A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 93

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 93

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After his marriage Mr. Beham took up his abode in Indiana county, Pennsylvania, where he remained until 1867. when he re- moved to Franklin county, Tennessee, re- maining in that locality for three years. He then returned to the Keystone state and thence came to Kansas, residing in Law- rence, this state, for eighteen months. He also spent several months in Topeka and in 1872 arrived in Rice county, where he filed a claim to eighty acres of land. He also purchased a tract of eighty acres and now has a valuable farm comprising a quarter

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section of rich bottom land, the productive fields yielding abundant harvests of wheat and corn. In addition to the production of these cereals he has engaged in the raising of stock to some extent. His farm is im- proved with good buildings, including a comfortable residence, commodious barns, sheds and cribs. A grove and orchard are among the attractive features of the place, and everything about the premises is neat and thrifty in appearance.

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Beham has been blessed with seven children, three sons and four daughters: Ida, now the wife of S. M. Sheldon, who is living on the Pawnee reservation in Oklahoma; El- mer and Howard, who are also residents of Oklahoma; Cora, wife of C. H. Jones, of Wichita, Kansas: Harry, at home; Frances M., wife of Orren Clark, of At- lanta township. Rice county : and Mrs. Pearl E. Newby, of Sterling, Kansas. The family is one honored and respected in the community. Mrs. Beham is a member of the Congregational church. Mr. Beham voted with the Republican party for a num- ber of years, but is now independent in politics, giving his allegiance to the men and measures which he believes will best promote the interests of the community. He has served as a justice of the peace, dis- charging the duties of the office in a fair and impartial manner. The cause of edu- cation, of temperance and morality find in him a warm friend and he is a worthy and valued citizen, who during his residence in Rice county has ever commanded the re- spect and esteem of his fellow men.

WILLIAM P. FEDER.

William P. Feder, judge of the probate court of Barton county, Kansas, and one of the most popular and progressive young men of this portion of the state, was born in Schlesingersville, Washington county, Wisconsin. His father, William A. Feder, was a native of Germany and a son of Franz .\. Feder, who came to America in

the '40s and settled in what is now Dodge county, Wisconsin, then a wild and unim- proved region, where the work of progress and civilization had scarcely been begun. There he and his family experienced all the hardships and privations of pioneer life. He took up a farm upon the frontier and devoted his energies to its development and further cultivation until his death, which occurred when he was between fifty and sixty years of age. He was at that time the owner of over two hundred acres of valuable land, having acquired a comfort- able competence. He married and had sev- eral children who died in early life and four who grew to years of maturity, namely : William A., the father of our subject ; Jo- seph N., of Chicago; Mrs. Lizzie Jamsen, of Tennessee; and Mrs. Lena Hook, of South Dakota.

William A. Feder worked upon his fa- ther's farm until seventeen years of age, when he enlisted for service in the Civil war, becoming a member of Company C, First Wisconsin Cavalry, in August, 1861. On the expiration of thirteen months, how- ever, he was discharged on account of physical disability. He then returned to Chicago and eventually became a news agent on the steam cars. He afterward rose to the position of Pullman car con- ductor, serving most of the time on the Chicago & Alton railroad. At his father's death, however, he resigned his position and assumed the management of the home farm, which he operated until 1881, when he sold that property and in the spring of 1882 returned to Chicago, where he was in the employ of the Cottage Grove Street Car Company, but his health failed him, and, hoping to be benefited by a change, he took up his abode in Ellinwood, Kansas, where he conducted a drug store. For two terms he filled the office of city marshal by ap- pointment, and also carried on the real-es- tate and insurance business, continuing in that line of activity until January, 1890, when his health compelled him to seek a different climate. That fall his place of business was also destroyed by fire, entail- ing great loss, and this also operated against

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his health. In March, 1892, he went to California in the last stages of consump- tion and his death occurred on the ioth of December of the same year, at the age of forty-nine. His wife bore the maiden name of Josephine E. Janssen, and they had two children,-William P. and Frank A.,-the latter now a resident of Grand Encamp- ment, Wyoming. After the death of Mr. Feder the mother of our subject married George Eberhardt and now resides in Grand Encampment.

Judge Feder, whose name begins this article, attended a parochial school in Chi- cage, where he was instructed in English one-half the day and the other half in Ger- man. Subsequently he was a student in the public schools of Ellinwood, Kansas, and later entered upon his business career as a clerk under W. E. Hutman, postmaster, with whom he served for thirteen months, after which he accepted a similar position under Mr. Misner, remaining in his employ until January, 1890, when he became pro- prietor and editor of the Ellinwood Advo- cate, which he successfully conducted for ten months. On the expiration of that period he became baggagemaster at Ellin- word; was next station clerk at Great Bend for a year and then became cashier, but re- signed in order to become bookkeeper for the Walnut Brook Milling Company, on the 16th of December. 1897. He occupied that position until September, 1899, when he re- signed to become night clerk on the Santa Fe railroad at Colorado Springs, and while working there. on the Ist of April, at Pueblo. Colorado, he was made joint cash- ier of the Santa Fe and Colorado Southern Railroads. Failing health compelled him to resign his position, for his strength had been undermined by overwork and strict attention to business. He then returned to Great Bend, which is situated in one of the greatest health belts in the world, and here he rapidly improved.

In 1901 Mr. Feder was nominated in joint convention of the Democrats and Populists to the office of probate judge. receiving all but eleven votes. After de- clining the nomination for the office of dis-

trict clerk in 1896 and that of county treas- urer in 1899 he felt constrained to accept the nomination for the probate judgeship and was elected by a majority of seven hun- dred and nineteen out of thirty-three hun- dred votes cast-the largest majority ever given to any candidate in the county, with one exception, and that was in the early days of the county. He entered the cam- paign and being a fluent speaker did ef- fective service for the ticket. It was seen from the beginning that he was the pop- ular candidate and in the discharge of his (luties he is giving uniform satisfaction.

On the 2d of January, 1895, Judge Feder was united in marriage to Miss Mary L. Dodge, a daughter of Edward J. Dodge, of Great Bend, and in the community they have many friends, while the hospitality of the best homes is extended to them. They now have two children: William Russell, born October 14, 1895, and Winefred Ma- rion, born July 12, 1898. In 1897 the Judge was made division commander of the Sons of Veterans for the division compris- ing Kansas, Oklahoma and the Indian Ter- ritory, and during his incumbency he made a fine record, securing an increased mem- bership of four hundred and thirty-five. He is now quartermaster of that organiza- tion. He is also a member and financier of the Ancient Order of . United Workmen and is chairman of the board of directors of the national council of the Amity Union. He is one of the youngest probate judges in the country and is an officer whose rec- ord is above reproach, so faithful and con- scientious is he in the discharge of his duties.

B. A. MYERS.

B. A. Myers, for many years a well known representative of the farming inter- ests of Rice county, residing on section 10, Center township, made his home in that lo- cality for fourteen years, but has recently removed to Holland, Dickson county. Kan- sas. During all these years he has been a loyal and progressive citizen, as true to his

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duties as when he wore the blue and fought for the preservation of the Union upon the battlefields of the south. He claims Penn- sylvania as the state of his nativity, his birth having occurred in Cumberland coun- ty, near Mt. Holly, October 25, 1845. His father, H. J. Myers, was born in the same locality and was there reared to manhood. He afterward married Elizabeth Miller, whose birth occurred near Gettysburg, in Adams county, Pennsylvania. At York Springs the father of our subject passed away, when fifty-six years of age. In early life he had learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed during a portion of his i business career. the remaining time being devoted to agricultural pursuits. His politi- cal support was given the Republican party, and in religious belief he was connected with the United Brethren church. His wife died near Scranton, Greene county, Iowa, at the age of sixty years. This worthy couple were the parents of nine children, five sons and four daughters, and two of the number were valiant soldiers of the Union during the war of the rebellion, namely : B. A., of this review: and C. O., who is living in Adams county, Pennsylvania. The other members of the family are Mrs. Molly Burns, Clayton, Webster, John, Roland, Mrs. Ivy Walburn and Mrs. Lulu D. Hart.

Upon the old family homestead in the Keystone state B. A. Myers spent the days of his childhood and youth, early becom- ing familiar with all the work that falls to the lot of the agriculturist who devotes his time to the cultivation of the crops. He attended the public schools of Pennsylva- nia and was reared in both Cumberland and Adams counties. His first independent ven- ture in life was as a farm hand, in which capacity he worked by the month in the Keystone state. At the age of twenty-three he secured as a companion and helpmate on life's journey Miss Maggie Stauffer, of York county, Pennsylvania, the wedding be- ing celebrated in their native state. Her par- ents were Emanuel and Christena ( Smith) Stauffer, the former a native of Pennsyl- vania and the latter of Baltimore, Mary-

land. Her father is now deceased, having passed away at the age of seventy-five years. He had devoted his energies to agricultural pursuits, thus providing for the support of his family. His political views were in harmony with the principles of Democracy. His wife, who held membership in the Ger- man Baptist church, also died at the age of seventy-five, and both were people of the highest respectability, loved and honored by all who knew them. They became the pa- rents of eleven children, five sons and six daughters, namely: Cornelius, William, Pe- ter, George. Rebecca, Gill, Mrs. Mary Tro- tle, Catherine and Anna, who have passed away, and Mrs. Myers. There was also one child. Sarah Ann, who died in childhood.

Mr. and Mrs. Myers began their domes- tic life upon a Pennsylvania farm and re- sided in York and Adams counties, that state, until 1886, the year of their arrival in Rice county, Kansas. On the 16th of March, they took up their abode here and for a long period were identified with farm- ing interests of the locality. Mr. Myers purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, to which he added until he became the owner of a valuable property of three hun- dred and twenty acres, constituting one of the best farms in the township. The main features of the place were a good residence, which stands upon a natural building site, a substantial barn and outbuildings, an or- chard and a grove. In his pastures were found about seventy head of cattle and the stock which he raised was of a good grade and was well cared for. He also made a specialty of the production of wheat, and is one of the energetic, diligent and practical farmers of the community, whose labors brought a good return. He has recently sold that property and moved to Holland, Dickson county, Kansas, purchasing two hundred and ninety acres of choice bottom land, and he is now erecting a fine fifteen- hundred-dollar residence.

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Myers has been blessed with three children : Harry J., who is now a resident of Missouri ; Em- mert A., at home; and Lotta K., who died

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at the age of twenty-one years. Her loss was deeply mourned by the parents, being the greatest sorrow which has ever come to them as they have traveled life's journey together. She possessed many excellent qual- ities, was kind and considerate, and her cheerful disposition made sunshine in the home.

As a citizen Mr. Myers is deeply inter- ested in everything that pertains to the wel- fare of his community. Years ago when his country was in great danger he went to the front to defend the Union, enlisting when only nineteen years of age. He became a member of Company A. Two Hundred and Ninth Pennsylvania Infantry, and served for about a year, being honorably discharged after the close of the war, in 1865. He had participated in the siege and battle of Peters- burg. Virginia, and in the engagements of Forts Steadman and Chesterville, together with many others of lesser importance. For a time he was on detached duty in the com- missary department at Bermuda Hundred, under General Benjamin Butler, and did | similar service at other points. At length he received an honorable discharge at Alex- andria, Virginia, and returned to Harris- burg, Pennsylvania, from which point he once more took up farm life. In his politi- cal affiliations he is a stalwart Republican, giving an inflexible support to the party. The cause of education. of temperance and religion find in him a warm friend, and he holds membership with the German Baptist church. He is a man of honorable princi- ples, fearless in conduct and sustains an en- viable reputation. During the fifteen years of his residence in Rice county he won the highest regard of a large circle of friends.

HORACE BUTLER.

An early settler of Rice county identi- fied with the development and progress here from early days, Mr. Butler was born in Vermilion county, Illinois, October 10. 1835. His paternal grandfather, James Butler,

was a native of Scotland, and became a pioneer settler of Vermilion county, where he developed and improved a farm, making it his home throughout the remainder of his life. He was a relative of the famous Ethan Allen, and his uncle. Ezra Butler, served as a governor of the state of Ver- mont. James Butler had six children, namely: Asaph, Lewis, Biantha, Mary, An- na and Fidelia. The first. Asaph Butler, was the father of our subject. He. too, was born in the Green Mountain state, but in early life was taken by his parents to Illi- nois, becoming a resident of the Prairie state when eight years of age. There he grew to manhood and was married to Miss Elizabeth Acre, who was born in Alabama and went to the Prairie state with her pa- rents in early girlhood. Her father was of Welsh descent and was a blacksmith by trade, following that pursuit in connection with farming. His children were: Eliza- beth, who became Mrs. Butler : Joel. Brack- ton, John, Matilda and Ruth. In 1840 Mr. Butler and his wife removed to Harrison county, Missouri, where he improved a tract of land, making his home thereon un- til called to his final rest, about 1801. He was an honored pioneer settler of Harri- son county, and took an important part in furthering the development and substantial improvement of that part of the state. He aided in organizing the county and was elected one of the first judges of the court. which held its first session under a big elm tree. Mr. Butler presiding. He became one of the most influential and leading residents of the community, and in business affairs was extremely progressive and prosperous. His pioneer home was noted for the old-time hospitality which was extended to all, wheth- er stranger or friend, and was the stopping place for all newcomers, and he never would receive any payment for his entertainment. The poor and needy were never turned from his door empty-handed and he was widely known for his charity and kindness to his fellow men. His integrity was above re- preach and his honor undisputed, and he left to his family the priceless heritage of

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an untarnished name. His political support was first given to the Whig party and af- terward to the men and measures of Re- publicanism, and he was honored with sev- eral positions of public trust and respon- sibility. He passed away about 1891 and his wife died in February, 1880. Unto this worthy couple were born ten children : Ca- lista, now Mrs. A. Brown; Mrs. Clarinda Price; Horace; Orlin; Harmon; Norton; Albert; Mary, now Mrs. Chapman; Oscar; and Mrs. Alice Seymour. The mother was a consistent and worthy member of the Christian church. Three of her sons, Orlin, Norton and Horace, were soldiers in the Union army during the Civil war.

Horace Butler was reared to honest toil on the farm in Harrison county, Missouri, amid the wild scenes of frontier life. He assisted in the development and improve- ment of the fields until twenty-eight years of age, when he was married. During the Rebellion he served in the state militia, do- ing duty in Missouri. He engaged in some skirmishes with the bushwhackers, but participated in no regular battles, his serv- ice being in the line of guard and escort duty. When he was mustered out he re- turned to his home and in 1864 he was married and took up his abode on a farm, where he remained until 1880, when he trad- ed his Missouri property for the farm in Rice county, Kansas, upon which he yet re- sides. He came here in the spring of that year and moved into a little house. About forty acres of the land had been broken and he soon began farming in earnest. He has made splendid improvements, including the erection of a commodious and substan- tial residence, barns and outbuildings, the planting of an orchard and the building of fences. His fields are richly cultivated and annually he harvests good crops. When he arrived people were dissatisfied and were anxious to move away and farming was car- ried on only on a small scale, but the state was rapidly settled, improvements were in- troduced and to-day central Kansas is one of the most prosperous districts of the en- tire community. Farming and stock-raising are very profitable, and the wheat belt of

Kansas is one of the richest and most pro- ductive in the entire nation. Lyons was only a village when Mr. Butler arrived, but since that time he has seen many other villages established and hamlets grow into thriv- ing towns and cities. His own labors have brought to him splendid financial reward, and to-day he is one of the most prosper- ous agriculturists of his community.

In 1864 occurred the marriage of Mr. Butler to Miss Emma B. Young, who was born in Harrison county, Missouri, January 22, 1843, her parents being Jeremiah and Ruth (Boring) Young, both natives of Tennessee, in which state they were mar- ried, but soon afterward removed to Illi- nois. There two children were born unto them and later they went to Jackson county, Missouri, and from there to Harrison coun- ty, where Mr. Young became a successful and prominent farmer. He and his wife both died in that locality. Both Mr. and Mrs. Young were Scotch Presbyterians in religious faith, holding membership with a church of that denomination. Their chil- dren were: Harvey, Rufus R., Mrs. Mary E. Patton, Mrs. Rebecca Albin, Mrs. Mar- tha A. Magee, Franklin B., Emma B., Mrs. Amanda M. Smith, Ruth E., deceased, and Sidney Smith. Unto Mr. and Mrs. But- ler have been born nine children: Edgar, who died in childhood; Mrs. Edith Wilson ; Ethel, at home; Mrs. Effa Miller : Ezra, of Oklahoma; Mary, a school teacher; and Helen, Orlin and Horace, who are yet with their parents. Mrs. Butler belongs to the Presbyterian church aud is a most estimable lady. Mr. Butler was reared in the Repub- lican faith, but is now identified with the Reform party, but claims the privilege of voting for the men at local elections whom he thinks best qualified for office, regardless of party preferment.

JOHN SWEENEY.

One of the most prominent and respected citizens of Kingman is. John Sweeney, a man whose history furnishes a splendid ex-

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ample of what may be accomplished through determined purpose, laudable ambition and well directed efforts. For twenty-two years he has been identified with the interests of Kingman county, and for many years he has held the responsible position of superintend- ent and manager of the Park Red Stone Quarry, which is located two and a half miles east of Kingman, and is one of the leading institutions of its kind in this sec- tion of the state.

Mr. Sweeney is a native son of the Prai- rie state. his birth having there occurred in Calhoun county, in 1861. He is a son of Andrew and Elizabeth Sweeney, the latter of whom still survives. The father. now de- ceased, was a brave and loyal Union sol- dier during the war of the Rebellion, serv- ing as a member of an Illinois regiment. Our subject, one in a family of ten chil- dren, seven of whom were sons, was reared to farm life in Calhoun and Jersey counties, Illinois, receiving his education in the com- mon schools of that commonwealth. In the year 1880 he came to Kingman county, Kan- sas, where he has ever since made his home, and during the twenty-two years which have since intervened he has nobly borne his part in the work of progress and devel- opment which has taken place in this sec- tion. For a number of years past he has held the position of superintendent and manager of the Park Red Stone Quarry, which has furnished most of the stone used for building purposes in Kingman county. It is a large, thick vein of rock, and dur- ing one season as many as four thousand perch of stone have been taken out. Its success is largely due to the capable man- agement, splendid executive ability, untir- ing efforts and firm purpose of Mr. Sweeney, whose reputation in commercial circles is above question.

In 1892 occurred the marriage of our subject and Miss Clara Fike, a native of Kingman county, and a daughter of C. B. Fike, who served as a soldier during the Civil war. He is now deceased. but his widow still survives and now makes her home in Idaho. Four children have graced

this marriage,-Belle, Christena, John and Ola. Mr. Sweeney casts his ballot in fa- vor of the men and measures of the De- mocracy. He has long been actively inter- ested in all that pertains to the general wel- fare and advancement of the community and has aided in many movements for the ame- lioration of human suffering. His friends have the highest appreciation of his many excellent qualities, and all esteem him for a life over which there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil.

WILLIAM H. RIFE.

In pioneer days in the history of Rice county William H. Rife became a resident of central Kansas, and his interests have since been identified with this portion of the state and he labored earnestly in promot- ing public progress along substantial lines of improvement. He was born in Ohio, August 1, 1849, and was reared on a farm, acquiring a limited common-school educa- tion. His parents were Joseph H. and Eliza- beth ( Mott) Rife, who were born. reared and married in Ohio, whence they came to Iowa in 1851. The paternal grandparents, however, were of German descent. The father of our subject became a pioneer in Clarke county, Iowa, where he entered land and improved a farm, remaining there until 1862, when he enlisted in the Sixth Iowa Infantry as a defender of the Union. The regiment was assigned to the Army of the Tennessee, with General Sherman in com- mand. Owing to the exposure and hard- ships of war Mr. Rife contracted a fever, and was placed in a hospital at Lagrange, Tennessee, where he died and his remains were there interred. He was a plain, honest farmer, never aspiring to public office or no- toriety, yet living a life in harmony with the principles and teachings of the Christian church, of which he was a worthy mem- her. He gave his life upon the altar of his country and left to his family the record of brave military service and of an untarnished

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career. His widow afterward married Will- iam Mouck, a retired farmer, who has put aside the active cares of business life and now resides in Fairfield, Iowa, where he and his wife are enjoying the fruits of well spent lives. Her grandfather Mott was a Revo- lutionary soldier, who served throughout the war that brought independence to the nation. He was twice married and reared a family of twenty-nine children, and lived to the age of one hundred and four years. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Joseph H. Rife were born eight children: James C., who served by his father's side in the war of the Re- bellion, and at its close returned safely to his home, being now a resident of Wiscosin; William H., of this review; Jane, the wife of L. Decker; George W., who is living in Nebraska; Frank, who makes his home in Iowa: Joseph H., also a resident of Ne- braska; Mrs. Calista Pritchett, of Iowa; and J. W., of Nebraska. The mother has long been a devoted member of the Christian church, and upon the minds of her children she early impressed the lessons of industry and honesty, thus fitting them for the prac- tical duties of life.

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A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 93

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