USA > Kansas > Barton County > Biographical History of Barton County, Kansas > Part 25
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GEORGE LEWIS BESSLER
G Y EORGE LEWIS BESSLER was born ill Germany in 1876 and with his parents came to 'America in 1882. His parents located at Toledo, Ohio, where George went to school. In 1898 when the war with Spain was declared he enlisted in the 6th Ohio Volunteer Infantry and he was with his company in Cuba. He served thirteen months in the army and upon his discharge returned to Toledo where he remained a short time before going to New York where he accepted a position as steward on one of the big ocean liners. He followed this business for three years after which he again returned to his home town, Toledo, and from there came to Barton County in 1904 during the harvest season. He accepted a po-
sition with the E. R. Moses Mercantile Co. and was connected with this firm utnil 1908. He then took up the occupation of farming which he followed for two years at the end of which time he again entered the mercantile business and at the time of this writing is preparing to open a modern second hand store where he will also carry a good stock of new furniture. His business is located in the Cook Building on the east side of the public square. Mr. Bessler is an enterprising and progressive cit- izen and finds time to take a deep interest in the public affairs of the community in which he lives and in all public matters is found with the progressive element.
WILSON M. ZIEBER
W ILSON M. ZIEBER was born November 14, 1859 at Philadelphia, Pa. He re- mained in the Quaker State until he was twen- ty years of age, and received his early educa-
tion there. He entered what is now known as the North Indiana University where he was a student for two years. He came to Harvey County, Kansas, in 1882, and taught in the
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schools of that county for two years. From there he moved to Barton County in 1884 and engaged in the nursery business, traveling all over this section of the country supplying the farmers with nursery products. Realizing the necessity for a first class nursery in the coun- ty, he purchased the business of William Bes- ter located a short distance east of Pawned
Maple and Elm trees. In addition to the land mentioned above Mr. Zieber owns three quar- ter sections of land in Barton County and 160 acres in Ness County. He was married in November, 1890, to Miss Armeta Miller and they are the parents of eight children: Les- ter, 20 years; Gertrure E., 18 years; George A, 17 years; Warren M., 16 years; Eva A., 14;
Home and Farm of Wilson M. Zieber
Rock. He immediately made a number of im- provements and as his business grew in vol- ume it became necessary for him to have more land. In 1891 he bought eighty acres one mile and a half northeast of Pawnee Rock, and in 1893 added another eighty acres adjoining. This nursery is now recognized as the leader in this line of business in this section of the country and its products are shipped to all parts of the Great Southwest. Mr. Zieber car- ries a fine line of trees and shrubs as well as flowers and plants and makes a specialty of
Mary L., 12 years; Katheryn J., 6 years; Flor- ence V., 4 years. All of these are living at home; Lester being at home when he is not attending the Agricultural College at Man- hattan where he is now a student. Mr. Zie- ber has had a great deal of experience in the nursery business and the products from his establishment are known in all parts of this and surrounding states where the best in trees, flowers and shrubbery are appreciated. His home place is located a short distance east of Pawnee Rock.
JAMES R. EWING
T HE "J. R. Ewing Thoroughbred Stock and Alfalfa Farm," which is located eleven miles west of Great Bend, cov- ers four hundred acres of the choicest of Bar- ton County's tillable land and is all that its name implies. Its owner, James R. Ewing, is a fancier of thoroughbreds, and his specialties are Black and Gray Percheron horses, Short- horn Cattle, Big Boned English Berkshire hogs and Rhode Island Red chickens. The house is a two story frame with eleven rooms; the barn 40x64; the poultry house large and mod- ern, and there is an automobile garage, wind- mills and numerous outbuildings. The farm is set in corn, wheat and forage crops, and a
goodly portion in alfalfa and native grasses. In fact it has been planned for a breeding farm and has the necessary appurtenances. On it at this time is "Kansas King," a thor- oughbred registered Black Percheron stallion and eleven registered brood mares of the same breed. Two of these mares are said to be worth above $1,000 each, and the value of "Kansas King" has not been fixed as he is not yet two years old and is said to be one of the largest colts ever bred in the county. "Deer- ing Archer," a thoroughbred Shorthorn bull, and six Shorthorn cows-all from imported stock. A herd of Big Boned English Berk- shire hogs and a flock of Rhode Island Red
OF BARTON COUNTY, KANSAS
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chickens. These animals have been bred for sale from sires imported at great cost, with a view to bettering the stock of the county, and are the result of many years of effort, and Mr.
der fire; but escaped with a scratch across the forehead, a grazed arm, and a hat shot from his head. He faced Price, Marmaduke, Bee and Dwight at the battles of Ft. DeRusa, Pleas-
Home of James R. Ewing
Ewing deserves much credit for being the pioneer in his line.
James R. Ewing was born February 10th, 1840, in Crawford County, Pa., but in 1857 moved to Webster County, Iowa, where he en- gaged in farming. On July 14th, 1861, he was married to Miss Hannah Elizabeth Cline, of that county, and they have four children: David A., Fred H. and Harve Ewing, all farm- ing in Barton County, and Mrs. Blanche Nairn of Pawnee County. On August 22nd, 1862, he entered the United States army as a private in Co. I, 32nd Iowa Volunteers and served dur- ing the remainder of the civil war. He was in eight general engagements, many skirmishes, and was at one time for thirty-one days un-
ant Hill, Mansfield, Old Oaks, Lake Checot, Mineral Point, Big Blue and Nashville, and was at the taking of Ft. Blakeny, Ala., on the 14th day of April, 1865. After the close of the war he returned to his home in Iowa and took up farming again until coming to Barton County on November 13th, 1885, when he bought a section of land where he now re- sides. Although about seventy-two he is well preserved and actively engaged every working day, and drives his automobile as recklessly as the younger generation. Mrs. Ewing is also a well preserved lady, and has been a true helpmate for her energetic husband. She can yet attend to her household work and assist out of doors, and is very proud to do so.
HENRY ESSMILLER
T WENTY-EIGHT years ago this spring Henry Essmiller was employed by Fritz Hagleman as a farm hand to labor on the farm which he now owns and inhabits is his home at the meager wage of $150 per an- num. Ten years later, in 1893-he purchased the farm, and today is the owner of thirteen hundred and forty acres, located as follows: The home place, seven and one-half miles west of Great Bend, contains three hundred and eighty acres; one hundred and sixty in a near- by section; an eighty acre tract, and a two hun- dred and forty acre tract near Heizer, and four hundred and eighty acres near Rozel in Pawnee County. These various tracts are all
well improved and in a high state of cultiva- tion. The soil is rich and these are choice farms, selected for their productiveness from the best body of lands in the entire State of Kansas. Besides this Mr. Essmiller has other investments of considerable magnitude and some money drawing a good rate of interest.
When the family home, barns and various other buildings were erected, we imagine that Mr. Essmiller was not as well fixed financially as he is today, although everything is com- fortable and of a substantial nature. What we mean is that there has been no attempt at display in fashioning his surroundings, but every care has been taken that his family, help
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and live stock should have all that is neces- sary for their comfort at the present, in order that greater and better buildings may take their place at a future date. Every dollar in- vested has been made to represent one hun- dred cents in betterment and has played its part in earning another dollar to buy more land. During harvest time and the threshing
which include the milking of fifteen to eigh- teen cows, and caring for other cattle, hogs, horses and mules which are bred and worked on a farm like this.
Henry Essmiller was born in the Province of Hanover, Germany, on January 30th, 1862, and emigrated to America when eighteen years of age. He made his home in LaCrosse Coun-
Farm and Home of Henry Essmiller
season these farms present a busy scene with their army of laborers garnering the golden grain, while other men work at plowing corn, mowing alfalfa breaking the fields for seed- ing time. Then again at morning, noon and night, when they gather around the board to partake of the bounteous fare, and go singing about the barns and lots "doing their chores,"
ty, Wisconsin, for three years, and in 1883 came to Barton County. He was married to Miss Delia Sandman ot La Crosse County, Wisconsin, on February 28th, 1889, and they have two children: Zelphia, wife of Henry Otte and William D. Essmiller, who assists his father on the farm when not in school.
HARRY HOARD HOLMES
T HE home of Harry Hoard and Violet Louise Sowards Holmes, "Riverside Stock Farm," distant three and one- halt miles southwest from Great Bend, lies be- tween the Santa Fe tracks and the Arkansas river. The residence and surroundings are very pleasing to the eye. The house, located on a mound, is approached through an avenue of towering locusts, the boughs meeting over- head. Forest trees of other kinds tower in the background protecting the grass plot which is kept green and plentifully sprinkled with flowering plants and shrubs. The house is a two story white frame, with nine large airy rooms, sits high on its foundation, the ceil- ings are high, and the many gables and porches add to its attractiveness. The furn- ishings are both modern and elegant, and it is piped for lights and water. The main barn iş
24x32, with a fifteen foot shed on three sides. Then comes the garage, cattle barn, granaries, chicken and hog houses, etc., and there are two cottages tor tenants on other parts of the farm. The place covers five hundred acres of the most fertile of the famous Arkansas Val- ley and is in a high state of cultivation; but it more properly classes with the stock farms of the county, and is stocked with thorough- bred Shorthorn cattle and Duroc Jersey hogs that have taken many prizes at the Nebraska State Fair, Hutchinson, Kansas City and St. Louis. Fifty-five or sixty Shorthorns browse the meadow lands, and the head herder is "Roy- al Ramsden," who has never been defeated for a prize as a calf, yearling, senior yearling, or a two year old at the Nebraska State Fair. Then there are two or three females that have never been defeated in their class, having
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taken first at Hutchinson in 1910, and a high prize at the American Royal Stock Show at Kansas City. His hogs are the best bred in the state and are Duroc Jerseys; being sired by "Helen's Wonder" and by "Mayboy," grand champion at the World's fair, St. Louis.
Harry Hoard Holmes was born February 20, 1868, in Chicago, and is the son of George Lincoln Holmes and Helen C. Kellog. The father, before coming to Great Bend on June
he arrived here and was educated in the public schools of Chicago and Great Bend. He be- came infatuated with railroading and prepared himself for an engineer, and for one year held a position as engineer on the Michigan Cen- tral out of Chicago. He transferred to the Santa Fe system and for six years ran out of Chicago, Newton and Dodge City. His earn- ings were invested with his father in the pur- chase of the five hundred acres surrounding his
Home of Harry Hoard Holmes
6, 1884, was cashier of the Chicago postoffice and connected with the Merchants National Bank of Chicago. He made his home on the ranch for twelve years and died on August 23, 1896.
George L. DeVilliars Holmes, a son, who died August 14, 1886, was a member of the family when coming to this county, as well as Mrs. Sophia Hoard Holmes, the mother and grandmother, who died June 3, 1908. Henry Hoard Holmes was sixteen years of age when
home, and in improvements and in stocking the ranch. He is now well contented with farm life and the pleasure of breeding thor- oughbred stock for the market.
Harry Hoard Holmes and Miss Viola Sow- ards, the only child of Marion F. and Mary Rowell Sowards, of Barton County, were un- ited in marriage on April 13, 1890, and they have one interesting daughter, Miss Helen Hoard Holmes, as a pledge of that union.
FARM OF RUHE BROS.
T HE history of the Ruhe Bros.'s farm, be- gins with the marriage of William Ruhe and Miss Christina Franka, both of Westphalia, Germany, which occurred on October 3, 1853, and their arrival in America in 1860. Wm. Ruhe was born in 1832,
and Christina his wife, on February 21, 1836. The father learned the trade of stone mason, married and two years later they sailed away to this new world to seek their fortune. How they and their children have succeeded is the object of this sketch. They first made their home in Cincinnati, Ohio, where they lived for thirteen years, and then removed to Manchester, Dearborn County, Indiana, the hus-
band earning his living by his trade. On Oc- tober 20th, 1877, they landed in Barton County, and their possessions were somewhat limited. On their arrival in this county their real strug- gle began; the father securing work at his trade or otherwise, while the wife and children herded cattle and did what they could to help. Finally forty acres of school land was bought, seven miles northwest of Great Bend, and a home made, and with the soil under them prosperity began. This home was finally sold and another tract of school land, three and one-half miles west of the county seat was bought, and as this contained two hundred and forty acres they have since made it their
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home. The estate now includes this home farm, one hundred and sixty in Liberty town- ship, and a half section near Dodge City. The father died on April 19th, and the mother on November 16th, 1905. The surviving children are: Carrie, wife of August Rodenberg, near Dundee; Emma, wife of Fred Windhorst, Bel- pre; and William F., Fred, John H., Chris. W., Henry H., Christina and Herman W., all living on the homestead.
The home farm is in a high state of culti- vation and shows that the Ruhe Brothers are up-to-date farmers, and the improvements are both substantial and ample for the needs of the place. The home is a one story frame, and there is a good barn, granary and other out- buildings. These are surrounded by a grove of trees which break the winds and afford shelter for stock and fowls.
THOMAS HENRY WHITE
T HOMAS HENRY WHITE was born in Ontonagon County, Michigan, May 28, 1861. He remained there until he was twenty-nine years of age. He learned the blacksmithing trade and came to Barton County in 1889. He is a son of Thomas White who came to this county in 1877 and located on land in Walnut township. He died in 1897
which he owns and he has one of the most at- tractive home places to be found in that sec- tion of the county. The residence which is nicely situated and surrounded by trees con- tains eight rooms in addition to closets, pan- tries, etc. The barn is 60 by 28 feet and will be replaced by a larger and better one in the near future. Mr. White has found time to
Home of Thomas Henry White
after having been among the foremost men in developing that part of Barton County. His death was a shock to all his friends of whom he had scores in all parts of the county. The younger White was married to Miss Eva Lang- ford in Eureka township, November 26, 1891, and they are the parents of seven children as follows: Leah, 19 years; Agnes S. 17; Clar- ence T., 14 years; Lydia, 11 years; Leonard, 9 years; Lola 7 years and Odah who is four months of age at this writing. Mr. White farms 240 acres of land in Eureka township all of
take an active part in the affairs of his town- ship and is a membr of the school board. Hc is one of the men who has had a great deal to do with the developing of the resources of that part of the county and is one of the men to whom Barton County owes its high stand- ing among the best of counties of the State of Kansas and one of the most productive agri- cultural sections of the entire country. Mr. White is an enterprising and progressive cit- izen and enjoys a large acquaintance in all parts of the county.
FRED DUMKOW
T HE fall of 1885 saw Fred Dumkow thoroughly disgusted with life in Chi- cago and he determined to try his for-
tune in Kansas. He had come from Berlin,
Germany, five years previously to ply his trade as a bricklayer, but he found that the pay of four dollars per day was not piling up the fortune he had come to America to make
OF BARTON COUNTY, KANSAS
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fast enough, and he must seek other fields. He desired to be identified with the soil; get down in it and dig, and see his fat and sleek herds come home at night. Uncle Sam offered free homes to naturalized Dutchmen and this was the lure that located him in Barton County. He arrived in Great Bend November 8, 1885, and located a homestead of forty acres fifteen miles northwest. Later he purchased enough at ten dollars per acre to make out a quarter section, and is now a contented farmer reap- ing his crops and owing no man. He has this improved with a comfortable cottage, barns and other buildings, and his fields show the most careful tilling. He also has another farm of a half section seven miles northeast of Ness City, which is also well improved and in cul- tivation, so he takes life easy, and says he much prefers this life to his former existence in Chicago where the week's wage was usually spent before the next pay day.
During his first five years in the county he followed his trade and at first layed brick for one dollar and fifty cents per day. That was the scale paid here then and he was glad to get the work, although he had moved away
from a city where there was plenty to do and the wages much better. He finally got work from the county and built several abutments for county bridges, and also laid the brick in the Walnut Creek Mill flue.
Frederick Dumkow, born in the vicinity of Berlin, Germany, May 14th, 1851, and Matilda Baruth, born January 17th, 1852, in the same county, were married September 29th, 1874. They have two married daughters living in their neighborhood: Bertie, the wife of Daniel M. Converse; and Minnie, the wife of John Oetken.
"Cottonwood Grove," as this farm is now called, occupies a place in Barton County's his- tory, as it was for a number of years a post- office and stage stand during the pioneer days, and there the hungry were refreshed and the mail dispersed by Postmaster Wilkinson, who will be remembered by many now living. The advent of the railroad and rural routes chang- ed this for the better years ago, but the mem- ories of those early days still cling to this farm and are often mentioned by those who talk over "old times."
GUSTAV SELLE
NE of the most successful of the enter- prising and progressive farmers of South Bend township is Gustav Selle, whose home place is located in section 10 of that township where he owns a half section of
Gustav has resided here since his arrival all of the time with the exception of vacation trips to California and other parts of the country. He lived north of Ellinwood until 1897, when he moved to South Bend township.
Home of Gustav Selle
land. Mr. Selle was born in Westphalen, Ger- many, February 10, 1872. He came direct to Barton County from Germany in 1884 with his parents who located north of Ellinwood. His parents are now living in Pratt County, but
Mr. Selle is an enterprising and progressive farmer as is evidenced by the high class of improvements to be found on his home place. A neatly arranged and well built residence contains six rooms in addition to pantries,
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closets, etc. The barn is roomy and well built and including the automobile garage is 36 by 40 feet in dimensions. The elevator is 24 by 34 feet and has a capacity for holding 7,500 bushels of grain. Mr. Selle was married in 1902 to Miss Emma Souders and they are the parents of two children: Lorena, six years of age and Clyde, three years of age, the for- mer having begun her education in the schools
of the county while Clyde will probably begin his studies the coming school term. The sur- roundings on Mr. Selle's home place are pleas- ing, there being plenty of shade trees, and shrubbery. The buildings are neatly and con- veniently arranged and altogether Mr. Selle has one of the most desirable locations in South Bend township.
GEORGE WASHINGTON HART
G EORGE WASHINGTON HART was born February 22, 1843, in Erie County, Pa. He resided in his native state until he was thirty-three years of age. He came direct to Barton County from Pennsylvania in 1878 at a time when there were very few houses in Great Bend, and the county was not developed to any extent. He bought land south of the
three children: Jessie May who is 32 years of age and is now Mrs. E. E. Smith; Roy E. is 26 years old and is engaged in the farming business near Macksville, Kansas; Forrest, 20 years of age, is a student in the Great Bend High School. In addition to the residence the barn and other outbuildings are constructed in a substantial manner and a small orchard
-
Home of George W. Hart
river in South Bend township. This land is now his home place and consists of 280 acres all of which is farmed under the personal su- pervision of Mr. Hart. The home place which is but a mile and a half from Great Bend has on it one of the most modern and substantial residences to be found in that part of the county. The building consists of 8 rooms in addition to the bath, closets, pantries, base- ment, etc. The house is lighted with an acety- lene gas plant, heated by furnace and is mod- ern throughout. The house is 30 by 80 feet in dimensions and has beautiful surroundings. Mr. Hart was married at Erie, Pa., in 1877, to Miss Hattie Elliott. They are the parents of
consisting of about one acre and a half and containing a large variety of trees is also found near the home building. The farm is stocked with a good grade of cattle and horses and Mr. Hart has taken no small part in the work of development of that part of the coun- ty lying south of the river and making of it one of the most desirable sections in this part of the state. Mr. Hart is familiar with the early history of the county as he is one of the really old timers and took an active part in reclaiming the land in this county and making it what it is today, one of the best counties in the State of Kansas.
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OF BARTON COUNTY, KANSAS
F. H. EWING
T HE "F. H. Ewing Pedigreed Stock Farm," located eleven and one-half miles west of Great Bend, is owned and managed by F. H. Ewing & Co., a firm composed of the
the acres, but corn, oats, Kaffir corn, alfalfa Wyandotte chickens. This farm covers three hundred and twenty acres, and Mr. Ewing owns another farm of four hundred and eighty
H
Residence of F. H. Ewing
father and sons. They breed and sell thor- oughbred Black Percheron horses, Shetland ponies of the Scotch type, pure blooded Short-
and native grass all are grown, and the mead- ows are dotted with thoroughbred stock, whose ancestry came from across the ocean. This
F. H. Ewing Stock Farm
horn cattle, Poland China hogs and White acres in Pawnee County. Both are well im- proved, well cultivated, and are valuable bodies of land. "King wheat" seeds most of
branch of the farm's business has been of slow growth, but Mr. Ewing has gradually collected his herds and will eventually make it his lead- ing business, although his stock has been
-
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
shipped to many counties in the state since he has been a breeder. He has been an exhibitor and has many prizes to show that prove his animals to be the very best of their type in the state. The improvements on this farm are a two story white frame house of eleven rooms; a barn 48x80; an elevator, garage, poultry house and numerous other small buildings. The premises are well fenced and well cared for and many trees and plants add beauty.
Fred H. Ewing was born April 7th, 1873,
near Lehigh, Webster County, Iowa, and is the second son of John R. and Hannah Elizabeth Ewing. He came to Barton County in 1885 with his parents and grew to manhood here. He was educated in the public schools of his district and at the Central Normal College of Great Bend, and was trained as a farmer and breeder by his father. On June Sth, 1898, he married Miss Lucy Gilmore, of Great Bend, and they have been blessed with four children: Lionel Frederick, 12; James Lowell, 6; Cleva Iolene, 3; and Olita Margaret, 1.
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