USA > Kansas > Brown County > Annals of Brown County, Kansas : from the earliest records to January 1, 1900 > Part 59
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Mr. Moore was married in October Mr. Detwiler believes that a farmer 1866, in Monmouth III., to Miss Mary should work with his head as well J Brownlee a native of Morrow as his hands and that it is profitable county Ohio. Mrs. Moore was a for the farmer- to get together and graduate of Iberia College and a relate their experiences and profit by teacher. Last fall she was stricken each others mistakes and failures.
487
ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY.
SAMUEL DETWILER.
This has made him an enthusiastic county in this capacity for one term. worker in the Farmers Institute It was during this time that the court house was built and the poor farm established. Mr. Detwiler has been married twice. The first time in Ohio in 1859 to Miss Anna Hoff- man who died in 1862 leaving one daughter, Lizzie. In 1865 he was married to his present wife who was Sarepta G. Lehman, a native of Pennsylvania. They have two chil- dren Anna E. and James G. Both Mr. and Mrs. Detwiler are members and active workers in the Methodist Episcopal Church in Hiawatha. and the fact that Brown county has today the oldest and best Farmers Institute in Kansas is due largely to his efforts. He has also been interested in the growth and prosperity of the Fair Association and has been President of the Asso- ciation three times. He was first elected in 1886; again in 1887 and again 1# 1889 He has been a repre- sentative of the Association at the meetings of the State Board of Ag- riculture at Topeka on numerous occasions. He is a frequent contrib- utor to the leading farm journals of G. Y. Johnson. the country. Mr. Detwiler takes G. Y. Johnson, the president of the littie Interest in politics. He was Brown County Fair Association and nominated and elected county com- the proprietor of Avondale Farm of missioner in 1885 He served the thoroughbred short horns, was born
48.8
ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY.
G. Y. JOHNSON
in Pike County, Illinois. In 1841. his discharge. After his discharge, When he was 20 years of age he en- tered the army as a member of Com- pany H, of the 73rd Illinois Infantry. He participated in the battles of Per-
which occurred In June 1865 he re- turned to his Illinois home where he resided until 1869 when he came to Brown County and settled in Mission ryville, Stony River, Chickamauga, township on the farm where now he Atlanta, Franklin, Spring Hill, resides. Short horned cattle has been Nashville and numerous other en- Mr Johnson's specialty and his herd gagements and was wounded three is recognized as one of the finest in times while in the service. Mr. JJohn- Kansas. It has been bred with care son entered the service as a private and is composed of Young Mary, and was discharged as orderly ser- Gallata, Rose of Sharon and other geant of his company. He had charge popular families. Mr. Johnson has of his company at the battle of Chick- been connected with the Brown amauga and from that time on until County Fair Association for a good
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ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY.
many years. In 1896 he was elected west" he grew to young boyhood president of the Association and has on the broad prairie of a state that been re-elected at each succeeding has produced and broadened and en- election since then
nobled so many of her sons. He re-
In politica Mr. Johnson is a Demo- ceived for his education what little crat and has been honored by his was given the children of that time party a number of times with its in the district schools, but he was nominations. He was its candidate further endowed with that educa- for county commissioner in 1870. In tion only learned from nature's 1882 he was the nominee for the legis- school. He early learned to look out lature and was beaten by 23 votes. for himself for while still a young Two years later he was nominated man in his teens he left home to seek again and this time he was success- his fortune in an untried world. ful, serving through the regular and With nothing but Industry, energy special session of the legislature that and perseverence as his capital stock was called the next year. In 1893 he to begin ou. His is an example of was the Democratic nominee for what the combination of energy and county treasurer. Mr. Johnson is a perseverance will do for a young member of Hiawatha Post 130 G. A. man who resolutely starts out and R. but belongs to no other secret so- says "I will" and then proceeds to ciety. He was married in 1869 in carry the will into execution.
Vinton, Iowa, to Miss Kittie Halnes, a native of Centre County, Pa. They have one child, a daughter Gracie.
William W. Hildebrand.
On April 20, 1878, în Searboro. Iowa he was married to Miss .J. Florence Patti. They lived in that vicinity for several years engaging in various pursuits of life very much the same
Among all of the traveling men as many other young couples who who have found it pleasant, conven- ient and profitable to make their homes in Hiawatha in the last few years none can be called more a self- made man nor more successful in their undertakings than the subject 1888 that the big house of Fairbanks, of this sketch-William W. Hilde- Morse & Co, of Chicago needed a debrand.
start out on the voyage of life to- gether, now successful, now unfortu- nate-but always in the dim distant future, visions of success and hope kept beckoning them on. It was in brand, who stayed with them in this territory for seven years. It was man to look after their interests in
Mr. Hildebrand is a Virginian by the Iowa territory. They were for- birth, having been born in the Valley tunate enough to pick on Mr. Hilde- of Virginia, forty-seven years ago, Dec. 10, 1853. Being one of a large family of boys he early learned that then overtures were made by a big selfreliant trait which so marks the rival concern to secure his services footsteps of the successful man. His for they too needed a man in this ter- boyhood was very similar to the ritory, but these being unsuccessful other young men of that age. Having Mr. Hildebrand was transferred to removed with his parents to the the Kansas City branch of this firm. state of Iowa, Keokuk county, when It was while working for the Kan- it was at that time called the "far sas City house he decided to move to
490
ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY.
ALPHEUS BURTON ALLERTON.
Hiawatha where too, Mrs. Hilde- remove to Des Moines, which is now brand engaged in the millinery busi- known as his permanent home.
Mr. and Mrs. Hildebrand have ness, not only building up a good business but making a large circle of friends.
known what it meant to be sufferers from the elements Besides having their beautiful home in Des Moines Until January 1st, 1901, Mr. Hilde- destroyed by fire, they were directly brand worked in this territory for in the path of that June 17, 1882 furi- the Kansas City house but in the ous cyclone which swept across the meantime, having bullt a fine resi- the state of Iowa and was so dis dence in the city of Des Moines, Iowa astrous to life and property at Grin- only to have it burned out at a nell where they were then living. great loss of several thousand dol- As though this was not enough, in lars Rebuilding again he decided to September of the very next year, resign the Kansas City position and 1883, their home was burned to the
491
ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY.
0
ELLEN PALMER ALLERTON, 1835-1893.
ground with all its contents Despite of life really are, but he has always all these misfortunes they have al- persevered in what he has undertak- ways redoubled their energles and en with that energy that is charac- with a spirit that champions teristic of the successful man and he success gone to work again deter- has set about his task after any fail- mined to overcome the discourage- ure with a renewed zeal that has al- ments that beset them. He is now ways won success.
engaged as general agent in South- western lowa and Nebraska selling special machinery for a big Iowa firm.
Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Allerton.
Col. A. B. Allerton, the Hamlin Township philosopher, is known as
As has been said in the outset of a clear thinker and a vigorous this history, Mr. Hildebrand has writer. He is a frequent contributor known what the "ups and down" to the newspapers and he always
492
ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY.
MRS. LIZZIE CAMPBELL.
has something good to say. He fast horse and always keeps a few comes from good sturdy Puritan high steppers in his stable. He reads stock being a lineal descendant of the latest books and keeps in touch Isaac Allerton who played so im- with the world as it moves.
portant a part in the early history Mr. Allerton was married Sept. 8, of the Plymouth Colony. He was 1862 to Ellen P. Palmer. Mrs Aller- born in Euclid. Ohio Feb. 18, 1831. ton was born in Centerville. N Y , in He was raised and lived until 1879 at 1835. She commenced to write poetry Lake Mille, Jefferson county, Wiscon- at the age of thirty and was a fre- ein where he farmed and followed quent contributor to various publi- his trade as a builder. He moved to cations until her death which oc- Brown County in 1879 locating in curred Aug. 31st, 1893. Her "Walls Hamlin Township where he has re- of Corn" gave her a National reputa- sided ever since. He delights in a tion and at once gave her a frout
MRS E N WILSON
EDWARD IDOL
WILLIAM IDOL MRS. GRANVILLE ARNOLD MR. AND MRS. J. M. IDOL RAYMOND IDOL FRANK IDOL MRS. F. M PEARL The Idol Family. (Page 440.)
W. F. ISELY
HENRY ISELY
MISS CLARA HOCHSTETLER The Isely Family Page 556
MRS. W. F. ISELY
MRS. HENRY ISELY
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ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY.
rank among the Kansas poets made effective and at the earnest re- Since her death her poems have been quest of the charge at Robinson was collected and issued in a neat little appointed their pastor, where he volumn called "Walls of Corn and served until the time of his death. other poems by Mrs. Ella P. Aller- He was held in the highest esteem ton. not only by his own people at the different appointments on his charge Rey. and Mrs. W. G. Campbell. but by all who knew him. The fun- eral services were conducted by the
In the Central Christian Advocate writer assisted by ministers in at- for April 17th 1889, Rev. J. K. Miller, tendance. He was an eloquent the pastor of the Methodist church preacher, a man of large. sympathy, at Hiawatha wrote:
genial disposition and hearty loyal-
"Rev. W. G. Campbell was born in ty to the work of a Methodist Pittsburg, Pa., March 27, 1846, and preacher. The large place he held in died March 18, 1889. He had been in the hearts of the people continues to attendance at the session of his con- express itself in the attentions paid ference held in Lawrence, Kans .. and to his bereaved family. May the not feeling well decided to return to blessed Master who bore him so his home in Robinson, Kans., but peacefully to his abode in the heav- was unable to get farther than Troy ens be the comforter of the widowed where he died at the home of his sis_ mother, wife and children in their ter, Mrs. Dr. Myres, surrounded by time of trial."
his family and friends. No serious
Mrs. Campbell was born in Pitts- termination to his sickness was an- burg, Pennsylvania, Aug. 28, 1852. ticipated until a short time before She was married to Rev. W. G. his death. His departure was made Campbell in January, 1872, coming al- amid the most glorious displays of most immediately to Kansas with divine grace. Bro. Campbell was her young husband. Her life for the converted and joined the church next seventeen years was much the when sixteen years of age, being same as all Methodist ministers' then a student at Mt. Union College, wives, having no abiding stay and Ohio. He married January 18, 1872, moving around every two or three Miss Lizzie Muse, Pittsburg, Pa. years. The death of her husband Since then his home has been in Kan- left her with a family of young child- sas. In 1875 he joined the Kansas ren and but scanty means, but the conference, and was sent to Dont- plucky woman determined that her phan. He was appointed in 1876, to children should have the benefits of Grantville; în 1877, '78 and '79, to an education and she went resolute- Auburn; în 1880, '81 and '82 to Silver ly at the task of securing it for them. Lake. In September of this year he She asked for and secured the . ap- was obliged to give up his work on pointment of postmistriss at Robin- account of falling health. Hemoved son and held the office for a little with his family to Robinson, Brown over four years to the satisfaction of county, Kansas, where he was act- all the patrons of the office. She ive in the local work of the church wrote for the newspapers and be- and Sabbath school until 1887, when came known as a literary woman of his health having improved, he was ability. Her verses and short sto-
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ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY.
ries are especially interesting. After ship. Andrew Honer, the father of leaving Robinson she spent a year in the family was born in Wurtenberg St. Joe where she continued her lit- Nov. 30th 1824. Like all German erary work. She then moved to lads of that time he was taught a Harris, Mo., where she served the trade and became a clock maker. He government again for another four followed this trade in his native land years as postmistress. She then until 1852 when he determined to moved to Garden City, where she come to America. There were no now lives with her two youngest ocean liners in that day and it took sons. Her oldest son, Dr. Win. G. more than five weeks to make the Campbell, is now a successful practi- voyage in the slow going sailing tioner in St. Joseph, Mo. The sec- vessel.
ond son. David, is agent and opera-
tor for the Santa Fe road at Garden Henrietta Wolf and it was the City. The youngest son, Walter, is same old story, love at first sight,
still in school.
REV. W. G CAMPBELL.
The Honer Family.
It would be hard to find a better afforded.
representative of that sturdy Ger-
On board the ship Mr. Honer met
an ocean courtship and matrimony as soon as they reached the new world. On the 20th of next October they will celebrate thelr golden wed- ding. Mrs. Honer is a native of Speichinger, Germany and is her hus- baud's junior by five years.
Mr. and Mrs. Honer first settled in Philadelphia but soon moved onto a farm near Danville, Pa., where they lived until 1885. Here five sons were born to them, Henry on Oct. 4, 1853, Lewis on Aug. 18, 1858, Frank- lin on March 26, 1861, George on April 2, 1863 and William on April 14, 1865. Here Mr. Honer found that the trade he had learned in his na- tive land stood him in good stead and he made considerable money travel- ing through the state of Pennsyl- vania repairing clocks. Both Mr. and Mrs. Honer are members of the Ger- man Lutheran church and their sons were brought up in that faith. They were also given the best education that the schools of that part of Pennsylvania where the family lived
In 1883 Louis and Frank came to man stoch which has contributed NO Brown County. They sent home much to all that goes to make up such glowing reports of this favored good citizenship, than is found in land that they induced their father the Honer family of Robinson town- and mother to sell out their Pennsyl-
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ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY.
vanla farm and buy in Robinson
Politically the family are Demo- township. This was in 1885. One crats and the old gentleman is a fre- by one the boys settled near their quent contributor of political arti- parents and now the five Honer cles to the columns of the DEMOCRAT. farms all join each other making None of the family ever ran for office one solid body of land owned by the until last year when the Fusionists family. Families usually scatter of Robinson township made Frank over several states so this record is Honer their nominee for trustee. rather a remarkable one.
The township is strongly Republican
Four of the boys now have fami- but the nomination was such a fit- lies of their own. Henry was mar- ting one that political considera- ried June 23 1880, to Miss Mary James tions were forgotten and he was of Danville, Pa. They have nochild- elected by a surprisingly large ma- ren. Lewis was married Aug. 16, jority. He has been renominated 1888 to Miss Flora Price, of Peoria, again this year and his work during Ill., and they have four children. the year has been so satisfactory to Franklin was married April 6th, 1887 the people of the township that to Miss Maggie Kopp, of Brown there is no question about his re-el- county, and they have one son. ection. Mr. and Mrs. Honer are William was married Nov. 7, 1889 to planning to celebrate their golden Miss Susie Young, of Brookfield, wedding next October. Theirs has Mo., and they have four children. been an eminently successful life. George still lingers under the shadow Possessed of a competency which se- of the parental roof. cures for them every luxury they
In visiting the Honer farms one is may desire, they see their sons set- struck with the evidences of thrift tled around them successful, respect- and prosperity. Not only are the ed and esteemed members of the fields well tilled, but the hedges and community.
What more could any orchards are kept trimmed, the father and mother desire.
buildings painted and in repair and the tools housed when not in use. There is no serub stock on the farms,
Allen W. Lichty.
Allen W. Lichty, the chairman of but the high grade cattle and hogs the board of County Commissioners, in the pastures tell the story of care- was born April 3rd, 1850 in Somerset ful selection and intelligent breeding. county, Pa. He is of German de- The women are model housewives scent the family having emigrated and take pride in their well kept par- from Switzerland to Pennsylvania lors and thoroughly scrubbed kitch- several generations ago. He was ens.
educated in the schools of Pennsyl-
The Honers are all great readers. vania and resided in that state un- The rural delivery route passes their til 1868 when he moved to Waterloo, farms and the daily paper finds its lowa. In 1872 he moved to Illinois way to all five of their homes. In but only resided there for eight addition to this each one of the fam- monthe and then moved to Falls flies subscribes for a number of City, Nebr. He spent one year here weeklies and magazines and the and then moved to Morrill Town- book cases are filled with useful ship settling on the famed Pennsyl- books.
vania Avenue where he has since
1
496
ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY.
STUDIONE
ALLEN W. LICHTY.
made his home. He was raised a for the third term. his own town- Democrat and always affiliated with ship-Morrill-giving him 123 major- that party until the Alliance move- ity. No better evidence of the fact ment reached Kansas when he be- that he has the confidence and es- came a member of the People's Par- teem of those who know him best ty organization. He was elected could be found. There is a big Re- trustee of Morrill Township in 1890, publican majority in Morrill town- reelected in 1893 and elected for a ship but Mr. Lichty always carries it third time in 1894. In 1895 he was by a handsome vote because his the People's Party nominee for Coun- neighbors know that he is clean and ty Commissioner and was elected by capable and that he will give them a handsome majority. Three years good honest services.
later he was reelected. This year he Mr. Lichty is a member of the did not want to be a candidate but Progressive Brethren church and his friends insisted that he must takes an active interest in the church make the race and he was reelected work. He belongs to the Woodman
497
ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY.
JOHN BENGSTON.
Camp at Morrill but has no other lodge affiliations.
John Bengston.
Foremost among the many good On Nov. 28, 1870 Mr. Lichty was citizens of Brown county who claim married to Miss Evalyne Saylor of Sweden as the fatherland stands Lanark. Pa. Nine children have County Commissioner John Bengs- been born to them. Anna Mary, ton of Robinson township. He was wife of W. B. Deaver of Sabetha, born Jan. 19, 1840 and grew to man- Jennie, wife of D. Sargent of Falls hood in the old country receiving the City, Neb, Cordla, wife of Elmer advantages of the common schools Lanning of Morrill, Joseph C. who in his locality. He came to America is with the Citizen's Bank at Sa- in 1865 and spent two years in Illi -. betha, Edward who is in the hard nois and Missourl and then located ware business at Falls City and John in Robinson township, where he C., Lulu, Homer and Nona who live now has three quarter sections of rich land whose fine improvements
with their parents.
49%
ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY.
tell the story of the owners success' to them Byron H. Alonzo, Cora, wife and prosperity. He is a member of of Chas. Colburn; Vie, wife of R. T. the Lutheran church and the Mason- Herrick; Myrtle, wife of DuRell ic lodge at Robinson and an active Gage, Frank S. and Ivah. Both Mr. factor in all public enterprises in his and Mrs. Davis have been members locallty. In politics he is a Republi- of the Methodist church for over fifty can and has been prominent in the years, and have always taken an ac- party councils for the past twenty tive part in the various lines of years. In 1896 he was elected a church work.
member of the board of County Com- In the fall of 1872 Mr. and Mrs. missioners and reelected in 1899. He Davis came to Brown County and is a valuable member of the board settled two and a half miles east of looking after the interests of the Hiawatha on a 320 acre farm. Here county with care and fidelity.
Mr. Bengton was married in 1868 to Miss Carrie Erickson of Robinson. They have a family of four children. The eldest daughter. Nellie, is the wife of Chas. Krey a prosperous young farmer of Mission township. The son Albert is a successful farmer of Robinson township. The two youngest daughters, Herminia and Emma reside with their parents.
John P. Davis.
John P. Davis will long be reniem- bered by the people of Brown Coun- ty with pleasure as one of their most successful and useful citizens. Mr. Davis was born in Ashland County, Ohio Jan. 20th 1839 and was the seventh son in the family. He was educated in the common schools of the Buckeye state and began to teach before be was twenty-one years old. In 1855 he moved to Mc- Donough, Il1,, where he lived for eighteen years and engaged in farm- ing and stock raising and shipping. Here he was married in 1858 to Miss Sarah Horrabin, daughter of an in- fluential Illinois farmer and legisla- tor. Mrs. Davis was born in Eng- land but came to America with her parents when she was twelve years old. Seven children have been born
they lived until 1882 when they moved into the city of Hiawatha. Here Mr. Davis platted the Knapp, Moon & Davis addition to the city building his residence in this tract. In addition to running his farm Mr. Davis dealt in graîn and live stock and shipped many thousands of dol- lars worth of stuff onto the markets. He took an active interest in public affairs. He was one of the moving spirits in the movement to put the fair association onto a business basis and was elected president of the As- sociation five times-in 1876, '78, '79, '80 and '81. In 1887 when the Hia- watha improvement society was or- ganized he was made its president. One of the movements backed by this Association was the founding of the Academy and Mr. Davis was the head of the soliciting committee which raised the funds. He was elected to the legislature in 1875 and reelected in 1876 His success in the legislature is shown by the fact that at the second session which he at- tended he introduced five bills of a general nature and succeeded in get- ting all of them passed. One of these bills was an act for the protection of birds and another was the law now on our statute books requiring a record to be kept in the county clerks office of all transfers of real estate.
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499
ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY.
About this time Mr. Davis began has grown steadily Increasing 1ts to study the question of life insur- business and its assets until now it ance. He believed that a Kansas ranks with the leading old line insur- company could be organized and ance companies of the country. successfully managed and he care- Mr. Davis' life has been an eminent- fully worked out the details of the ly successful one but the Kansas pian. When he had his plans perfect- Mutual is his greatest success and ed the company was organized and will remain as a lasting monument the Kansas Mutual Life began its to his executive ability. struggle for a place among the great insurance companies of the country. John E. Moon. Its first policy was written March
John E. Moon, under whose direc- 4th, 1882. Mr. Davis became presi- tion as Secretary, the superb sys. dent of the company. He gave up tem of book-keeping of the Kansas all his other business ventures and Mutual has been built up, was born for nearly twenty years he has de- in Leesburg, Kosciusko County, voted his whole energy to making Ind., March 13, 1846. He was educa- the company grow. In May 1891 it ted at Notre Dame College, Hillsdale was found necessary to change the College, the Military School at Ful- plan from an assessment company ton, Ill., and Eastman's Business to one formed on the legal reserve College in Chicago. He took the pian and this was done. A deposit course in the latter school after the of $100,000 was made with the state war. During the war he enlisted and a new charter was taken out first with the 138 Indiana Infantry and the name changed to the Kan- where he served as Sergeant of sas Mutual Life Insurance Company. Company K, and then re-enlisted in In February 1892 it was deemed ad- the 151 Indiana where he served as visable to move the headquarters First Lieutenant of Company B, un- from Hiawatha to Topeka. This til the close of the war.
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