. who became early settlers in Iowa and died in Madison county. They had a son, Edward Sturman, who served in the

1183

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

Civil war as a member of an Ohio regiment. Captain Pursel lived in Madison county, Iowa, until 1871, when he took up a home- stead in O'Brien county, Iowa, which he improved and on which he lived until 1881, when he sold the place and rem vel to a point near Galveston. Texas. The climate there did not agree with him, and he re- turned north as far as Kansas, where he theght a line form of eighty acres. upon when he has since lived. His wife died No- vorher 20. 12. deeply regretted is a wh hal known her as a model wife and mh ther and a kindly neighbor.

Captain Pursel has had children as fol- lows: Ada, who became Mrs. Wyman and lives at Sheldon. Iowa: Jessie, who became Mrs. Griffith and lives at Sioux City. kwa: Kate, who became Mrs. Griffith and died at South Omaha, Nebraska, leaving five chil- dren: Georgia, who became Mrs. Garrison and lives in Hennessey. Oklahoma: and Imagene, a member of her father's house- Mrs. Garnish and the two Mrs. Grillthe were successful and popular teach- ers. Two daughters, Giorgia and lan gone. are members of the Free Methodist church. The Captain has been a Freemason ever since 1857.

W. S. VANDORSTEN.

The Rening interests of Rice Com. find a worthy representative in W. S. Van- de reten, who war and operates a goal tract of land near Lyons. He was born in Ohio. July 8. 1852. his parents being Levi and Mary ( Flickinger ) Vand rsten, Ich ef whom were native. of Pennsylvania, but Were feared in the Buckeye state. The 12- ternal grandfather. Samuel Vandorsten, wo- als barn in Poon-vivaria and was office- :: Bruge Emigrating westward het up table in this in an early day and there improve! a farm. Subsequently he We !!! : Michigan, where he remained until his Wie's labors were ended in death. He was a plain, unassuming but honorable man. whose worth was widely acknowledged by his friends. He and his wife both held mem-

bership in the Lutheran d'ail, a: : faith they reared their .1. namely: Levi. Han 1. Vier. 1 John, Mrs. Steiner and Mrs. Lah 11

Levi Vandorsten, the i. bal jest. was reared in the, and mit .. at years of maturity he - 0.

IST he went with his family to Michigan and there purchased a farm, which it. tinved to cultivate until 1878, when he came

county. Here he purchased a squatter - claim to a half section and at once began its further development and improvement. transforming the tract into a tury de in farm property. In due course of time he received the title to the same from the gov- ernment. As his lands were cultivated the productive soil brought to him good returns and as his financial resources:

ingly increased he purchase lan thor qrar- ter section of land and carried on general farming. In addition he is Howed stock- raising, and thus he added to his ine me. He usually produced a fair crop . i corn, and being in the wheat helt di Kas - dias garnered rich wheat harvest. He cast in his lot with the early settlers here and was in- strumental in living for the present prosperity ar

munity. As the rest

diligence he became ;

able competence and was round his family with all the

many of the luxuries of life. His methods vore cer might www. ing the closest in

esty in matters . i trade was prevenir. The litically he was a Democrat, but want an office seeker, although he filled sme tana- ship offices, including det of treasurer. Both he and his wife were of the Lutheran faith. and their Christian principles permeated their conduct and Get their entire car- The father died April 25. 1893. when fifty-seven years of age. His first wife had died in Michigan. in daughter of Mr. Judd, tive of Pennsylvania, and became . . farmer, his death occurring in the ichove state. Unto Mr. .... ! M. V.1 .......

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

born eight children, namely: W. S .. of this review ; and Frank and Steven. residents of Michigan. After the death of his first wife the father married Miss Maggie Grover. and they had four children: Joseph, who is lo- cated in Oklahoma : Viola, George and Jes- sie. His second wife died July 12, 1878, and he again married, this time Sarah B. Spencer, and they had one child, namely : Lora.

W. S. Vandorsten was quite young when his parents left their Ohio home and took up their abode in the Wolverine state. His youth was quietly passed on the home farm in Michigan until 1879, when he came to | Kansas and assisted his father in the de- velopment and improvement of the farm in this state. At the time of his marriage he began farming upon his own account on rented land. thus continuing until 1893, when he returned to the old homestead, of which he took charge. He has since oper- ated it and has acted as administrator of the estate, having charge of the business con- nected therewith. for the estate has not yet been divided. He has continued the work which his father inaugurated, devoting his energies to the cultivation of the fields and tu the raising of stock. He is a good busi- ness man, energetic and reliable and with keen discrimination.

In 1886 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Vandorsten and Miss Emma M. Lac- krone, who was born in Illinois. May 19, 1868. a daughter of Levi and Christina (Hammer) Lackrone, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, and were of Ger- man lineage. They were married in the Keystone state and subsequently removed to Illinois, where the father died. The moth- er afterward became the wife of Eli Strode, and in 1876 the family moved to Kansas, settling in Reno county, where they re- mained for two years, when they came to Rice county, since which time Mr. and Mrs. Strode have resided upon a farm in this per- tion of the state. Unto the parents of Mrs. Vand rsten were 's en eight children, name- lv: Mrs. Amanda Henson; Robert, of St. Joseph, Missouri : Lewis, who resides in Illi- nois: David. deceased : Mr. Alice Bot:

Edward, also of Illinois : Ida, deceased : and Emma, now the wife of our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Vandorsten have five interesting children : Nellie, born July 30, 1887 : Nora, August 3. 1889; Earl. November 28, 1894: Madge, October 5. 1899: and Frank. Feb- ruary 4, 1901.

The parents hold membership in the Christian church and Mr. Vandorsten is identified with the Fraternal Aid Associa- tion. In politics he is a Democrat and keeps well informed on the issues of the day, us- ing his influence in support of the welfare of his party. He has filled some local of- fices, yet has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking. His life illustrates the power of honesty and industry in ac- tive business affairs. He is still living on the old homestead, which became his place of residence when he arrived in the county, twenty-two years ago.

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A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 69

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