A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 79

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

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The country no longer needing his serv- ices Mr. Wood returned to his home. In October. 1866, he was married to Miss Mary A. Smith, a daughter of James and Ann ( Chanler ) Smith, of Belmont county, Ohio. Unto this union two children were born. both sons, but the elder died in infancy. The younger, William Albert, is engaged m railroading, with headquarters at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. In the spring of 1867 Mr. and Mrs. Wood removed to Adams county, Indiana, and on the 21st of April, 1859, the wife and mother was called to eternal rest. In June of the same year Mr. Wood re-

moved to Polk county, Iowa, and on the 25th of August, 1872, was married to Miss Margaret R. Chubick, a native of Ohio, and a daughter of David C. and Eliza J. (Ca- rey) Chubick, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. Her father is now num- bered among the honored pioneers of Kan- sas, and is living a retired life ou a small farm adjoining the residence of Mrs. Wood. His wife, a lady of many excellent char- acteristics, has now passed away.

Mr. and Mrs. Wood made their home in Iowa until March, 1873, when they came to Jewell county, where he secured a home- stead claim of one hundred and sixty acres, four miles northwest of what is now the town of Burr Oak, in Burr Oak township. He still owns this land and has never had a mortgage on it. His labors transformed it from a wild tract into fields of richly cul- tivated land and to-day the income derived therefrom brings to him many of the com- forts of life. He is now living retired, mak- ing his home on an eight-acre tract of land which adjoins the western border of Burr Oak, and to which he removed in 1892. His farming interests in former years were so carefully directed that he secured therefrom a comfortable competence and is now en- joying a well merited rest. He has been honored by his fellow townsmen with pub- lic office, having served for eighteen months as township treasurer. In his political views he is a Republican, giving an unfal- tering support to the principles of his party. He holds membership in the Grand Army Post of Burr Oak, of which he is now sery- ing as commander and with his wife belongs to the Baptist church. In every relation of life he has been found true to his duty, and is classed among the straightforward business men, the honored pioneers as well as the loyal soldiers of the nation.

WILLIAM H. MESSENGER.

Among the prominent, substantial and representative citizens of Kingman county, Kansas, is William H. Messenger, who was one of the hardy band of early set-

RESIDENCE OF W. H. MESSENGER

BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

thets in this ' sality and one who has sur- vived the hards hips ar paneer days and HOW Toup the FOREST the toil and privation of the past. In 1877, when he first came to Kingman county, it was still but a wilderness, and in the development of its agricultural resources and in the en- couragement of its business and educational opportunities he has been a leading spirit.

The birth of William H. Messenger was in 1859, in Wyandot county, Ohio. and he was a s R

(Sargent) Messenger. a grandson of Ri- verius and Hannah ( Tilley ) Messenger, and great grandsen of Renles Messenger, who was a native of the state of Connecticut and a veteran of both the Revolutionary war and the struggle of 1812. The father of our subject is a restent of Kingann county, but his mother died when he was a child. She was a daughter of Seth Sar- gent, who was a prominent farmer of Ma- rin county. Ohi, and she was a woman of high Christian character and most ht- alde disposition. The three children left at her death were William H., who is the subject of this sketch : Mrs. Hannah Haley, who died at her father's home ; and Verlin, whe is a resident of Bement township. One little son, Walter, died at the age .i five years, prior to the death of his mother.

The childhood of William H. Mes- senger was passed in Ohio, and he accom- panied his father when he moved to Mis- souri. His education was considerably in- terrupted. although he embraced every pues- sible opportunity, but much of his time and energy were required in assisting his father in his farming operations. He remained with his father until he was twenty-one, starting then into business for himself.

dred and sixty acres on the Osage tract of Indian land in Richland township. King- man county, and he vet lives on the same land. building his beautiful two-thousand- dollar residence on the hill upon which was placed his first home, the "dugout." He now has all his land under high cultiva- tien, which place he has named the Red

barns and almost a village of outbuildings For the shelter ed protectionof rattle and

in all directions, a giant windmil ;et of water, and cattle and sti. Harte the source of a large page to go

sists of eight hundred acres and 1 pose is justly regarded as eneri the most valu- able in this part of the county. Mr. Mes- -enger is well situated financially, his Amassing of a fortune having been the nat- oral result of his business ability and close attention to affairs.

Mr. Messenger was married in ISSUE Miss Millie Hess, who was here in La Salle county, near the borders of the town of Ottawa, and she was a carehler Hess, who died in this county. n ille farm near Cleveland. The mother of Mrs. Mes- senger, Drathea Trombon Hes, Was born in Virginia, and after marriage Svol in La Salle and Livingston counties, D'i :- nois, coming with her family to Kiss in 1877. She still 11 survives. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Hess numbered eleven, namely: Mary Kate. W ma, Martha E., John C .. .

nie, Florence L .. Ida MI .. (

Millie F. Mr. Hess was a farmer and also a minister in the Miscipel Bartist dlone's. and was a man who was esteemed and be- loved by every one. To Mr. and Mrs. Mes- senger six children namely : Claude IL .. Ora B., Frederick H., Alma M., Dorothy F., and Malinda V.

In his political sentiments Mr. Mc- senger has always been a Republican, and he has served in a number of the man. ship offices. His interest in edu matters has been constant and he has a been a member

leading citizen I thi-

er tron. he has

accumulated his

way owing nothing to either the chite of politics . r enterprises.

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

NELS S. CEDERBERG.

America would be better in every way if the foreign born citizens who come to dwell beneath her flag were all as loyal and patriotic as is the subject of this review. It would seem that a spirit of love and grati- tuade should fill the heart of every man who has sought protection, wealth and citizen- ship and has found in liberal measure what he desired under the stars and stripes, but too frequently is heard through the land from the press and from the platform and in public and private gatherings, the voices of the malcontents, decrying the institu- tions, laws and customs of the very country which has nourished them and their children, and not unlikely has provided them with many of the comforts and luxuries which are enjoyed only by the "nobility" in their native lands.

Mr. Cederberg. however, has always been most loyal to his adopted country and no more valued or highly respected farmer can be found in Richland township, Jewell county, Kansas, than he. His birth oc- curred in the village of Qviinge, Sweden, September 17, 1838, and in that country his parents lived and died, the father pass- ing away at the age of eighty-two years, while the mother reached the eighty-fourth year of her age. In the public schools of his native village our subject pursued his education and early learned the value of in- dustry and enterprise in the active and practical affairs of life.

At the age of twenty-seven years, hop- ing to improve his financial condition in the United States, he boarded a westward bound steamer and came to America. His first employment in this country was at cut- ting bircom corn in Illinois. He afterward worked on a gravel train, and in January, 1800, he left Illinois for Kansas, making his way to Topeka, where he was employed by Dr. Crane until May of that year, hautl- ing si ne and quarrying rock. In the nymith of May he went to Fort Larned, where he remained until March, 1869, when he came to Jewell county, where he has since made his home.

With one exception Mr. Cederberg is the oldest living resident of. this county, almost a third of a century having passed since he located here amid the wildest sences of frontier life. He lived here through all the Indian troubles and has many relics and mementoes of those trying days, including many Indian arrow heads, on which are frequently seen stains of blood-grim trophies of the perils which had to be faced by the brave men who were the advance guard of civilization. Mr. Cederberg se- cured a claim. which he proved upon the next year, his patent to the same being signed by President Grant. For some time he lived in true pioneer style, but as the years passed he added many modern im- provements and accessories to his place, transforming it into one of the valuable farms of the county. It comprises four hundred and sixty acres of rich land and he carries on general farming and stock-rais- ing, making a specialty of the cultivation of alfalfa. His first house was a log cabin, twelve by fourteen feet, but it has long since Faen supersede! ly a stone residence erected in 1876, one and a half stories high, with basement, and this in time was secceeded by his present comfortable residence, which was erected in 1894. In 1885 he built a good barn and in 1900 he built a very mod- ern and commodious barn. Other improve- ments on the place are in keeping with this and the neat and thrifty appearance of the property indicates the careful supervision of the owner.

On the 29th of October, 1870, Mr. Cederberg was united in marriage to Miss Anna Marie Westerdahl, who was born in Sweden, March 28. 1842. To her husband she was for twenty-four years a faithful companion and helpmate on the journey of life and was then called to her final rest in 1894, at the age of fifty-two years. By her marriage she became the mother of six children, but one son died when only a year old. The others are William N., Albert E., Ida J., Arthur N. and Carl O. The chil- dren have all been provided with good com- men school educations. The family, by reason of its long connection with the

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

o unt un' the sterling worth . fite members r :- high, and the father mal his children regard of many friends. For He has served on the schoolin ar

the best interests of the -che In peche is a stalwart Democrat and Bis Busta Residential vote was cast fer Tilden in the. He was reared in the faith of the Lutheran church and has lived an upright. handle life. His hardships have been many, and the difficulties and tries of :: : ver lite have been born by him, but he bas by resolute will overcome all obstacles and! ! - day he stands among the substantial readers of his adopted county.

SOLON LE BARON.

S Jn Le Baren. proprietor of the Ada Hotel. was born in the town of Hatley, near Shellr. I. Lenver Canada, on the 5th of November, 1811. and is of French descent. He is a son of Orin and Ruth (Colby) Le Baron, the former a native of Canada and the latter of Vermont. Both died in Can- adla. the mother passing away in 1804, at the age of forty years, and the father sur- vived until sixty-three years of age. He farmer by occupation. Solon Le Baron, our subject, remained under the pa- ¡ental roof until ten years of age, when he began working for himself and since that time has made his own way in the world. At the age of sixteen years he learned the painter's trade. serving a three years' ap- prenticeshin in Canada, and he followed that ceupation there until 1865. On the Ist of May of that year he was united in marriage to Julia Precourt, a native of Len- oxville. Canada. Soon after their mar- ringe they removed to Pennsylvania, where they remained for only a short time, when they Hated in Harvard. Illinois, there per-

While residing at that : lace two children were born unto them : Ervin. barn November I7. 1866, and Adella. ler :: October 20. 1868. In the fall of the -all their experty there

wol emigrated to Wheeling. Livingston County. Missouri, where another sont Was Hled to the family. Hollis, born June 7. 1876. Mr. Le Bara purchased a home in reading and there followed the painter's .de until 18 ;;. when. in April. he started : the reeland journey to Kansas, travel- ing with a team horses and a wagen and arriving in Ottawa county in the fol- lowing May. His wife joined him in this state two miths later. coming by rail. They secured a homestead claim in Henry township, four miles south of Ada, where be created a frame house, fourteen by six- teen feet, with a stone addition, and the builling was covered with a dirt roof. They had very little cash capital, and Mr. Le Barn began breaking prairie and working at anything that he could get to that would scene With an temest living. Ile war began raising wheat and became the tener so weare cattle and hugs, and as time passed his property became highly improved and very valuable. In 1896 he traded the Tarin for the Ada Hotel. in Ada, Ottawa county, twelve miles west of Minneapolis, the county sett.

While residing in Missouri Mr. Le Baron served in a number of county and township offices, including justice of the peace, township treasurer, trustee and was also a member of the school board. In pol- itic: the family were stalwart advocates vi Republican principles, but now vote either independently or with the Democracy. After locating in this state they suffered many hardships incident to life on the west- ern frontier and Mr. Le Baron assisted in the organization of school district No. 58. and for eleven years was a member of its sch. . 11card. He is well preserved, and at the present could easily pass for a man fifty years of age. As the proprieter of . We Hotel he's made my friends with the sol is well known and es-

try. inhaling is a tien-story 101 .01 Main street. in the center of the town, and is splendidly hel. Mr. Le Bar. : - retired from the painting business

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

devotes his entire time to the entertainment of his guests, while his estimable wife and her .two accomplished daughters assist in the management of this well conducted hos- teliv.

Mrs. Le Baron is a daughter of Joseph and Catherine ( Ariel) Precourt, and was born in Compton, Canada, on the 7th of February, 1848. Her maternal great-grand- father was a veteran of the Revolutionary war and lived to an advanced age. Her father was a native of Canada, and his death occurred in 1897, at the age of ninety- one years, while his wife departed this life in 1862, at the age of fifty-four years. Mrs. Le Baron had three brothers: Alfred, who was born in Compton, Canada, in 1848, and when last heard from was in Missouri, but his present residence is not known ; and Edwin and Lewis, twins, born in 1850. Both are now married and reside in Can- ada, and unto each has been born one child. Since residing in Kansas five children have been added to the LeBaron family, but of the eight children only six are now living. The eldest. Irvin Taylor, is a Christian minister, at at the present time resides in Greenleaf, Kansas, where he has charge of a church of that denomination. He studied in the Theological College of Wichita, Kan- sas, and after completing his studies there was appointed state evangelist, laboring at that work for several years. He has filled the pulpit in Miltonville, was for two years located in Manhattan, and is recognized as the greatest evangelist of the Christian church in Kansas. In 1894 he married Hat- tie Chelf, of Lebanon, Smith county, Kan- sas, and they have three children. She is an accomplished musician, and greatly as- sists her husband in his work. Adella, the second child of Mr. and Mrs. Le Baron, is the wife of R. J. Park, a farmer residing four miles south of Ada, where he is also extensively engaged in stock raising. They have one child. Alta G. is the wife of Charles Nye, a farmer living two miles east of Ada. Nora, who was born December 20. 1884. is an accomplished musician. Zula was born October 2. 1886, and is also highly educated in music. Hollis enlisted

in the United States Volunteer Infantry on the Ist of July, 1889, becoming a member of Company A, Thirty-second Kansas Reg- iment. He enlisted at Manhattan, Kansas, and his commanding officers were Colonel Craig, Captain John P. Gunstead, James L. Long, first lieutenant, George H. Armatage, second lieutenant, and Herbert H. Bercham, first sergeant. The company was organized in Fort Leavenworth and included one hun- dred and six men, and they remained at that place until the 6th of September, when they started for the Philippine Islands, via Kansas City, Missouri, where they were presented with regimental colors. They went from that city by rail to San Fran- į cisco, where they took transportation for Manila, landing there in November, 1899. They also made a three days' stop at HIono- : lulu. After arriving at their destination they took transportation for Angeles, ar- riving there in November. They at once engaged in scouting duty through the mountains, living in what they called dug- outs for several days before they moved into native quarters. During the months of November and December they were de- tailed on scouting expeditions through the mountains, often encountering scattering bands of insurgents, and during the month of January, 1900, they captured Abucay, it being about fifty miles from Angeles. They were engaged in scouting and fight- ing eighteen days before taking the town. After remaining there for five days they were relieved by Company C, of the same regiment. Mr. Le Baron was completely worn out from his long service, and being unable for further duty, was transported by boat to Manvels, the remainder of the company going by land. He remained there until the 24th of February, when he re- joined his command and was engaged in garrison and scouting duty over the moun- tains for a distance of about thirty miles. In the latter part of the year 1900 Mr. Le Baron became ill, and after remaining in the hospital with malaria fever and stomach trouble for a time he was honorably dis- charged, on the 18th of December, 1900. On the 21st of that month he embarked for

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

the United States on board the Unital States transport Warren, which left Manila on the 30th of December and anchored at Hand in the i Hering January, 1901. On the 26th of that month they sailed for San Francisco, where they arrived on the 2d of February, and were mustered out of service February 21. 1901. Mr. Le Baron then started for his father's home in Ada. Kansas, arriving there on the 20th of that mich. His Walth was very much im- paired, and he had had many narrow es- capes from death, at one time a bullet hav- ing passed the ugh his hat, it going so near his head that his hair was burned. He was in the service for eighteen months and six- ten days, and his war record is one of which he has every reason to be proud, for he was ever true and faithful to duty. He is now a barber in Ada, and is independent in his political views.

ABRAHAM DEMOTT.

To the valiant ons of the republic wie went forth to do battle for the nation when its integrity was menaced by armed re- bellion must ever be accorded the highest mole di homer and appreciation on the part of the people of the great union of com- monwealths perpetuated through their ef- forts. Time is fast decimating the ranks of the Grand Army of the Republic. and son there will be but few left to recruit the experiences of this greatest of all civil conflicts in the history of the world. and it her mes a duty to preserve in content ... ary history a record of the lives and deeds of those who followed the old flag over many a sanguinary battlefield to ultimate victory. The subject of this review is an honored veteran of the war of the Rebel- lin, in which be served with marked dis- tinetien and fidelity, and he is to-day num- bered among the successful and representa- tive farmers and stock-growers of Barber county, Kansas, where he has maintained his residence for nearly twenty years. com- ing to the county :: the time when the re-

chunation of the virgin prairies had scarce- Is progressed beyond the point of initia- time, but having been a distinct factor in the work of improvement and progress which has brought this section of the state to the front rank in general prosperity and industrial prestige. His finely improved farm home is located on section 26, Sharon township.

Mr. DeMott claims the old Buckeye state as the place of his nativity, , having been born on a farm in Preble county, Ohio. on the 29th of January, 1831, the name having been identified with the annals of that section from the early pioneer epoch in its history. His father, John DeMott. was likewise born in Preble county, in the year 1803, a son of Abraham DeMott, who was a native of New Jersey, whence he emi- grated to Ohio at a time when it was still on the very frontier of civilization, locating in the wilds of Preble county, where he re- claimed a large tract of land and passed the residue of his life. On this old homestead the father of our subject was reared to ma- turity, and in that county was celebrated his marriage to Magdaline Monfort, who was born in Ohio, the daughter di Henry Monfort, a pioneer of the state. The it- serve the parents of seven sons and three Hughters, namely: Abraham, the subject of this sketch: Mary M. : Hannah : Henry, who served for three years in the Civil war as a member of the Twenty-first Indiani Volunteer Infantry ; Cornelius and Martin L., who died in childhood; Peter, who was a soldier in the Fifty-ninth Indian is- fantry and who died in the service, at the age of twenty-one years; Susan M .: John R. : and Jacob. The father died in Morgan county, Indiana. at the age of sixty-two cars, and his wife also died in that county, aged eighty years. John DeMett devatel his life to agricultural pursuits, was a tanch Democrat in His politiet per cuivi- ing. was a devoted member of the Baptist durch, as was als his wife, and bath were ever held in the highest esteem by all who knew them.

Abraham DeMott. the immediate sub- ject of this sketch, remained on the old

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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.

homestead farm, in Morgan county, Indi- ana, until he had attained the age of nine- teen years, his educational advantages hav- ing been such as were afforded in the com- mon schools of the locality and period. Thereafter he continued to devote his at- tention to farming in the Hoosier state un- til the outbreak of the Rebellion, when he was among the first to respond to his coun- try's call, his intrinsic loyalty and patriot- ism being aroused to responsive protest when the rebel guns thundered against the walls of old Fort Sumter. In 1861, he en- listed as a private in Company B, Fifty- ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, with which he proceeded to the front and with which he remained during a long period of arduous and important service, the regi- ment participating in many of the most notable conflicts of the war. Our subject was thus a participant in the battles at Jackson, Mississippi, and Black river bridge; was thence in service during the entire siege of Vicksburg, was later as- signed to garrison duty and to guarding a railroad in Georgia, and was then with Sherman in his ever memorable march to the sea, participating in the siege and cap- ture of Atlanta. His regiment thence pro- ceeded to Goldsboro, North Carolina, and then by sea to Baltimore, whence it returned south to Richmond, the Confederate capital, in which vicinity the command was located at the time of Lee's surrender. After vic- tory had crowned the Union arms Mr. De- Mett proceeded with his command to Wash- ington, where he participated in the grand review of the victorious armies, the brave boys of his regiment appearing in the same and wearing the begrimed uniforms which they had used during their march through Georgia and other sections of the south and which were dignified by the service of the weary but triumphant owners. Mr. De- Mott was thus in service practically during the entire course of the war, and he re- ceived his honorable discharge at Louis- ville, Kentucky, on the 17th of July, 1865. His gallant service in the field had secured him promotion to the office of orderly ser- geant and later to that of first lieutenant,

as incumbent of which latter he was mus- tered out. His military record is one of which he may be justly proud, and is one to which his children and his descendants may point with honor and satisfaction in the days to come. He retains a vital in- torest in his old comrades, as is shown in the fact that he is a prominent and popu- lar member of Bernard Post, No. 450, of the Grnd Army of the Republic, at Sharon, Kansas. In politics he gives his support to the Democratic party, and his religious faith is that of the United Brethren church, of which his wife also is a member, and in which he has served as a member of the board of trustees. His fine farm of two hundred acres, upon which he has made ex- cellent improvements in the way of sub- stantial buildings, fences, orchards, etc., and which is of exceptional fertility, is lo- cated in section 26, Sharon township, and here he has not been denied a full measure of success in his farming and stock raising, having located here in the year 1884. He is known as a man of true rectitude and genuine worth and commands unqualified confidence and esteem in the community.

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A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 79

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