USA > Kansas > Brown County > Annals of Brown County, Kansas : from the earliest records to January 1, 1900 > Part 62
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Mr. Lawrence is an enthusiastic Mason and is recognized as one of the best ritualistic workers in the state of Kansas. He is a Past Master of Hiawatha Lodge No. 35, a Past High Priest of Mt. Horeb Chapter, No. 43, and a Past Commander of H1-
Mr. Lawrence has been married
528
ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY.
twice. His first wife was Miss Lot- tie M. Beardslee whom he married in Battlecreek, Mich., in 1871 and who died five months afterwards. He was married in 1879 at Hiawatha to Miss Emma J. Honghton. They have one son, Edward K. who grad- nated from the Hiawatha Academy with the class of 1899, served in the Spanish-American war with the Twenty-Second Kansas, attended Medical school at the University of Nebraska, successfully passed the necessary examination and is now a practicing physician at Albert, Kan- sas.
Jesse B. Hlinthorn.
J. B. Hinthorn was born near Bloomington, III , June 22, 1867. In 1881 he emigrated to Nebraska, ioca- J. B. HINTHORN. ting in Fillmore County where he remained for thirteen years. in 1894 Stanley as a member of this board he came to Hiawatha and for three and upon organization of the board years was employed by the firm of he was made its secretary and in Mason Brothers. During this time that capacity he has issued every be completed the course in the Cham- embalmers' license in the state. pion College of embalming at Spring- Besides his business work Mr. Hiuthorn is an earnest worker in field, Ohio and graduated as a funer- al director and embalmer. In Aug- church and lodge circles. He is a member of the First M. E. Church of
ust 1897 he began business on West Oregon street in Hiawatha. He has Hiawatha and one of its trustees. demonstrated abundantly that he He has served as President of the he is a thorough and capable em- Epworth League for three years. At balmer, proficient in his profession the recent spring election he was and courteous to all his patrons. elected a member of the Board of He has recently refitted his place of Education. Mr. Hinthorn sings 2nd business and now has one of the Bass and assists in local entertain- most thorough and complete under- ments among all orders and denomi- taking plants to be found in any nations. He is a subscriber to the community. He is a member of the Academy fund and is thoroughly in- Funeral Directors association hoth Kansas and Nebraska.
of terested in the development of Hia- watha. He is serving his fourth
The legislature of 1900 provided for term as Master of Finance in the a board of examiners for embalmers Knights of Pythias lodge, is a mem- to consist of five members to be ber of the board of managers in the appointed by the governor. Mr. Woodmen, and is a member of the Hinthorn was selected by Gov. Odd Fellows, the Rebekah, the
529
ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY.
RESIDENCE OF D. W. WILDER.
United Workmen and the Degree of towns Cameron being among them Honor lodges. and began to devote his time to this
Mr. Hinthorn was married Septem- line of work. In the fall of 1895 he ber 4, 1889 to Miss Pency T. Smith of came to Hiawatha and being favor- Saline County, Nebr. Mrs. Hinthorn ably impressed with its surround- Is also a licensed embalmer and ings, educational features and other assists her husband very materially advantages decided to move here.
in his work. . He applied for and secured a tele- phone franchise and at once com- menced work upon an exchange.
C. H.Munsell.
The demand for telephone connec- C. H. Munsell, the General Manager tion had not been felt yet. Mr. Mun- of the Northeast Kansas Telephone sell was a pioneer in the field and he Co., was born in West Mansfield, found many discouragements in his Logan County, Ohio August 9, 1855. way, but he pushed resointely ahead When he was twelve years old the and soon had things in good work- family moved to Cameron, Mo., and iug order.
here he grew to manhood. He was The exchange opened for business in business in Cameron from 1886 to Jan. 1 1896 with about sixty sub 1889 when he moved to Belleville, scribers. Its growth was rapid. Kansas where he was in business un- Connection was secured with all the til 1893. Becoming Interested in the neighboring towns and new sub- telephone business he procured fran- scribers were constantly added. Mr. chises for a number of Missouri Munsell built the first toll line in this
1
530
ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY
RESIDENCE OF DR. A. LEIGH.
part of the country operated inde- and the exchange at this place is one pendent of the Bell company. There that in completeness, up to date equip- were many obstacles in the way, but ments and other facilities would re- by the energy and hustle that charac- flect credit on any city in the country. terized him he overcame them and put the business onto a profitable
Mr. Munsell was married at Cam- eron, Mo. Nov. 7, 1877 to Miss basis. Hiawatha offered splendid Ida B. Cline. They have eight advantages as the central office for children: Lula May, wife of Marcy L. Baker, of Horton, Pearl, Clyde E., an extended telephone system and so the business was merged into the Frank E., Clyde H. Gladys, Teresa, Northeast Kansas Telephone Com- and Dana. Mr. Munsell is an Odd pany Feb. 14, 1900, a corporation Fellow, a K. P. and a Woodman.
with a capital stock of $60,000 with Mr. Munsell as General Manager.
The business of this corporation now covers Brown and Doniphan Counties completely and reaches into
Alfred J. Hill.
Alfred J. Hill, the National Secre- tary of the Life & Annuity Associa- Atchison County and over into:Rich- sion has been identified with the ardson County, Nebraska. It has business interests of Hiawatha for nine exchanges and offices in twenty years. He was born in
twenty-eight towns and connections Barnstable, England Oct. 3, 1845. with all of the surrounding Kansas, When he was five years old the fami- Missouri, and Nebraska towns. The ly emigrated to America locating business is all handled from Hiawatha first in Ohio where they stald for a
531
ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY.
ness in Chicago until 1878 when he sold out and came to Kansas loca- ting first in Marshall county where he ran a lumber yard and coal buei- ness for a couple of years. He then moved to St. Joe where he spent a year with the John Deere Plow Com- pany. In January 1882 he bought out the implement business of E. Jerrett and moved to Hiawatha. Later he was joined in the business by his brother Fred T. Hill and the firm of Hill Bros., did business in Hiawatha until February 1900 when they sold out and retired from busi- ness. This firm did a big business in Hiawatha carrying a large line of hardware and musical goods and handling a complete line of farming implements.
An active man like Mr. Hill could not stay out of business long and ALFRED J. HILL. recognizing in the telephone business an opportunity for profitable invest -. couple of years and then moved to ment he purchased an interest in the Illinois. His parents dying while he Northeast Kansas Telephone Con :- was yet a boy he was thrown upon pany. He was made president of his own resources while quite young. the company and to the persistency When he was sixteen he rented land with which he has pushed Its Inter- farmed it for three years. saved his ests is due largely its rapid exten- money and then went to Gardner, sion into the neighboring towns of Ill., to attend school. Here he be- Northeastern Kansas.
came interested in a cooperative coal
Mr. Hill is one of the "jiners." He company, put his small savings into is a Mason, belonging to the Lodge stock and saw them disappear be- and Chapter In Hiawatha, and in fore he had reached his majority. 1898 and 1899 he was the Worshipful He then went to Chicago where he Master of Hiawatha Lodge No. 35. secured a job as a book-keeper. In He is also a member of the Knights 1870 he formed a partnership with of Pythis. He is a firm believer in another young man and they began fraternal Insurance and carries mem- a coal business In Chicago. It was bership in the Woodmen, Workmen, growing rapidly when the panic of Knights & Ladies of Security and 1873 struck thecountry and although the Life & Annuity Association. the firm weathered the storm nicely When the project to organize the the panic had swept away many of Life & Annuity Association was their best customers and so it was started in Hiawatha Mr. Hill was decided to dissolve the partnership. one of the business men who recog- Mr. Hill continued in the coal busi- nized that Its organization here
532
ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY
RESIDENCE OF COL. E. BIERER.
would be a good thing for Hiawa- tha and he became one of its active and enthusiastic workers. He was
C. P. Heimlich.
C. P. Heimlich, the real estate rust-
made National Secretary of the or- ler, was born in Buffalo, N. Y. May ganization in 1896 and has been re- 31, 1864. When he was seven years elected twice at the ensuing National old the family moved to Brown election. As secretary he has care- County and young Heimlich lived on fully systematized the business of the the farm until he was sixteen com- Association and the thorough and pleting in the mean time the course complete manner in which the books in the Hiawatha High school. He . of the Association are kept has been
then entered the employ of H. B. a matter of favorable comment by Wey & Co. and learned the tinner's the examiners of the State Insurance trade. He was In business for a time department.
In Belvidere, Neb. and in Bird City,
Mr. Hill was married October 20, Kansas but in 1895 he returned to 1870 to Miss Jessie Duncan Crooks of Hiawatha and entered the real estate Gardner, Ill. They have seven chil- business. For a time he was in the dren, five of whom are living: Anny, employ of C. H. Plerce but in 1898 he Bathla, deceased; Charles, who con- bought out Mr. Pierce and has hust- ducts the jewelry business of A. J. led the business alone since then. Hill & Son, of this city; Jessie, Flor- Brown County real estate has been ence and Agnes, graduates of the in demand during the last five years Hiawatha High School and now and Mr. Heimlich hassold thousands students at the State University at of acres of It during this time. He is Lawrence; Winifred, a student in the recognized as a hustler and has built Hiawatha City School, and Alfred up a good business here by being deceased. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hill prompt, reliable and not afraid of and their children are members of work. He is always willing to the First Presbyterian Church of this answer correspondence and invites city.
outside parties to write him for any
JOHN E. MOON.
١
C
THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK, HIAWATHA.
Dr. Geo. C. McKnight, Director, Chas. Knabb, President.
L. E. Chase, Vice Presi.lent. Elias Moser, Director.
Wm. Knabb, Cashier.
The "I" 11" Ven Dirastre
I WW Dawin Anche Cachiar
1 5 Maiconheimer Rank_keener
533
ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY
C. P. HEIMLICH
information they may want about ple the fact that he has the goods to Brown county and her resources. sell. He is a Workman and a mem- He is a firm believer in printers' ink ber of the Life and Annuity Associa- and keeps constantly before the peo- tion
RESIDENCE OF R. F. BUCKLES.
RESIDENCE OF F. M. PEARL.
534
ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY.
OUR LEADING CITIZENS.
W. W. Letson.
Atchison. He continued in this ser- W. W. Letson the Mayor of Hor- vice until the Fall of 1861 having his ton is one of the best known and full share of exciting experiences most successful of the pioneer citizens with buffalos, Indians and Road who came to Kansas in the Fifties. Agents during this time. Resigning He was born in South Carolina April his position in the Fall of 1861 he 2, 1836. When he reached his major- purchased a stock of goods at Jules- 1ty he went to Montgomery, Ala- burg on the South Platte but soon bama where he resided for sometime disposing of this he located at and then came to Kansas in 1859, at Granada in Nemaha County, where
he engaged extensively in merchan- dising and farming and stock raising until the town of Horton was laid out when he located there. He 1s recognized everywhere as one of Horton's leading citizens and most substantial business men. He was elected Mayor in May 1897, declined re-election in 1899 and was elected again for a second time in 1901. He is one of the largest real estate owners in Horton and has extensive interests not only in Horton but other localities.
Mr. Letson was married on Christ- mas Day 1861 at Granada to Miss Anna Terrell. Four children have been born to them, Ella K. wife of O. J. Fleming of Enid, Oklahoma, Ed T., now of Horton, Frank H., of Enid and Will of Horton.
Mrs. Letson died November 6, 1899 esteemed, respected and sincerely mourned by all who knew her. Mr. Letson's sons like their father are successful business man. Ed T. 1s one of the largest stock shippers of
W. W. LETSON.
about the close of the Missouri-Kan- sas Border Strife. During the latter part of 1859 he secured employment with the Overland California and Northeastern Kansas. He was mar- Pikes Peak Express Co., as messen- ried in 1890 to Miss Meta Pohl of ger and ran between the Missouri Horton. Frank H. is the cashier of River and Denver, part of that time the Bank of Enid and is married to from St. Joseph and later from
Miss Clara Wilson of that city. Wil-
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ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY
(
SAMUEL A. OKESON
Ham is the assistant Cashier of the National Bank of Horton and is married to Miss Rose Heatherly of Horton.
Samuel A. Okeson
Mr. Samuel A. Okeson occupies a prominent place among the success- ful young farmers and stock-raisers
In politics Mr. Letson is a Demo- of Brown county. He was born crat and he has been prominent in May 6, 1862, in Livingston county, the councils of that party for a good Ill., and is a son of Mr. and Mrs. many years. He was elected a mem- Geo. B. Okeson, now residents of ber of the State Central Committee Walnut township in Brown county. in 1898 and re-elected in 1900 and he He came to Kansas in 1874 with his was one of the Kansas delegates to parents and resided for two years at the Kansas City Convention in 1900 Sabetha, when the family moved to which re-nominated Wm. J. Bryan Brown county. In the spring of for president. He is a Mason and 1885 he moved to his present home has no other lodge affiliatione.
one mile west and one and one-half
536
ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY.
RESIDENCE OF SAMUEL A. OKESON
miles north of Fairview. His farm lican and always takes an active consists of 240 acres, of which 160 interest in the party's affairs. His acres are in bluegrass and timothy, personal popularity is evidenced by as experience has taught him that the fact that although Walnut this is the most valuable crop a township has a good-sized Fusion Brown county farmer can raise. He majority, he was elected trustee in has two fine barns, one 20x40 with a 1895 and re-elected in 1896.
20 foot shed, and the other 32x42.
Mr. Okeson was married in 1885 to These two barns have a storage ca- Miss Grace A. Peek, of Newark, N. pacity of seventy-five tons of hay Y. They have a family of six chil- and 3,000 bushels of grain. He buys dren, Bertha E., George B., Helen F., thousands of bushels of grain every Vera M., Winslow P. and Rexford year, and is one of the most exten- D. Both Mr. and Mrs. Okeson are sive feeders of cattle, hogs and sheep members of the Baptist church at in the county, as well as one of the Fairview.
most successful ones. He has just completed a fine two-story eleven- room house, which is considered one
E. H. Keller.
E. H. Keller was born December of the best farm residences in Brown 1.6, 1856, in Logan County, Ohio. He county, being heated by a hot air was educated in the common schools furnace, lighted with acetylene gas, of the Buckeye State and began to and supplied with all the modern teach school at the age of nineteen. conveniences.
In 1877 he came to Brown County In politics Mr. Okeson is a Repub- and after a two years residence here,
537
ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY.
E. H. KELLAR
moved to Atchison County, between earliest settlers in Brown County. Everest and Muscotah. In December They have four children: Esta, boin 1883 he returned again to Brown in 1882; Earl, born in 1884: Ethel, County, settling one and one-half born in 1886 and Erwin, born in 1888. miles northeast of Horton where he Both Mr. and Mrs. Keller are mem- now resides. Here he has made a bers of the Presbyterian church. Mr. specialty of dairy and fruit raising, Keller is an active worker in the in all of which he has been very suc- Sunday School affairs and for eight cessful. His farm commands a fine years he was superintendent of the view of the town of Horton and sur- Sunday School He has been twice rounding country. elected as President of the Brown
Mr. Keller was married March 17, County Sunday School Association 1880 to Miss Mary Honnell, daughter and for two years has served as a of Henry W. Honnell, one of the member of the Executive Board of
538
ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY
the State Association. He has also has never sold a bushel of corn since served as Vice President of the State he has been farming but feeds up all he raises to his stock. Temperance Association.
In politics he was a Republican Mr. Schenkleberger was born May 16, 1845 in Holmes County, Ohio and comes of good thrifty German stock, his father and mother both being natives of the Fatherland. He was educated in the common schools of Holmes County. and learned the stone-mason's trade, at which he worked for six years. In November 1870 he came to Kansas on a prospect- until 1896, when he broke with the party on the silver question and made an active canvass of the county in the interests of Wm. J. Bryan. In 1898 he was nominated by the Free Silver County Convention for Representative and made an active Canvass of the County, during the campaign, demonstrating that he was a campaigner of force and ability. ing tour and purchased a part of the Mr. Keller takes an active interest in the Farmer's Institute, and for a number of years has been one of its most active workers.
farm where he now resides. He did not move to Brown County, how- ever until 1879. His place was then raw prairie and all of the improve- ments of which it now boasts have been placed there by him since that date. He has added to his holdings from time to time until he now owns 400 acres in one body.
J. M. Schenkleberger.
The best improved farm in Walnut Township is that of Mr. J. M. Schen- kelberger, one mile east and three and a half miles north of Fairview. There are four hundred acres, a good
Mr. Schenkleberger was married to portion of which is in grass. There Miss Martha Purdy in Ohio Sept. 17, are thirteen thousand feet under 1874 who was also a native of roof in the barns, sheds and hog Holmes County. They have fivechil- pens, and all are paved with rock. dren, Clara and Carrie born Sept. 17, One bank barn is 60x60, with 32 foot 1876, Peter Charles born Nov. 2, 1878, posts; it holds 100 tons of hay, 600 Julia born March 10, 1881, and Wil- bushels of grain and 75 head of cat- liam L., born Oct. 3, 1883. Clara is tle and is so arranged that the stock an artist of rare ability and the can be fed and watered without be- Schenkelberger home is adorned ing taken out of the barn. A second with many fine specimens of her barn is 40x76 and holds 16 horses, 50 skill. Her pictures have been on ex- tons of hay and 2000 bushels of grain. hibition at various places and have In addition to this there is a corn always attracted attention. Carrie crib 28x30, a chicken house 16x20, is a graduate of the Normal Course milk house, wood house, and addi- at Lindsborg College, Class of .'97. tional granaries, corn cribs and nu- She is also a musician and artist. merous other buildings. Mr. Schen- Peter Charles graduated with hon- kelberger keeps a herd of from 75 to ors from the Still Osteopath College 100 head of Short-horn Cattle all Des Moines, Iowa January 1902 and eligible to register; raises from 100 to is now in Chicago taking a medical 150 thorough-bred Poland China course at Hanamann College. Julia hogs every year and feeds cattle and is a graduate of the Hiawatha Acad- hogs extensively every season. He emy, Class of 1902, and will continue
539
ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY.
CHARLES MACHO
her studies in College. Mr. and Mrs. 1891 when he purchased his present Schenkelberger and their children home four miles north of Horton. are members of the Congregational He has been a most successful farmer Church at Fairview of which Mr. and his place is invariably picked up- Schenkleberger is one of the Trus- on by travelers as the finest im- tees.
Charles Macho.
proved quarter section between Horton and Hiawatha. Mr. Macho is a public spirited citizen and be-
Charles Macho was born July 2nd. lieves in education. He is a great 1851 at Beardstown, Illinois, and ed- reader and student and is one of the ucated in the schools and High liberal contributors to the Hiawatha School of that city. He came to Academy. . He used to be a Republi- Kansas in 1871 and settled in Irving can but was one of the leaders in the Township, where he resided until Alliance movement since which time
540
ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY.
JOHN McCOY
he has affiliated with the Peoples children have been born to them, Party. He was a lecturer for his Walter, who was married to Cora Alliance and did good work in Lockwood recently, and Elmer, Nora, spreading the doctrine advocated by Cora, Nellie and Blanche who are vet that worthy institution. He has at home.
never sought office and has always declined the nominations tendered him. He belongs to no religious or-
John McCoy.
Mr. John McCoy, proprietor of the ganizations and aside from a mem- RockSpring Herd of Scotch andScotch bership in the Knights and Ladies of topped short horn cattle in Morrill. Security of which he is a leading and Township is known far and wide as active member at Horton, he has no one of the most enterprising breeders lodge affiliations. He was married of fancy cattle in the state of Kan- in 1874 to Miss Ruth Kerr, a niece of sas. Mr. McCoy was born in the ex-speaker Kerr of Indiana.
Six North of Ireland, May 1st, 1841. In
541
ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY.
RESIDENCE OF JOHN MCCOY
1866 he left his native country and style, heat with a furnace and equip- came to Chicago where he worked ped with many conveniences.
Mr.McCoy bought his first short-
for three years at the carpenter trade and then moved to Benton Harbor, horn twenty-five years ago from the Michigan, where he lived for three J.G. Cowen herd. It was the produce years more. In 1872 he came to of "London Duke" VI, the famous Brown County and settled on 80 bull that cost Mr. Cowen $3,000. acres of his present farm. This he He has bred up his herd into Scotch has added to and improved from top families through and through. year to year until now he has 480 He breeds to secure thick, beefy acres all under the highest state of cul- cattle and turns out an average tivation. Two hundred acres are in annual crop of about thirty head. blue grass and the four barns on the His herd is so well known farm will hold 150 tons of hay and 6000 that there is a constant de- bushels of corn. There is living water mand for all that he can produce and in every tield on the farm and the farm he claims that there are more bulls takes its name from the fine large of his raising at the head of herds than from the farm of any other
spring near the McCoy's residence.
Among the other fine improve- short horn breeder in the state of ments that Mr. McCoy has added to Kansas. Mr. McCoy is a member of his farm is a fine residence, one of the and stock holder in the American best in the country. It is large and Short Horn Breeders Association. roomy well furnished in modern Heis also a Director of the Farmer's
542
ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY
JACOB LICHTY
Bank of Morrill. When the Farmers dren are members of the Congrega- Mutual Fire Insurance Company tional church at Sabetha, Kansas.
was organized he was one of the first Board of Directors and for nine years served on its Finance Commit-
Jacob Lichty, the president of the e In politics he is a Republican. Brown County Farmer's Mutual In-
Jacob Lichty
Mr. McCoy was married in March surance Company. is one of the largest 1870 to Miss Victoria C. Nowlen at farmers, feeders and stock raisers of Benton Harbor, Michigan. They Brown County. His fine farm in have three children, Jessie, agradu- Morrill Township consists of eleven ate of the Hiawatha Academy and hundred acres. He raises about Ira and Edward, both of whom have three hundred and fifty acres of corn taken courses in the State Agricul- a year, one hundred and fifty acres tural College at Manhattan, Kansas. of small grain and has six hundred Both Mr. and Mrs. McCoy and chil- acres of pasture land in blue grass,
543
ANNALS OF BROWN COUNTY
RESIDENCE OF JACOB LICHTY
timothy and clover. There is not a Lichty can call up any part of his smoother body of land in Brown farm from the residence.
County, and there are not twenty- Mr. Lichty was born December 6. five acres of waste land in the entire 1848 in Somerset County, Pa. The body. He raises an average of fif- family is of Swiss stock and emi- teen hundred hogs a year and usual- grated to Lancaster County, Pa., ly feeds from six to eighth hundred about the year 1719. Mr. Lichty cattle The farm is well improved in lived in his native state until 1863. every respect. There are six houses, when the family moved to Illinois. four barns and six large gran- Here he resided until 1870, when he aries on the place. The barns and came to Kansas and located in Mor- granaries have a storage capacity rill Township. Here he married of seventy-five thousand bushels of Miss Emma Heikes, a daughter of corn and three hundred tons of hay Jacob Heikes. Nine children have and they are often filled to their been born to them. Nora, 1878, now full capacity. The Lichty residence Mrs. Bert Butterfield; John, 1880; is one of the best in the county, con- David, 1881; Ezra, 1883; Louise, 1885; sisting of thirteen rooms, all well Millard, 1888; Neva, 1892; Florence, supplied with hot and cold water 1895 and Warren D. 1898.
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