USA > Kansas > Barton County > Biographical History of Barton County, Kansas > Part 15
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42
Early in the year 1910 E. W. and C. L.
owned by men who have spent their time and money to make Barton County and Great Bend what they are today. The bank is oper- ated for the people of this county and during the approximately two years of its existenc >. has gained the confidence of all the people with whom it has had business relations.
Following in the footsteps of their father. the Moses boys have led most active lives and with all their other interests have found time to successfully operate one of the largest thoroughbred stock ranches in this part of the country. In 1898 Ed and Clayt began the breeding and raising of thoroughbred Here- ford cattle. The product of this ranch is known among cattle fanciers as one of the best strains of aristocratic Herefords in the country. The fame of this stock has been al- most world wide and the Moses Brothers have shipped animals from this ranch to all parts
91
OF BARTON COUNTY, KANSAS
of the countrty and to far away Brazil. Since 1898 they have marketed about 1,000 head of stock from their herd and at this writ- ing have 500 fine animals on their 4,000-acre ranch in Ness County. In addition to this ranch, Ed and Clayt own 3,600 acres of farm land in Barton and Stafford Counties, most of it being farmed under their personal super- vision and the remainder being farmed by renters. Their cattle are known in all the states surrounding Kansas and in many paris of this country and Mexico.
Since the Moses boys came to Barton County all of its members have taken a lead- ing part in its unbuilding and while some of the boys have removed to other parts of the country the work they did in this country in its early history is still vivid in the memory of the old timers.
Clayt Moses was married
December 12,
Ed and Clayt Moses are home loving men and occupy modern residences in Great Bend and are among the best known citizens in the state of Kansas.
Arthur H. Moses was the only one of the boys who was of age when the family ar- rived in this county. He took up a home- stead that comprised the northeast quarter of section 10, Great Bend township He was married in 1872 to Miss Ella Snowden at Rus- sell, Kansas, and they are the parents of four children. One of them died in infancy and the adult ones are: Clyde, who became the wife of Alva Adams, Jr., of Pueblo, he be- ing a son cf Alva Adams, who was three times governor of the state of Colorado. She died in 1905 at Pueblo, Colo. Matie, the next child, is the wife of Frederick C. Briggs, for -. merly of Pueblo, Colo., but now in the jewelry business in Hutchinson. Wm. B. is married
German American State Bank
1879, to Clara J. Mitchell of Quincy, Ill. They are the parents of two children, Earl C., 28 years of age, who is foreman of the flour mill owned by the company of which his father is. a member; Lillian Alice, 25 years of age, lives at home. He served as councilman of Great Bend city from 1888 to 1892 and as county commissioner from 1892 to 1898.
Edward Moses was married March 23, 1882, to Miss Anna J. Wood of Great Bend. He was chosen as mayor of the city of Great Bend in the years 1884, 1885, 1893, 1905, 1907 and 1909 and always served with distinction and in a way that was very gratifying to his friends and the people of the town. Much of the progress the city has made was accom- plished during the time that Mr. Moses held the highest office within the gift of the peo- ple of the city.
and lives at Osceola, Okla. Arthur H. Moses remained in Barton County until 1885, when he went to Pueblo, Colo., and there took all active part in the politics of that state. He was elected sheriff of Pueblo County in the nineties. He went from Colorado to Seat- tle, Washington, where he holds a responsible position as wharfmaster for the United States government. He was born February 21, 1351.
Will Moses came to Barton County when his parents arrived here, as stated in the be- ginning of this article. In 1879 he went on the road for Julius Kuhn, wholesale grocery house of Atchison. He remained in this posi- tion until 1882, when he went to Pueblo, Colo., and engaged in the grocery business. De- cember 21, of that year, he was married to Miss Grace Buckland of Great Bend. He was elected sheriff of Pueblo County in 1891 and
92
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
succeeded himself in this office in 1893. In 1898 he went to Kansas City and since that time has been in the grain business. Mr. and Mrs. Moses were the parents of two chil- dren, Arthur C. Moses, 22 years of age, who graduated froom K. U. in June, 1912, and Elinor, 11 years of age. Mr. Moses survived his first wife, she having died July 15, 1906, and in April, 1908, he married Mrs. Stelia Weaver of Los Angeles, California.
Cassius M. Moses was born in Clymer, Chautauqua County, New York, January 31, 1865, and was the sixth of the seven sons of Mr. and Mrs. Amasa C. Moses. He came with the parents to Barton County in 1871. lle married Miss Betsy Coningham of Frede: ick, Illinois, October 14, 1890, and they are the parents of two children, Donna, born Decem- ber 13, 1894, and John Campbell, born Au- gust 20, 1896. In 1889 he enlisted in the Colorado national guard. He was commis- sioned lieutenant in October of that year,
usual strenuous life of those pioneer days, when the buffalo, the other animals of the plains and the Indian were all here.
In the spring of 1882, he went to work for Moses Brothers and continued with them :in- til the autumn of 1887 when they retired from the general merchandise business. He then went to Pueblo and Denver, Colorado, where he made his home until he removed to Los Angeles, California, in the latter part of 1902.
Seward E. Moses, youngest of the seven brothers, was born in Chautauqua County, New York, and came to Barton County with his parents in 1871, at the age of three and one- half years. He worked for Moses Brothers in their general store until 1887, when he went to Pueblo, Colorado. He was in the grocery business there until 1902. He re- turned to Great Bend at that time, being in- terested in the Barton County flour mills un- til 1907. Then he moved to Kansas City, Mo.,
First Frame House in Barton County, Built by A. C. Moses
was advanced to captain in December, 1890, and to the rank of major in 1893. He was ap- pointed and commissioned adjutant general of the state of Colorado in January, 1895. He organized the First Colorado regiment of in- fantry, United States volunteers, in 1898, after war had been declared with Spain. He re- signed as adjutant general of Colorado in 1898. He was commissioned major of the regiment he organized, the First Colorado. He was mustered out of service at the Presidio in San Francisco, September, 1899. He par- ticipated in many of the important engage- ments before Manila, P. I., during the war and distinguished himself as a soldier. HIe served during the insurrection in the islands until he was wounded June 9, 1899, being un- fit for further service.
After coming to Barton County, his early boyhood days were spent on the Moses home- stead, just north of Walnut creek, punching cows, working on the farm and living the
becoming interested in The Moses Brothers Grain Company. He married Edith G. Balcon of Pueblo, Colo., in 1899.
The following incident, related by S. E. Moses, will recall the old times to those who were here in those days:
"Although quite young in the buffalo and Indian days, I distinctly remember my first and only buffalo hunt. It was soon after our arrival in Barton County. The family were on the old homestead, north of the creek, where it was no uncommon sight to see buf- falo come over the hills down to the creek for water; occasionally one would come up to the water trough at our well for drink.
"One day an old bull buffalo drifted down over the hill leisurely and finding the graz- ing about a quarter of a mile from our home to his liking, made himself quite at home. Brother Ed, being at home, and considered some hunter, evidently resented our farm be- ing used for feeding grounds and prepared
93
OF BARTON COUNTY, KANSAS
for action. His favorite gun was withi.i easy reach, and feeling confident the buffaio had no chance against his markmanship, e grabbed me by the hand and said, "Come on, Sew, and we will kill the buffalo." We went through the tall grass to a ravine and made a fine stand on the game. I'd waited for the old bull to turn so that he could hit him in a vital spot. His aim was evidently gocd as the buffalo fell at the first shot and we made our way cautiously to the fallen monarch. When within a few feet the buffalo looked so very dead that Ed prepared to cut its throat and, having me to drag along, Ed laid down his gun and drew his hunting knife; as he started to stick the knife into the buffalo things commenced to happen. First, t bellow was let loose that scared me out of a year's growth. Then Mr. Buffalo got up with blood in his eye and started on a campaign of his own. Ed picked me up bodily and started for home. I am sure his time has never been equaled since, although we had no stop watches in those days. The buffalo did not follow us far, as he was hard bit and, no doubt readily recognized Ed's speed as well
as markmanship. After landing yours truly at the house, your former city mayor armed himself with another rifle and shortly put an end to my only buffalo hunt."
Lincoln E. Moses was born October 14, 1860, in the state of New York. He was mar- ried to Miss Gertrude Tucker at Three Rivers, Michigan, May 12, 1891, and they are the par- ents of three children: Edward, Walter and Marguerite. Họ makes his home at Wichita, Kansas, since he became president of the Kansas Flour Mills Company.
Arthur H. Moses was born February 21, 1851, in the state of New York, and is there- fore the oldest of the seven Moses boys. He was married to Miss Ella Snowden of Russell, Kansas, April 20, 1872, and they are the par- ents of three children: Wm. B., Mary E., and Clyde L., the latter having died in 1905 at the age of 23 years. While in Barton County Art, as he was better known,, was engaged in the farming and threshing business. He is now located at Seattle, Washington, where he is wharfmaster for the United States govern- ment.
FREDERICK SCHUELKE
T HE property of Frederick Schuelke, "Locust Grove Farm," thirteen miles west from Great Bend, takes its name from the many locust trees included in a five acre grove surrounding the home. These trees are forty years old, are very beautiful and thrifty, and are the result of a timber claim set in trees in 1871 by John Bement.
Frederick Schuelke was born in Germany cn February 19th, 1840, and came to America in May, 1874. He first located in Wauwatose, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, where he work- ed in a nursery and a pickling factory for a time, and also engaged in farming and at other work. He remained until March 4th, 1885, when he removed to Greattinger, Palo Alto County, Iowa, and engaged in farming on his own account as a renter, and then in 1888 was employed as the manager and superin- tendent of a large farm on salary. Resigning this position after several years he purchased a farm of four hundred acres and cultivated this until he sold out and came to Barton County on March 1st, 1901. He purchased his present one hundred and sixty acres from John Bement and paid for the quarter three
thousand dollars. Since then he has built a very nice seven room, story and one-half frame dwelling, large barn, granary and other build- ings, at a cost of $2,500, and today has one of the most desirable little farms in the county. It is well improved, well fenced, well shaded, and the house and grounds are in the coolest spot in the county on a summer's day, and well sustains the name given the farm.
Frederick Schuelke was married on Feb- ruary 16th, 1863, to Miss Anna Giesel, of the same section of Germany from which he came, and she died in Barton County on August 2nd, 1907, slightly over six years after coming to Kansas. They are the parents of six children, two of whom still live in Wisconsin. Those who reside in this state are: Mrs. Ida Hans, of Great Bend; Mrs. Minnie Gruenwald, of Rush County; Herman Schuelke, Lyons, Kan- sas and Conrad Schuelke, who is married and resides on the place with his father and man- ages the farm. Conrad Schuelke was married on April 18, 1906, and they are the parents of three children: Elmer, 4; Arthur 3, and Goldie, 1.
WILLIAM HENRY ROGERS
W ILLIAM HENRY ROGERS was born in Ontanagon County, Michigan, May 1, 1863. His first trip west was when he was eight years old, at which time he accom- panied his parents to Colorado where they re- mained about six months. They returned to Michigan and resided at Marquette four years,
after which they came to Barton County, Kansas. The family located in Eureka town- ship. For several years after his arrival here Mr. Rogers went to school, and later took up railroading as an occupation. He was employ- ed by the Union Pacific Company in Colorado. Mr. Rogers began farming in this county in
94
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
1890, on his home place which comprises one- half of section 1, South Bend township. Mr. Rogers superintended the farming of all of this land and has had a great deal to do with the development of the soil in that part. of the county. He was married in Great Bend to Miss Sarah Williams in 1886. They are the parents of six children as follows: Harry E., 24 years of age; Stella, 21 years of age; Alice, 19 years; Irene, 17 years ; Annie, 16 years; Wil- lie 12 years. All of the children with the ex- ception of Stella are at home and are being educated in the schools of the county. Stella is now Mrs. Frank S. Moore and they reside
many varieties of fruits common to this sec- tion of the county. With all Mr. Rogers' private business he has found time to take an active part in public affairs and has served as trus- tee and clerk of his township and has been a member of the school board for sixteen years. He is a progressive and enterprising farmer and a most prominent citizen.
We must add to the above the fact that Annie passed from this life May 19, 1912, at a time when she had many expected years of happiness stretching out before her, and when she was beloved by her relatives, school mates and all with whom she had an acquaintance.
Home of W. H. Rogers
near Spearville, Kansas. Mr. Rogers' home place is one of the best improved and most attractive in the county. The residence con- sists of nine rooms in addition to the bath room, closets, pantries, etc. The barn is well built and is 42 feet square with a big loft. Granaries, storage sheds, auto garage and all the other outbuildings usually found on a modern Barton County farm are to be found here. The trees that surround the home afford ample shade and the orchard which covers about an acre and a half of ground contains
She was valedictorian of the 1912 class of the common schools of Barton county. Her school mates were deeply affected by her death as was evidenced by the beautiful floral tribute sent for the funeral. She was a bright, intelligent girl whose life was a beautiful example of truth and simplicity and it was a hard blow to her relatives and friends when i the course of things she had to go to a better world. She was, at the time of her death, aged 16 years, 6 months and 10 days.
HENRY C. COOK
O NE of the first white children born in what is now Barton County is the sub- ject of this sketch, Henry C. Cook. He was born in Great Bend township October 6, 1871. He is a son of Mr. and Mrs. John Cook, pioneers of this county and the parents of some of its leading citizens. The elder Cook died October 16, 1897 and Mrs. Cook died February
13, 1891, after having taken an active part in the development of the county's resources for about thirty years. His death was a great shock to his many friends who knew him for his high character and enterprise. Henry C. was married November 22, 1894, to Miss Eliz- abeth Amerine and they are the parents of four children as follows: Velma, 15 years;
OF BARTON COUNTY, KANSAS
95
Lawrence, 14 years; Elmer, 11 years and Helen, 6 years of age. The family home is located on the northwest quarter of section 8, Great Bend township and is one of the most attractive country homes in the county. The residence consists of 12 rooms in addition to the bath, closets, pantries, etc., and is thor- oughly modern throughout. It is lighted by a
Walnut creek and is surrounded by excellent shade trees and foliage that adds greatly to its appearance. Mr. Cook has always taken a great interest in improving the breed of the cattle and horses on Barton County farms and makes a specialty of breeding and raising thoroughbred Shorthorn cattle and Percheron horses. He now owns one of the best Perch-
Home of Henry C. Cook
modern acetylene gas plant and is supplied with water by an individual pumping system. The barn is 46 by 80 feet in dimensions and is well built and modern. Mr. Cook will add a number of other buildings to his improve- ments and when these are finished he will have one of the most modern farms in the county. The home place is situated in a bend in the
eron horses in the county, "Martin," a regis- tered, black Percheron that has made a fine reputation in the stud records. Mr. Cook is an enterprising and progressive citizen and has had a great deal to do with the upbuilding of the county and in the developing of its re- sources.
EDWIN TYLER
E DWIN TYLER was born in Richfield, 27,
Illinois, November 1842. He remained in his native state until he was eighteen years of age when he joined the Fiftieth regiment Illinois volunteers. He be- came a member of Co. C and served his coun- try three years. He took part in the battles of Fort Henry, Fort Donaldson, Shiloh and Corinth and numerous other engagements. He lost the sight of one eye during his soldier service. This was due to exposure and fever. He came to Barton County October 16, 1871. He was married to Miss Lydia F. Moseley
December 31, 1865, at his home town of Rich- field, Ills. Mr. and Mrs. Tyler have had five children but unfortunately only one of them is living, the others having passed away. The one living child now is Mrs. Sam J. Pratt, her maiden name having been Dora May. M. Tyler tells in his own way a number of his experiences in articles in this book, so we will only add that he always has been an en- terprising and progressive citizen and bas done a great deal in developing the county's resources.
LEVI GUNN
L EVI GUNN was born on July 2, 1833, in Franklin County, Massachusetts, and at
the age of 18 months his parents moved to Brattleboro, Vermont. When he was
nine years old they took him with them to Davenport, Iowa, and, finally, at a later per- iod, to Putnam County, Illinois. His educa- tion was obtained in the public schools of the
96
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
districts where his parents lived and he be- came a farmer under the tutelage of his fa- ther. He married at the age of twenty-three and lived happily for seven years, when his companion died. It was then that he faced the greatest hardships of his life but this was righted by a second marriage and his coming to Barton County Kansas, in 1874, and the purchase of 240 acres from the Santa Fe rail- way company. Later he purchased eighty acres adjoining and at this time his farm cov- ers one-half section. In
the spring of 1877 Mr. Gunn removed his family to this county and began improving by building the best house, barn and other necessary build- ings in his neighborhood, and by planting and cultivating many trees about the premises. A fire destroyed his house on August 2, 1911, and he has just replaced this building with a
story and one-half cottage with five large, airy rooms. There is a good barn, granary and other outbuildings, and located as it is in a nice grove of cedar, pine and locust trees is very inviting.
Levi Gunn first married Miss Sarah K. Wierman of Putnam County, Illinois, on N3- vember 13, 1856, and she died in April, 1863. His second wife was Miss Sarah C. Lewis of Marshall County, Illinois, in November, 1865, who died in December, 1899. They were sur- vived by the husband and the following chil- dren: Wm. W. Gunn of Jewell County, Kan- sas; Charles Lund Gunn, Francis Levi Gunn and Lewis J. Gunn of Great Bend; Howard A. Gunn cf Pratt, Kansas; Mrs. Lucy Harrison of Great Bend, and Fred A. Gunn, who resides on the farm with his father and manages the place.
MERRITT-SCHWIER CREAMERY CO.
T HE first creamery in Great Bend was es- tablished in 1895 by W. G. Merritt. In 1903 a stock company was formed un- der the name of the Merritt Creamery Co. The present company is a consolidation of the Merritt Creamery Co., and the Larned Cream- ery Co., of Larned, Kansas, this consolidation going into effect January 1, 1909.
The company operates one hundred and
woman and child in Barton County.
For the cream and inilk used in the manu- facture of this butter, their patrons were paid the sum of $46,720.60. At the present time the company employs twenty-three people in their plant. The pay-roll for the month of June was $5,070; this includes salaries and commissions paid to their cream station oper- ators for the buying and shipping of cream.
1
Merritt-Schwier Creamery, Great Bend
one cream buying stations in twenty-five counties in central and western Kansas and northern Oklahoma, and expects to put in more stations wherever the deliveries of cream justify a station.
The largest amount of butter manufactured by this company in any one month since or- ganized was made in the month of June of this year. They manufactured 246,749 pounds of butter, or about 20 pounds for every man,
The company has an excellent market for their butter, shipping as far east as Boston and west to California. Their brands, "Mer- ritt's Best" and "Crown" are well and favor- ably known all over the west.
The present board of directors are W. G. Mer- ritt, William Schwier, W. F. Schwier, Henry Schwier and C. V. Brinkman. Officers are W. G. Merritt, president; William Schwier, vice- president; W. F. Schwier, secretary-treasurer.
OF BARTON COUNTY, KANSAS
97
JOHN DONOVAN
A MONG the old timers who came to Bar- ton County in the 70's none is better known than John Donovan who lives on a half section of land in section 8, Great Bend township. Mr. Donovan was born in Ireland in 1839. He came to New York in 1870 and to Kansas in 1879 at a time when it required a great deal of nerve to make a substantial start in the cultivation of the soil and the building of a home. However, Mr. Donovan is made of that kind of material and as soon as he arrived here he began to farm and successfully com- batted the bad years and made a success of his occupation. He was married in New York state to Miss Louisa Hettinger and they are the parents of four children, Emma, Agnes, Alice and Anna. Emma is now Mrs. A. Wyman and lives at Macksville; Agnes is now Mrs. Jack Neeland and they live near the home place in this county; Alice is now Mrs. B. Hingy of Stafford county; Anna is living at home. Mr. Donovan had the misfortune to
lose his eyesight about twelve years ago but still superintends the operations on the farm. The home place has a fine set of improve- ments, the residence containing eight rooms in addition to closets, pantries, etc. A small orchard is found near the house where nearly all varieties of fruits are grown. When Mr. Donovan arrived in this county he was com- pelled to do his farming with a yoke of oxen and he relates how one time in the early days they ran away with him while he was attempt- ing to plow with them and for a time he did not know whether he liked Kansas or not. He served a term as Justice of the Peace and has always been an enterprising citizen. Mr. Don- ovan gives due credit to his wife, a hard work- ing little women who shared her part of the burden with her husband when they were be- ginning the home that they have since built. Mrs. Donovan is one of those kind hearted motherly women without whose aid the work of developing the great west could not have been done.
TOBIAS McGILL
T OBIAS McGILL was born November 9, 1837 in Bartholomew County, Indiana.
He remained in his native state until 1858 when he went to Iowa and remained for
ters. Mr. McGill was married September 6, 1860, to Miss Farilla Youtsey near LaGrange, Iowa and they are the parents of nine chil- dren, six of whom are living. Hilas N. is farm-
Farm Home of Tobias McGill From left to right : Geo. M'Gill, Crandon O. M'Gill, Mrs. M'Gill, Elva M'Gill, Tobias M'Gill
twenty-six years. He then continued his way westward and arrived in Barton county in
1884. He bought land near Dundee, the quarter section formerly belonging to J. B. Williams, and later purchased another quarter from John Lile. Mr. McGill was actively engaged in farm- ing until 1897 when he retired and moved to Great Bend. He still superintends the work on his farming land which is worked by ren-
ing in this county; Etta, is now Mrs. J. H. Harris of Great Bend; Charlotte is now Mrs. Sherman Mosbarger of Pawnee Rock; Cran- don O., is now an attorney at law in Idaho where he also teaches school; Elva is at home and George is county attorney of Sedgewick county, Kansas, and lives in Wichita. Mr. McGill is a veteran of the civil war and is a member of Pap Thomas Post G. A. R. He en-
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.