USA > Kansas > Barton County > Biographical History of Barton County, Kansas > Part 12
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dental office of A. D. Raffington. In 1905 be graduated from the Western Dental College of Kansas City, Mo., and shortly after he had received his diploma he opened the business that has since grown to its present importance. In 1907 Eldon R. Amend received his diploma from the same college and joined his brother, Walter, in the parlors in this city. Eldon was born in Iowa, in 1877. Leslie L. became a member of the firm in the spring of 1912. He graduated from the same college where the
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
other members of the firm ;"udied and mas- tered their profession. Leslie was born in Mis- souri, in 1882, and received his diploma from the above mentioned college in 1906, and be- fore coming to Great Bend practiced at Ster- ling, Kansas. Associated with the Amend Brothers in their business are: Dr. Fred C. Pressl and Dr. Roy R. Johnson, both of whom are well fitted to maintain the reputation of the parlors. In addition to enjoying an exten- sive local practice representatives of this firm make frequent and regular trips to towns surrounding Great Bend and Barton County
everything known to the modern practice of dentistry. The furniture is of mahogany, while the walls are finished in pure white
with green trimmings. Three operating booths are equipped with the finest instru- ments which are kept clean and sanitary by the most advanced methods. The instruments used at the parlors are of the modern kind, many of them being operated by electricity and they are the kind that reduces pain to a minimum and makes operations that were formerly painful almost devoid of any un- pleasant sensation. Every appliance that will
AMEND BRO'S
SANITARY
DENTAL
PARLOR'S
Photos BY DIRKS.
where the Amend Brothers' quality of dental work is well known and appreciated. Thesc towns are located on the Santa Fe railroad as far west as Garden City and as far east as Geneseo on the Missouri Pacific and to Ness City on the latter road, and as far south as Pratt. Within this radius there are forty towns which are regularly visited and where this firm's practice is steadily growing as a result of modern methods and painstaking, careful attention. The Amend Brothers Den- tal Parlors in Great Bend are furnished with
in any way add to the up-to-dateness of che parlors have been supplied by the firm regard- less of expense and time. It is indeed fortu- nate for the people of this section of Kansas to have an establishment of this kind in Great Bend, because when they seek treatment at this modern institution they can do so with the knowledge that no matter how far one may travel or to whatever city they might go better treatment cannot be found nor can one have higher class work done at more rea- sonable prices.
L. G. MECKLEM
T HERE are very few old timers of this county who do not know the Mecklem family, as it is one of the families that arrived here in 1870. The subject of this sketch, L. G. Mecklem, is a son of G. F. Meck- lem, who it will be remembered was killed in a cyclone in 1900. He with his family came to this county in the fall of 1870 and he lo- cated on the northeast quarter of section 3, Buffalo township, while L. G. later honic- steaded the northwest quarter of the same section. L. G. now owns 400 acres of land ali in Buffalo township, except 80 acres, which is in Eureka township. He was born in Pitts- burg, Pennsylvania, and came to this county with his parents. Hc was married to Miss Rheta Wilkins and to this union there were born two children, Ira, 32 years of age, and
Jennie, 30 years of age. The former is wheat buyer located at Heizer and Jennie is now Mrs. Henry Boyle, and resides on Blood creek, in this county. Mr. Mecklem survived his first wife and in 1886 was married to Miss Clara Baldwin in this county. They are the parents of three children as follows: Mollic, 21 years of age, is now Mrs. Walter Waller- stedt of Lynsburg, Kansas; Marie, 17 years, and Bess, 14 years of age, are residing at home. The home place is beautifully located on the south bank of Walnut creek. The r'es- idence which contatins eight rooms, in addi- tion to closets, pantries, etc., is surrounded by shade trees and shrubbery. The barn is 32 feet square and the other outbuildings are well built and commodious. Altogether Mr. Mecklem has one of the best improved and
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OF BARTON COUNTY, KANSAS
most attractive home places to be found in that township. He maintains a small orchard and a good grade of live stock and is one of the best known farmers in that section of Barton. He has held township and school board offices and always takes an active part in any movement that he thinks is for the
benefit of the community in which he lives. One thing of interest about Mr. Mecklem should be mentioned. He is the author of the famous Heizer Yacht Club notes that have been running in the Tribune for the last three or four years.
JAKE MILLER
T HE pioneer photographer of Great Bend is Jake Miller who still operates a stu- dio on Broadway a few doors east of the federal building. Mr. Miller was born in Adams County, Pennsylvania, June 16, 1848. He came to Great Bend in 1872 and soon after his arrival opened a photograph gallery and nearly all the well known old timers have posed before Mr. Miller's camera. Many of the illustrations of the old time scenes and people in this book are cuts made from photos furnished by Mr. Miller. Mr. Miller helped to set the type from which the first newspa- per in Great Bend was printed. He was mar- ried in 1878 to Miss Carrie E. Rankin and they are the parents of two children: Leon, who is now a telepgaph operator employed by the Associated Press at St. Joseph, Mo., and Anna, who is now Mrs. David Gordon of this county. Mr. Miller was well acquainted with the old timers and pioneers of this sec- tion of the state and knows a great deal about the early history of Barton County, as he is one of the men who helped to make it.
Early Picture of First Photo- grapher, Jacob Miller
JOSEPH H. TROILLET
J OSEPH H. TROILLET was born Decem- ber 21, 1843, at Bagnes Valais, Switzer- land, of French parents. He was mar- ried in March, 1881, to Miss Anna Bobeck and they were the parents of three girls: Lillian Elsa and Alma. Mr. Troillet arrived in Bar- ton County in 1873 and was, therefore, among the pioneers of this section of Kansas. His first business venture was a tailor shop which he and his brother, Francis Troillet, opened. This partnership continued for some time aft- er which Mr. Troillet opened a French res- taurant which he conducted until 1887, when he established a cigar factory and confection- ary story on Forest avenue, opposite the post- office, in a building which he erected in 1876. Mr. Troillet was always known as an enter- prising, progressive citizen and always took a part in any movement that had for its pur- pose the betterment of the community in which he lived. The confectionery store is now being run by his daughters and there are few if any of the old timers who will not remember Mr. Troillet and the part he took in the upbuilding of Great Bend and Barton
County. Mr. Troillet was one of the original organizers and directors of the Citizens Na- tional bank and was also one of the largest stockholders. Mr. Troillet's death, which oc- curred on February 24, 1911, was a great shock to the community and he was sincerely mourned, not only by his relatives, but by scores of friends in all parts of the state of Kansas. Mr. Troillet survived his wife who died August 10, 1908. The Troillet girls, Lil- lian, Alma and Elsa are well fitted to look after the different business interests left by their parents. Lillian was married in July, 1912, to Ernest Frey. The girls are among the best known in the younger society set of the county, all of them being accomplished musicians, Lillian being a singer of exception- al ability. Mr. Troillet was one of the best known pioneer business men of Great Bend and before his death had the satisfaction of seeing the town and county reach a place of importance which was made possible by the early struggles of the pioneers of whom he was one.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
W. H. KERR
W ILLIAM HENRY KERR was born at
Toulon , Illinois, January 20, 1855. He
went with his parents to Missouri
when he was about one year of age and it was in the latter state that he was raised and received his early education. Mr. Kerr came
ver but was included in another township. Mr. Kerr was married August 30, 1881, to Miss Florence P. Lindsay of Bunker Hill, Kansas, and they are the parents of eight children, six of whom are living. One of the children died in infancy and Albert was killed by lightning
City Residence of W. H. Kerr
Farm Residence of W. H. Kerr
to Kansas from Missouri in 1876 and located in Barton County. He first took up a tree claim and pre-emption in Beaver township, the former being changed to a homestead. At this time there was but one family in that township which was not then known as Bea-
June 29, 1900, when he was 12 years of age. The reminder of the children are: Mary Belle, who is now Mrs. Clarence Markel; Winifred, who is employed by the Merrit- Schwier Creamery as stenographer; Ethel Florence, who is a stenographer and is em-
OF BARTON COUNTY, KANSAS
71
ployed by C. B. Ellis & Co., brokers, of San Francisco; Robert Henry, who is employed in Great Bend, and Josephine and Alice, who are living at home. Mr. Kerr has always taken a great interest in his children and they are all well educated and well known in this part of the state. Mr. Kerr now owns 720 acres of farm land in Barton County, all of which is being worked by renters. He also owns con-
Life," which spreads the propaganda of the society to all parts of the civilized world. He is also the president of the society and devotes a great deal of his time to study and in the preparation of copy for the magazine. Some time ago he purchased the Morrison hotel building which is one of the largest in the city of Great Bend, and it is his intention to found a school in the building to prepare stu-
Great Bend Hotel, Owned by W. H. Kerr
siderable town property in Great Bend and 180 acres of land in Texas. Mr. Kerr is the found- er of the Church of Humanity, a society that is gaining many new members in all parts of the world. The membership roll contains representatives from forty states in this coun- ttry as well as in Germany and England. Mr. Kerr is the publisher and editor of the month- ly magazine called "The Truth About God and
dents for taking up the work of spreading the beliefs of the society. Mr. Kerr is an en- terprising and progressive citizen and is one of the really old timers of Barton County who have remained here through good and bad years and established a home and raised a family that is a credit to him and the com- munity in which he lives.
JACOB A. DIRKS
T HE general appearance of "North Slope Farm," the name recently given to the home of Jacob A. Dirk's, thirteen and one-half miles west of Great Bend, has been greatly changed by the erection of a two story frame residence containing ten large airy rooms, and all other conveniences and acces- sories usually found in a modern up-to-date home. This building stands on an elevated position and well above ground, and seems to tower above its surroundings. It is en- closed by porches, north and south, and the sleeping apartments face in those directions. Ventilation and comfort have been the chief aims in its construction, and Mr. and Mrs.
Dirks can congratulate themselves that they have secured these blessings. It is furnished in the most modern style, and will take rank with the best homes in the county. There is a good barn with mow and stall room for all hay and stock necessary on the farm, and a gran- ary and other outbuildings. New trees, plants and shrubs will be set, and these will blend with the tastefully painted buildings and brighten the scene.
Jacob A. Dirks was born in Newton, Kan- sas, on April 8th. 1877, and attended the dis- trict schools of Barton County. He is the oldest son of Abraham H. and Nettie Dirks, and grew to manhood on the homestead one-
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
half mile west of his present home. He is one of the progressive farmers of the county, and his two hundred and forty acres of tillable land show that he is a model husbandman. His farm covers one hundred and sixty acres, and he owns an additional eighty, two miles west in Rush county. These two tracts are
cultivated by him personally, and his fields and granaries both show that he understands his business. On December 5th, 1900, Jacob A. Dirks and Miss Carrie Ratzlaff, of Harvey County, Kansas, were united in marriage, and four children bless them: Chester, 9; Harvey, 8; Daniel, 6, and Mae Leona, 2.
BENJAMIN H. UNRUH
H ILLSIDE FARM," the country home of Benjamin H. Unruh, stands on a a gently sloping hillside ' thirteen miles west of Great Bend. The farm em- braces three hundred and twenty acres of beautiful lying land, and the soil is very fer- tile. Mr. Unruh also owns one hundred and sixty acres in Pawnee County, and both tracts are in a high state of cultivation. The "Hill-
Benjamin H. Unruh was born in Central Russia on September 5th, 1864, and came to America with his parents, Hein and Katherine Unruh, when ten years of age. They arrived in Newton, Kansas, on December 24th, 1874, and little Benny spent his tenth Christmas in the new world. They finally settled at Paw- nee Rock, but eventually entered a homestead three miles south of the farm here described.
" Hillside Farm"
side Farm" is improved with a one story and a half frame containing nine rooms, and is furnished modernly. The barn is 32x60 and has stalls for fifteen horses and ten cows. There is a granary, model milk house, and other outbuildings, and some metal grain bins scattered about. The house is painted gray, the barn red, and these shades harmonize well with the green of the orchard leaves and the shade trees about the premises.
"The father died in November, 1884, but the mother still resides on the homestead. Ben- jamin H. attended the public schools of his dis- trict and assisted his father and mother on the farm, and entered and proved up on a claim of a quarter section. On April 14th, 1899, he married Miss Anna Smith, of Harvey County, Kansas. They have five living chil- dren: Alvin, 10; Ruth, 8; Augusta, 6; Paul, 4, and Freida, 3.
CLARENCE E. HOLMES
C LARENCE E. HOLMES was born April 2, 1882, at Fredonia, Wilson County, Kansas, and is a son of Mr. and Mrs. R. E. Holmes, who came to the Sunflower state from Iowa in 1877. Clarence lived in his native county for six years after which he
went to Elk County with his parents. From there he went to Butler County and resided in the town of Douglas until 1908, during which year he came to Barton County and en- gaged in the drug business in Great Bend. The elder Holmes followed the business of
Holmes Drug Store
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
farming and cabinet making. After 1880, and previous to this date was in the drug business for thirty years. Clarence was educated in the grammar and high schools of the differ- ent counties in which he lived and in 1907 graduated from the pharmaceutical depart- ment of the Kansas university at Lawrence. Soon after graduation he successfully passed the examination and fulfilled the other re- quirements of the state board of pharmacy and is now a registered pharmacist. When Clarence was a boy he took a great interest in outdoor sports and became proficient as a baseball pitcher and after playing in ama- teur teams for some time, in 1903 he signed a contract and pitched professional ball for the Cedar Rapids club of the "Three I." league. He made an excellent record as a left handed twirler and quit the game only because he wanted to go into business fol
himself. He still takes a great interest in the national game and his store is headquar- ters for sporting goods and is popular with everybody who is in any way interested in sports.
Mr. Holmes was married in 1907 to Miss Daisy Hollenbeck of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and they are the parents of one child, a boy two years of age who bears his father's name and is known as Clarence Holmes, Jr. Mr. Holmes is one of the best known business men of Bar- ton County and his store is a standard for all goods in the drug line. During the hot months the soda fountain maintained at the Holmes store is the mecca for those who want the best in the soft drink line. The prescrip- tion department is always in charge of Mr. Holmes or another registered pharmacist and this department is maintained on the highest standard.
JOHN F. LEWIS
--
T HE history of Barton County, Kansas, would not be entirely complete without a short biography of John F. Lewis, who came here in 1873, when there was but a sin- gle row of houses around the square, and the cowboy element dominated the town.
Mr. Lewis was born in Holmes County, Ohio, August 9, 1842, wherefrom his family moved to DeWitt County, Illinois, in 1844, where he grew to manhood and in July, 1862, enlisted in Company G, 107th Infantry, Illi- nois Volunteers for service in the civil war. His father, Dr. B. S. Lewis, having recruited said company and was elected its captain and he, John F. Lewis, was made duty sergeant, afterwards promoted to first sargeant and again to second lieutenant. Mr. Lewis served with his regiment in the Kentucky, East Tell- nessee, under General Burnsides in its bat- tles and seiges, thence in 1864 with Sherman in his march upon Atlanta, then in the cam- paign when Hood marched upon Nashville and the battles of Columbia, Duck River, Franklin and Nashville was fought, thence going with his corps to Fort Fisher, thence on up the coast in various engagements to the close of the war, in the capture of Johnson's army.
Soon after the close of the war Mr. Lewis was commissioned lieutenant in the Four- teenth regular infantry and was stationed on Governors Island, New York harbor, during the following summer, where he passed through the cholera epidemic and suffered au attack of that dread disease.
He joined his regiment in the spring of 1867, via the Isthmus of Panama and San Francisco and across the Yuma desert to Ari- zona. Very soon after reaching his command he was ordered on an expedition against the Apache Indians in command of Troop G, First U. S. cavalry, in the Chiricahua mountains, and encountered the Indians in force in the Guadaloupe canon near the present town of
Douglas, Arizona, and went into action, cap- turing their stock, defeating them and killing a large number.
He was engaged in battle with the Indians on many other cccasions, one of which was notable, that of being surrounded and be- seiged two days and nights in a mining cor- ral, from which he successfully extricated his command with the captured stock, though he was constantly engaged until reinforce- ments arrived.
Mr. Lewis was promoted to first lieutenant of the Thirty-second infantry, and was after- wards transferred to the Twenty-first, be- came quartermaster at Camp Crittenden, at which post he constructed the post buildings the remains of which can be seen by any per- son traveling into Mexico over the Guaymas branch of the Santa Fe railroad. In 1871 Mr. Lewis enjoyed the opportunity offered by the government of accepting a year's pay upon the reduction of the army from forty-five to twenty-five regiments, arriving home in July, 1871, thus giving the government nearly four years of continuous Indian service.
Mr. Lewis married Miss Frances M. Mor- ton, at Corning, Adams County, Iowa, Septem- ber 13, 1873, and immediately came to Kansas, locating a homestead and tree claim four miles north of Ellinwood, Kan.
During his stay on said land the movement of large herds of cattle from Texas north- ward gave great annoyance to the farmers in the destruction of crops. Mr. Lewis organized the farmers and made physical resistance to said encroachments to the end that said dam- ages to crops ceased and resulted in the peo- ple of the county bringing out Mr. Lewis as a candidate for sheriff. However, the political trickery no less common those days than now, thwarted the wishes of the people and he was defeated.
Mr. Lewis has until late years ever inter-
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OF BARTON COUNTY, KANSAS
ested himself in the public uplift of our town and county, pushing with enterprise and unsel- fishness any improvement that promised ben- efits to our town.
He organized the Great Bend Gas and Fuel Company and was instrumental more than any other citizen in sinking a deep well on section 13-19-13 in an effort to develop coal, gas or oil, reaching a depth of 1,365 feet, find- ing only salty artesian water that is still flow- ing out of the ground, and which is said to possess valuable medicinal properties. Soon after this he brought about a vote of $10,000) bonds in the city for the erection of a salt plant. However, the land boom, then at its
apex, commenced to wane and promised monies from other sources failed to come and the venture came to nothing.
Mr. Lewis also organized by his energy the Great Bend Foundry Company, which con- structed its buildings immediately south of the present grain office of the Walnut Creek Mill- ing Company, which burned to the ground a few years ago.
Mr. Lewis occupies the office he then oc- cupied twenty-six years ago, being a quiet and conservative real estate business, where he yet cheerfully caters to the occasional demand for information and events of the long, long ago in the early history of Kansas.
ELRICK C. COLE
E LRICK C. COLE was born in Burlington, Racine County, Wisconsin, October 31, 1856. He moved with his parents in 1863 to Kenosha, Wisconsin, where he received a common school education, finishing the high school course. He studied law in the office
Judge E. C. Cole
of his father, Albert G. Cole. He was clerk of the circuit court of that county, and was admitted to the bar in December, 1878, and to the supreme court of Wisconsin in February, 1879. He moved to Great Bend, Kansas, in March, 1879, where he began the practice of
law with his brother, Theodore C. Cole, under the firm name of Cole Brothers. He is the dean of the Barton County bar and one of the most prominent lawyers in Kansas. The firm was dissolved by the death of his brother in October ,1890. He was elected county attcor- ney of Barton County in 1886 and re-elected in 1888. He was elected a member of the legis- lature in 1894 and resigned in March 1895, art- er the close of the session to accept the ap- pointment of judge of the Kansas court of ap- peals, which place he held until January, 1897, when he returned to the practice of law in Great Bend. On January 1, 1900, he formed a partnership with Wm. Osmond, which still continues. He was married November 23, 1880, to Miss Minnie O. Webb of La Crosse, Wisconsin, and they are the parents of one child, Frances, who is now Mrs. Eldon J. Lowe of Coffeyville, Kansas. He is a prominent member of the Masonic order and this year is deputy grand master of the Grand Lodge of Kansas, and deputy grand high priest of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Kan- sas. Judge Cole has gone through many of the hottest political campaigns in the state dur- ing the past thirty years, and when he took an active part in the campaign his friends were glad and the enemy knew they were go- ing to have a battle. On different occasions Mr. Cole overcame difficulties in winning an election that seemed almost impossible. He has been connected with some of the largest legal battles in the state and has always been found to be a hard working, conscientious at- torney and counselor. He served the city of Great Bend as attorney a number of times and is one of Great Bend's substantial and enterprising citizens.
O. W. DAWSON
T HE MOST important office in the city ad- ministration is now held by O. W. Daw- son, who is serving his second term as the city's chief executive. Mr. Dawson was born in the state of Iowa in 1868 and came to Kansas with his parents in 1876. After com-
pleting his education he taught school for several years and was later connected with the Walnut Creek 'Milling Company in capacity of bookkeeper. For a number of years he was court reporter of the Twentieth judicial dis- trict and about ten years ago formed a part-
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
nership with Louis Zutavern in the real es- tate, loan and insurance business and they now have one of the leading offices in these lines in this part of the state. Under Mr.
and up-to-date cities in the state of Kansas. Mr. Dawson has proved himself a faithful and efficient public servant and he is untiring in his efforts to discharge the duties of his office
O. W. Dawson, Mayor of Great Bend
Dawson's administration the city of Great Bend has made long strides forward until to- day it is counted one of the most progressive
in a way that will reflect credit not only upon himself but upon the city as a whole. Mr. Daw- son's office is located in the Citizen' National
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