A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 96

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

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Returning to the north, Mr. Diamond was married, July 21, 1866, and entered upon what has proved a happy connubial lite. He wedded Emily Wills, who was born in Orange county, Vermont, a daugh- ter of Charles and Elizabeth ( Burroughs) Wills. Her parents were representatives of old New England families, were farm- ing people and spent their entire lives in the Green Mountain state, where each died when about eighty years of age. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Diamond were born four chil- dren, but they lost one son at the age of two years and their married daughter died at the age of thirty-two, leaving one boy. The living sons are George H. and Fred H., both good business men. The former is married and has a son, Robert H.

Mr. and Mrs. Diamond continued to make their homes in Vermont until the spring of 1873, when they came to Jewell county, Kansas, where they have since re- sided. Their first home was a little log cabin, ten by twelve feet and therein they lived for several years, after which Mr. Diamond erected a part of his present home, hauling the lumber for one hundred and twenty-five miles by wagon and paying for it sixty dollars per thousand feet. Later a commodious addition was built and they now have a very comfortable and substantial residence. As the years have passed, Mr. Diamond has added to his property and to- day he is the owner of one thousand acres, in Jewell township, his landed estate being the visible evidence of his enterprise and his useful career. The home is noted for its warm-hearted hospitality and its good cheer, a cordial welcome being always ex- tended to the many friends of the family. In 1900 Mr. Diamond fitted up a tourist outfit of wagons and, accompanied by his family and his neices, traveled through the beautiful valleys and over the mountains of California, enjoying a splendid outing. Mrs. Diamond is a member of the Metho- dist Episcopal church, but attends the ser- vices of the United Brethren church. Mr. Diamond has given his political support to the Republican party since casting his first presidential vote for Lincoln. and he is earnest in his advocacy of its principles, but

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his extensive farming interests have left him no time to seek office, even had he so desired. His career has been marked by fidelity to duty in every relation of life; it is never difficult to determine upon which side of a question he is arrayed for he is ever found strong in defense of the course he believes to be right, and his name is inscribed high on the roll of the leading citizens of Jewell county.

GEORGE H. ZIMMERMAN.

The subject of this sketch, who is a prominent farmer in Holmwood township, Jewell county, Kansas, and an honest, hon- ored and progressive citizen, patriotic in his motives and straightforward in his meth- ods, was born in Fulton county, Pennsyl- vania. October 29. 1849, a son of Jacob E. and Amy ( Hauk) Zimmerman. Jacob E. Zimmerman was born in Pennsylvania and became a well-to-do farmer of Fulton coun- ty. where he died at the age of sixty-three years. George and Elizabeth Zimmerman, George H. Zimmerman's grandparents in the paternal line, were a man and woman of ability and character, and he died in Mary- land. she in Pennsylvania. Jacob Zim- merman, great-grandfather of George H. Zimmerman, came from Germany and was the owner of a mill at Sylvan, Pennsyl- vania, where he died.

The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm in Pennsylvania and remained at the place of his birth until he was thirty years old. when he came to Kansas. At twenty- four he married Miss Elizabeth Myers, a native of Franklin county, Pennsylvania, and to them have been born nine children, five of whom are living, namely: Tracy H., Aggie B .. William Clayton, Pleasant (who married J. C. Reed), and Jennie B. All ex- cept Mrs. Reed are still members of their parents' household.

In 1880 Mr. Zimmerman made his ad- vent in Jewell county, locating with J. D. Gregory in the White Rock valley, whence he removed in 1884 to his present farm. in

Holmwood township. His first purchase of land there was restricted to one hundred and twenty acres. He now owns two hundred and eighty acres, on which in 1900 he built a fine residence. This farm is well improved and is provided with ample outbuildings and every appliance necessary to its successful cultivation, the place being devoted to gen- eral farming and stock-raising. Mr. Zim- merman is a Republican and is proud of the fact that he cast his first presidential vote for General Grant, and he has voted for every successive presidential nominee of his party to the present time. He is identified with the Masonic fraternity, the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Ancient Order of United Workmen, affiliating with the respective lodges of these orders at Man- kato. He and his family are communicants of the Presbyterian church.

In the best sense of the term Mr. Zim- merman is a self-made man. From a small beginning he has worked his way gradually but surely to a representative place in the community, and he has come to be known as a man of good judgment in all practical affairs and as an enterprising, public-spir- ited citizen who has at heart the best inter- ests of his township, county and state.

DARIUS C. HAGGART.

If every young man thoroughly under- stood and believed what wise men and philosophers are always pointing out-that success practically never comes to any one without great and persevering effort-a multitude of failures in life would be averted and the world would be a much happier place than it is to-day. In countless then- sands of instances, especially in the Uni :: I States, where men are rated at their true personal worth, poor boys have risen to places of prominence and influence because they were not afraid of hard work and be- cause they were actuated by the commend- able ambition to do something and be some- thing worthy the respect of all mankind. In reviewing the history of Darius C. Haggart,

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now one of the wealthy and prominent citi- zens of Mankato, Jewell county, we see that his life is one in which advancement has been gained through his own efforts.

Mr. Haggart is a native of Fulton coun- ty, New York, where he was born on the 7th of April, 1837, and he is of Scotch lineage. His paternal grandparents, Daniel and Ann Haggart, were both natives of Scotland and in childhood they came with their respective parents to the new world, taking up their abode in the Empire state, where they passed the remainder of their lives. Their son Daniel was a native of New York and there married Caroline Mead, a daughter of Charles and Caroline Mead, who spent their entire lives in New York, the father earning his livelihood as a tin peddler in the days when it was custo- mary to take a pack of goods from house to house, thus disposing of salable wares. They died in the Empire state, and it was there that their daughter. Mrs. Caroline Haggart, was born and reared. Leaving the east, the parents of our subject removed to Stephenson county, Illinois, where both passed away. The father was a manufac- turer in early life but was engaged in the grocery business at the time of his death, which occurred when he was about sixty-five years of age. They were the parents of eleven children, nine of whom reached ma- ture years, while four are yet living. At the time of the Civil war the patriotism of the family was evidenced by the number of rep- resentatives which it sent to the front. One son, Sidney, served for three months. Will- iam was in the same company as his brother Darius and was wounded at the battle of Sweetwater, after which our subject took him home. He lived for a number of years -a most remarkable case and one which awakened the keen interest of the medical profession on account of the peculiar nature of his injuries. A third brother, Charles, was a member of the Fourteenth Illinois Cavalry, which he joined when only thirteen years of age, and with the exception of our subject the soldier boys of this family had not attained their majority when they joined the army.

Darius C. Haggart was reared in the village of Gloversville, New York, and after acquiring a fair English education in the public schools he learned the glove-making trade, residing at home until twenty-one years of age, and having accompanied his parents on their removal to Stephenson county. Illinois. The Civil war having been inaugurated, he offered his services to the government in June. 1862. He was as- signed to Company G, Ninety-second Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry, with which he re- mained for three years, receiving an honor- able discharge at Nashville, Tennessee, at the close of the war. He was never in the hospital save when he went there to care for his wounded brother, but was always found at his post, whether on picket duty cr on the firing line.

At the close of hostilities Mr. Haggart returned to his home in Illinois. He was married at the age of twenty-six years to Miss Ellen Kaiser, who was born in Ohio April 7, 1843. They have become the par- ents of six children, all of whom are living and all are now married with one exception. There are also nine grandchildren. In an early day Mr. Haggart brought his family to Kansas and became identified with the farming interests of Jewell county. As his financial resources increased he added to his property and is now the owner of four hun- dred acres of valuable land. His work was prosecuted with vigor and his energy and determination, which, as combined with sound judgment and capable management, made him one of the leading and successful agriculturists of the county. At length, having acquired a comfortable competence, he retired to private life in 1891 and re- moved to Mankato, where he has since made his home.

In his political views Mr. Haggart was a Republican for twenty-five years after casting his first presidential vote, for Abra- ham Lincoln, but for several years past has affiliated with the Populist party, and on that ticket became candidate for county sheriff. He was elected in 1891 and re- elected in 1893 and continued in that office until 1897, retiring from the position as he

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had entered it, with the confidence and trust of the community, for he had ever dis- charged his duties with promptness and fidelity and without fear or favor. Mr. Haggart and his family attend the services of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which his wife is a member. He belongs to Jim Lane Post, No. 34. G. A. R., and is a very active and influential representative of that organization. He is also connected with the Masonic fraternity, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Okl Settlers' So- ciety, of which last he was one of the first members. Since coming to the county he has been an active factor in its development, earnest and purposeful, and his labors have promoted many measures for the general good. He is a loyal citizen, a devoted hus- band and father and a faithful friend, and his life history involves an example that is well worthy of emulation.

HENRY C. AHRENS.

Henry C. Ahrens is one of the most extensive land owners of Jewell county, where he owns eighteen hundred acres of valuable land. When we realize that he started out upon his business career empty- handed we can not but marvel at his pros- perity, but it has all been attained through legitimate business channels and is the re- ward of his unfaltering labor and capable management. He was born in Mecklenburg. Germany, September 26, 1846, and is a son of Henry and Mary Ahrens. When he was little more than eight years of age his parents died and the orphaned boy was early thrown upon his own resources. . \t the age of eleven years he came alone to America, crossing the Atlantic in a steam- ship. He located first in Florida and after five years went to St. Louis, Missouri. Learning the carpenter's trade in his youth, he followed that pursuit as a source of live- Ithood for a number of years, and thus gained a start.

The year 1869 witnessed his arrival in

Kansas. He worked at his trade in Kansas City and in Wyandotte, that state, and in 18;o he came to Jewell county, settling on section 7. Richland county, He then became identified with agricultural pursuits and has since devoted much of his time to the tilling of the soil. His first home was a dugout, twelve by fourteen feet, and later he had a log house, which, in 1891, was replaced with his present substantial and commodious residence. The energy and determination which he manifested in car- rying on the work of the farm soon brought its reward, and as his financial resources have increased he has added to his property until he now owns eighteen hundred acres of choice land, all in Jewell county. He carries on general farming and stock-rais- ing and his methods are in keeping with the progressive spirit which marks every avenue of business life in America and which has been the source of the wonder- ful development of this country. He has given to each of his sons a fine farm and yet his land possessions outrank those of most of the residents of the county.

On the 25th of November, 1873, Mr. Ahrens was united in marriage to Miss Lucinda Harrison, who was born in White- side county, Illinois, being one of the eight children, five yet living, who were born un- to George and Salina ( Colow ) Harrison, both of whom, were natives of Indiana. Her father died in Kansas but her mother is still living. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Ahrens has been blessed with ten children, all of whom survive and two of the number are married. There are also six living grandchildren and others have died.

The Democratic party has always re- ceived the firm allegiance of Mr. Ahrens since he became a voter, his first ballot sup- porting Seymour and Blair, in 1868. He has filled a number of local offices and his public service has been most acceptable. He attends the Lutheran church and is one of the rest members of the Old Settlers' Society, in which he has ever taken a deep interest. Many changes have occurred in Jewell county since his arrival, and like a

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worthy citizen he has co-operated in move- ments for the general good. His life re- cord displays the elements of an upright manhood and he is one of the worthy adopted sons of America. He was but a boy when he determined to come to this coun- try, but the years have proven the wisdom of his decision, as he has found here the desired opportunity for advancement, win- ning a place among the men of affluence in the county where he makes his home.

CHRISTOPHER C. VAN DE- VENTER.

The reader is referred to a biographical sketch of Cyrus C. Van Deventer, of King- man county, Kansas, for interesting facts in the family history of the Hon. Christo- pher Columbus Van Deventer, of Washing- ton township, Jewell county, Kansas, some account of whose busy and useful career it is the intention of the writer now to give.

Christopher Columbus Van Deventer was born in Cassopolis, Michigan, January 18, 1845, a son of Christopher and Miran- da (Salisbury ) Van Deventer, His father was born in Erie county, New York, a son of John Van Deventer, and as early as 1837 he removed to Illinois. Eventually he re- turned to Michigan, but in 1848 he again became a resident of Illinois, and lived out the remainder of his days in Lee county, where he died at the age of fifty-five years.

The subject of this sketch remained at the home of his father in Illinois until the fall of 1862, in the meantime acquiring a common-school education, which he sup- plemented by a brief attendance in a col- lege at Pawpaw, Lee county, Illinois. In the fall of the year mentioned he enlisted in Company K, Forty-second Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry, his company commander being Captain Davis, and with this organization he saw continuous ser- vice until he was honorably discharged, in Texas, at the close of the war. Except dur- ing three weeks, while he was in hospital, he was able to report for duty every day

during that long period. He was never wounded, but in one memorable charge he had so close a call that his cheek was burned by a passing bullet !

Returning to his home in Illlinois after the war, Mr. Van Deventer began farming on rented land. He was married February 21, 1867, to Maria Baker, a native of Prince Edward Island, Canada, who has borne him eight children, one of whom, Philip H., died at the age of eight years, and five of whom are married and have brought to Mr. and Mrs. Van Deventer five grandchildren. Mr. Van Deventer was a tenant farmer in Illinois until 1870, when he emigrated to Kansas and took up land where he now lives. His first eight years in Jewell county was spent in a log house of primitive structure and noteworthy for its many inconveniences and deficiencies, the dimensions of the building being sixteen by twenty feet. At the expiration of that time he bought an adjoining farm, on which was a better house, and there he and his family lived until 1887, when he built his present fine residence.

Mr. Van Deventer is now the owner of three hundred and twenty-five acres of fine land and his older sons are also land owners and prominent men in the county, their holdings being near those of their hon- ored father. Mr. Van Deventer cast his first presidental vote for Abraham Lincoln. Four years later he voted for the presiden- tial nominee of the Democratic party and since that time he has been an active, consist- ent and influential Democrat. In 1890-91 he represented his district in the state legis- lature of Kansas and served efficiently on several important committees. His sons are also prominent in state and county affairs.

Mr. Van Deventer has made his way un- I aided to a place of honor in his adopted state and is regarded as one of Jewell coun- ty's representative men. He gives his at- tention to mixed farming and while giving his children the benefit of the best modern schools he has not neglected to make his sons practical farmers. He has long been i a member of the Grand Army of the Re-

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public and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He was one of the original members of the Old Settlers Society at Jewell, and Mrs. Van Deventer has lived in the Buffalo creek valley longer than any other white woman, and her first two children were the first white children born here. The Van Deventers are prominent socially and attend the services of the Bap- tist church, of which Mrs. Van Deventer is a member.

WILLIAM A. MILLER.

William A. Miller, a member of the firm of W. W. Miller & Son, of Anthony, ; tional business ability, and their extensive Kansas, wholesale dealers in grain, was born in Switzerland county, Indiana, on the 22d of November, 1859, a son of W. W. and Anna ( Steele) Miller, both natives of the same locality. The paternal grandfather of our subject, John J. Miller, was among the carly pioneers of that locality, having lo- cated there as early as 1830. In Switzer- land county W. W. Miller was engaged in agricultural pursuits for a time, and later embarked in the mercantile business in Ris- ing Sun. Indiana. In 1883, however, he left his Indiana home and came to Kansas, lo- cating first at Wellington, and he is now the senior member of the firm of W. W. Miller & Son, and maintains his residence at Kansas City.

William A. Miller, whose name intro- ducc- this review, spent the days of his wwwth and early manhood in the towns of Rising Sun and Aurora, Indiana. where he received excellent school advantages. Ac- o mpanying his father on the removal to the Sunflower state in 1883. he was en- gaged in business in Wellington until 1885, when he took up a claim in Clark county, Kansas, but after a short time he sold his land and moved to South Haven, where he was engaged in the mercantile business with his father until 1898, business having been carrie! ' n under the firm style of W. W. Miller & Company. In the latter year the firm became interested in the grain busi- ness, and shortly afterward erectel an ele-

vater at that place, which they still operate. In 1897 Mr. Miller, of this review, came to Anthony to take charge of the grain busi- ness here, and their elevator in this city. which was built in 1900, has a capacity of from fifty to sixty thousand bushels, and is equipped with the latest improved machin- ery for handling, grading, cleaning and load- ing grain. Their office in Anthony is the headquarters for their outlying stations in southern Kansas and Oklahoma. The firm of W. W. Miller & Son conduct one of the most important grain trades west and south of the Arkansas river, handling an aggre- gate of three million bushles of grain a year. The members of this firm are men of excep- concern stands as a monument to their won- derful power. In addition to his grain busi- ness Mr. Miller is also extensively interested in real estate. owning about two thousand acres of land in Harper and Sumner coun- ties, which he rents, and he annually raises about thirty-five hundred bushles of wheat.

In Rising Sun, Indiana. on the 27th of December, 1880, was celebrated the mar- riage of our subject and Miss Emma C. Kruger. The lady was born in that city, and she is now the mother of three chil- dren .- Nina B .. Edgar and Ruth. The family occupy one of the most beautiful and attractive residences in the city of Anthony, and there hospitality reigns supreme. Mr. Miller has ever taken an active part in the public affairs of his locality, and in 1897-8-9 he filled the responsible office of county cor- oner, was long .a member of the school board, has served as a delegate to county, state and congressional conventions and at the present time is a member of the city council. The Democracy has ever found in him an active worker, and he withholds his support from no movement or measure which he believes will prove of general good. In his - cial relations he is a Knight Tem- plar Mason, is past noble grand and at present high priest of the Independent Or- dler of Odd Fellows, holding membership in Encampment No. 271. of Rising Sun. In- diana, and he is also a member of the Mod- ern Woodmen of America, and the Ancient

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Order of United Workmen. He has given his aid in many generous ways to the per- petuation of those forces which conserve the best interests of the community, and the course that he has followed in political, business, social and home circles commends him to the high esteem of all.

LEVI PLANK.

In the battle of life Levi Plank has won a commendable victory. Determination, strong purpose and diligence have been the means of enabling him to overcome the obstacles and difficulties he has met and to work his way steadily upward until he now commands an enviable position as a leading member of agricultural interests in Rice county. He was born in Wayne county. Ohio, January 20, 1844, his parents being Isaac and Lydia (Schrock) Plank, both of whom were natives of Ohio, in which state they were reared and married. The Plank family is of German lineage and was found- ed in America at an early day. The grand- father, Christian Plank, was born in Penn- sylvania and removed to Ohio during the pioneer epoch in its history. There he en- tered land, improved a farm and made his home thereon until old age, when he went to Indiana, spending his remaining days with his children. Socially he and his wife were members of the Mennonite church. They became the parents of ten sons and daughters, namely : Isaac ; C. J .; Jonathan ; Mary, the wife of J. Yoder; Sarah, the wife of L. Hartzler; Mattie, who married Yost Schrock; Fannie, the wife of S. Blough ; Lizzie, who became Mrs. Nofziger, and after the death of her first husband married D. Blough: Nancy, the wife of I. Grady; and Rebecca, who was Mrs. J. King and now deceased.

never aspired to public office or notoriety of any kind, but for many years has been a stanch advocate of Republican principles and was formerly as loyal to the Greenback party. He is still living in Indiana, at the very advanced age of seventy-nine years, and has been a second time married. His first wife, who bore the maiden name of Lydia Schrock, was born in Pennsylvania, of German lineage. Her father was wide- ly known as the proprietor of a hotel for many years and spent his last days in Ohio. His children were: Lydia, who became Mrs. Plank ; Benjamin, a merchant ; Abram, who also carries on merchandising; Mrs. Susan Somers: and two who died in early life. Unto the parents of our subject were born seven children, namely: Levi; Jacob, a farmer of Rice county: Elizabeth, the wife of J. Troyer, of Indiana; Christian, of Rice county : David and Ephraim, who are living in Idaho; and Isaac, who makes his home in Oklahoma. The last four chil- dren are by the second marriage of Isaac Plank, who for his second wife chose Elizabeth Nofziger.

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A biographical history of central Kansas, Vol. II, Part 96

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