USA > Kansas > Woodson County > History of Allen and Woodson counties, Kansas > Part 23
USA > Kansas > Allen County > History of Allen and Woodson counties, Kansas > Part 23
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In politics Mr. Anderson is a Democrat. He became a follower of the
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faith when it required courage to be a Democrat, but he outrode the storm and has seen his party in full control of National affairs since the war. His first presidential vote he cast for Douglas and he.cast his second vote for Mr. Lincoln because he did not think it a good plan "to swap horses in the middle of a stream." He has been County Commissioner, a position he filled with ability and credit.
Mr. Anderson was first married in Bourbon county in 1866. His wife was Louisa Williams. She died in 1889 with twelve children surviving: Marsh D .; Elsie, widow of George Johnson; Allen T., of Nebraska; Robert and Cannon D., of Bourbon county; Warren, of Nebraska; Ralph and Ronald B., of Bronson, and Alma Lean and Grover C. Anderson. In1 1890 Mr. Anderson was married to Lizzie Campbell, his present wife.
Mr. Anderson is a Workman, a Mason, an Eastern Star, a member of the order of Knights and Ladies of Security and of the G. A. R. post at Bronson.
M ICHAEL F. KERN, of Humboldt township, Allen county, was born in the province of Wurtemberg, Germany, July 2, 1833. He was a son of John Adam Kern, who emigrated to the United States in 1859 and settled in the state of Michigan. In Washtenaw county his parents died, the mother in 1869 and the father ten years later. Eight children were born to this worthy couple, four of whom survive, viz: Lena, who married Carl Haddock and resides in Lawrence, Kansas; Catherine, wife of Andrew Reule, of Ann Arbor, Michigan; John M. and Michael F. Kern.
The subject of this sketch resided five years in Michigan and then set out for the frontier. He came down into Allen county during the war and preempted the land upon which he has since resided. He was acquainted with the methods of successful farming and began at once to devote him- self thereto. The improvement of his premises also received his attention and in his thirty-five years of citizenship he has expanded and developed materially to the extent of a substantially improved, high-cultivated and exceedingly productive two hundred and forty acre farm.
As a feeder and grower of cattle and other marketable stock Mr. Kern is well known in southern Allen county. For many years his farm has furnished a market for much surplus grain of the community and his ex- tensive interests demand the employment of labor throughout the year. His home presents the appearance of neatness and cleanliness. Everything has its proper place and, when not in use, is found in its place. He planned his improvements for convenience and the arrangement of his barns, sheds and fences indicate the perfection he attained.
Michael F. Kern was married in October 1865 to Sarah W. Schmidt, whose father, Henry Schmidt, was born in Hanover, Germany. Mrs. Kern was born in Lafayette county, Missouri.
During the war Mr. Kern belonged to the state militia, doing guard
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duty along the border, and upon several occasions was called into the field to drive out the invading rebels and bushwhackers. In politics he has been without aspirations. While he has been interested in all political controversies it has been the interest of a citizen and not of a candidate. He affiliates with the Republicans and is regarded in some measure as a controlling influence in local elections.
C ARLOS P. KEITH, of Moran, whose advent to Allen county num- bers him with the pioneers of Marmaton township, made settlement upon the broad prairie on section 30, township 24, range 21, then within the municipal boundaries of Osage township. October 24, 1868, was the day he drew up to his future abiding place and the dwelling he moved into was one of his own construction and measured 16x24 feet, one story, a com- modious and inviting structure at that time.
Mr. Keith came to Kansas from Illinois. He was born in Huron county, Ohio, December 2, 1837, and in the spring of 1854 went into Ogle county Illinois, from whence he came to Kansas. He is a son of Carlos Keith who was born November 13, 1797, at Barnard, Vermont. The latter accompanied his parents into Ohio at a very early date and was there mar- ried April 22, 1824, to Elvira, a daughter of Munson Pond, born in Bridge- port, Vermont, October 5, 1806. The Keiths' are among the original Americans. They are descended from Scotch ancestors who settled in New England and whose posterity aided in the establishment of inde- pendence in our country. The Ponds also possess this military distinction for Munson Pond was of that band of patriots who marched from Lexington to Yorktown in the days of "seventy-six." Carlos Keith was a soldier of the war of 1812. In civil life he devoted his energies to the farm. He followed his son to Kansas and died in Iola December 21, 1872. April 4, 1870, his wife died. Of their children Carlos P. is the fourth child.
Our subject had fair opportunities as a boy. His father operated a grist-mill on the head waters of Huron River, in addition to his farm, and in this Carlos Keith spent some of his early life. He was educated, liber- ally for his day, in the country schools and did not separate from the parental home till he was married. Until his semi-retirement from the farm his was a life of persistent and continued activity. The farm and its auxiliary enterprises have received his greatest care and most strenuous efforts.
December 24, 1860, Mr. Keith was married to Lucena Shoemaker, a daughter of Benjamin Shoemaker, from Perry, New York, a blacksmith and farmer. The surviving children of this union are: Dessie, wife of William J. Rumbel of Moran; Harold E., one of the young farmers of Marmaton township, and Miss Mabel C. Keith, a teacher in the Moran schools.
The year 1868 would seem not to have been an opportune time for
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settlers without means to enter a new country. The necessities of life were almost beyond the reach of the poor and life in those families could be sustained by the most ceaseless and interminable labors. Corn was worth two dollars a bushel, kerosene seventy-five cents a gallon, flour six dollars a hundred, poor hay nine dollars a ton and such a luxury as calico was almost too high to indulge in. Mr. Keith was one of the poor settlers. His inventory, npon his arrival in Allen county, included a team and wagon, a few dollars and a wife and three children. While engaged in the initial steps in the improvement of his own farm he earned the wherewith to buy supplies for his family by aiding other old settlers in doing theirs. He was not particular as to the kind of work, nor as to the price, but both were generally to his liking. As time went on his claim took on the ap- pearance of a home and when, in late years, he erected his substantial and permanent buildings the whole farm of one hundred and eighty six acres presented an appearance unexcelled on the Fort Scott road. In 1892, after a residence of twenty-four years, Mr. Keith left the farm to the care of his son, Harold E., and took up his residence in Moran. Here, on November 22, 1900, Mrs. Keith died, suddenly. She was a consistent member of the Presbyterian church and was a loyal companion of a worthy husband for nearly forty years.
In politics C. P. Keith is a Republican. His first presidential vote was for Lincoln and he has continued in the faith of the fathers till the present. He affiliates with the Masonic fraternity and is regarded wher- ever known, as a gentleman of truth, character and patriotism.
J AMES WILSON-To say that a man is self made indicates in a few words a career of usefulness and activity, and it suggests a youth in which few privileges have been enjoyed and a manhood of active effort in which the trials and obstacles of life have been overcome by determined purpose. Such indeed has been the career of James Wilson, one of the successful farmers of the county, his home being in Logan township.
He was born at Deerfield, Portage County, Ohio, February 3, 1841. His father, James Wilson, was a native of Dover County, Pennsylvania, and married Miss Elizabeth Donahue, a native of Ireland , who came to America during her early girlhood The father followed the occupation of farming as a life work, and died September 21, 1880. at the age of sixty- eight years. His wife passed away in 1863 at the age of forty-four. They were the parents of eight children, six of whom are yet living, namely: Mary Ann, the wife of Robert McClure, of Ohio; Jesse, who is living in Allen County; James; Mrs. Margaret Turner, of New Falls, Ohio; Andrew, who is living in Minnesota, and Leanna Wilson, of Ravenna, Ohio. Those who have passed away are Ellen J. and William. The latter was a mem- ber of the regular army and was killed by the Indians in Dakota, in 1866,
Mr. Wilson of this review spent the first nineteen years of his life in
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the State of Illinois where he secured work as a farm hand, having gained practical experience in the fields by assisting his father in the cultivation of the old home place. He was thus employed until the Civil war broke out when in June, 1861, he enlisted for three years' service as a member of Company D, Twenty-fifth Illinois infantry, being honorably discharged in September, 1864. He participated in many of the most sanguinary en- gagements of that struggle, including the battles of Missionary Ridge, Stone River, Chickamauga, Kennesaw mountain and Peach Tree creek. He went to Knoxville with Sherman to relieve Burnsides, and again joined the main army at Resaca preparatory to entering upon the Atlanta campaign. When the troops reached Atlanta the term of service of his regiment had expired and with his comrades he was sent home to be dis- charged. He was exceptionally fortunate in his military experiences, being never wounded or captured throughout the three years of his association with the boys in blue upon the battlefields of the South.
After the war Mr. Wilson went to Ohio and visited his parents, and then returned to Illinois. The year of 1869 witnessed his arrival in this State where he secured a homestead claim of eighty acres upon which he has since resided. although its boundaries have been many times extended by additional purchases until he is now the owner of seven hundred and forty-nine acres of land. He grazes his cattle on the fine pastures of his own domain and he has ample sheds which shelter grain and stock. He has one of the finest farms of the county and is pleasantly located five miles west of Humboldt. He carries on his farming pursuits on an extensive scale and is feeding about one hundred head of cattle and hogs eaclı year. He has been very successful in the raising of cattle, and his large opera- tions along this line have enabled him to not only utilize as feed all of the crops which he raises but also to furnish a good market to his neighbors, buying from them much of their corn.
Mr. Wilson was married on the 4th of January, 1880, to Miss Sarah A. Berger, a daughter of Darius and Elizabeth (White) Berger, natives of Virginia and Indiana respectively, the former born March 21, 1812, and the latter on the Ist of January, 1816. The mother died in Iowa on the 16th of August, 1872, and soon after the father removed to Butler County, Kan- sas, where he died on the 12th of March, 1878. In their family were ten children: Mrs. Mary Lytle, who is living in Toronto; Mrs. Elizabeth Richey, of Augusta, Kansas; Rebecca, wife of Robert Musgrave, of Hum- boldt. The deceased are: Charlotte, wife of W. J. King; Dr. J. Berger; Martha, wife of John King, and Daniel Berger who died in the army. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have been born three children: Willie J., born May 28. 1881, died in March, 1901; Florence L., born July 1, 1884 and Mary, born October 7, 1888.
Mr. Wilson is a Republican and has served as treasurer of his town- ship, but has never been an aspirant for the honors and emoluments of public office. He is a member of Vicksburg Post, No. 72, G. A. R., and thus maintains a pleasant relationship with his old comrades who wore the blue when the perpetuity of the Union was endangered. He is surely a
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self made man and as the architect of his prosperity he has builded wisely and well. His business ability is widely recognized and has insured him a very creditable position in financial circles, while his honorable course has commanded the respect, confidence and esteem of his fellow men.
S TARLING D. BRANDENBURG-For more than a quarter of a century has Starling D. Brandenburg tilled the soil and reaped the meadows of Allen County. He moved into a board shanty on practically a raw piece of land in section 16, township 25, range 21. 011 the 18th of October, 1872, and began the initial work of developing a farm. How well he has succeeded will be seen when it is stated that his farm is bound- ed by half section lines and its improvements exceed those of many of the largest farms in Allen County.
Mr. Brandenburg came to Kansas from Tipton County, Indiana. He was born in Union County, Indiana, Nov. 5, 1840, and passed some of his early years in Wayne County. His father was John Brandenburg, born near Baltimore, Maryland, March 22, 1809. In1 1830 he came west and engaged in merchandising in Philomath, Union County, Indiana. He removed, some years later, to Wayne County and died near Centerville, November 6. 1861.
The Brandenburgs of this branch were introduced into the United States by William H. Brandenburg who was born near Berlin, Germany, emigrated to the new world and settled near Baltimore about 1780. In 1801 he moved westward to Warren County, Ohio, and died near Lebanon in 1805.
The mother of S. De Wain Bradenburg was Elizabeth Kidwell. Her father, the Rev. Jonathan Kidwell, was a Welchman and the original Universalist preacher of his district in Indiana. He issued three publica- tions devoted to the propagation of the doctrines of the Universalist church, one at Philomath, one at Cincinnati, Ohio, and one at Terre Hante, Indi- ana. The children of John and Elizabeth Brandenburg were: Ann, wife of · James Chapman, of Winchester, Indiana; Sarah J., of Chanute, Kansas; Emily, wife of Aaron Jones, of Chanute, Kansas; Starling D., and Rebecca, who married James Jones, and resides in Neosho County, Kansas.
Our subject received only a country school training in the woods of Indiana. When the family home was broken up by the death of the father the son married and started life for himself. A pony and a sleigh, the resources of his days of frolic and courtship, were the sum total of his property with which to begin business. In the ten years which elapsed from his marriage to his advent to Kansas he had accumulated eight hun- dred dollars. With this and with his abundant energy he has maintained a steady increase from year to year. His large, roomy and handsome resi- dence, which he erected in $898, his barns and his orchard and his pens of
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stock testify to the manner in which he has disposed of his time the past twenty-eight years.
January 1, 1852, Mr. Brandenburg was married in Wayne County, Indiana, to Nancy Helms, a daughter of James Helms, who, with a son, served through the Civil war. James Helms married a Clevenger, for his first wife and five of their children survive. By a second marriage three resulted. Isaiah Helms, of Bronson; Lacina Recknor, of Allen County; Samuel Helms, of Allen County, and Susan Laws, of Calaway County, Missouri, are some of these children.
Mr. and Mrs. Brandenburg's children are: Melvin F., of Allen Coun- tv; William L .; Emma L., wife of John Tillery, of Allen County; Myrtle I. and Ivy May Brandenburg.
The Brandenburgs were Democrats in politics, at all times, till the Peoples party was organized in 1892 at which time our subject espoused their cause and has since acted with it.
M RS. NANCY E FISHER is one of the wealthy residents of Allen county and is numbered among its pioneer citizens, having come to this portion of the state at an early period in its upbuilding. She was born in Franklin county, Illinois, on the 13th of June, 1840, a daughter of Aaron Neal, a native of Virginia. Her father was born April 28, 1811, and in an early day he removed to Illinois in company with his parents, finding the Prairie state almost one vast undeveloped tract of land. The city of Chicago, whose growth is regarded as one of the miracles of the age, was then undreamed of, Fort Dearborn standing on its site as a protection against the Indians for the few white settlers who resided in that section of the country. Mr. Neal was reared upon the frontier amid the wild scenes of pioneer life, and after arriving at years of maturity married Elizabeth Clamppett, who was of Irish lineage. He was the owner of a horse and a sled and with them he hauled his few household effects to his little cabin on the frontier. He and his bride began their domestic life in true pioneer style. He was a very industrious and energetic man, and before his death had accumulated ten thousand dollars, which was considered a handsome competence in those days, and he was regarded as one of the rich men of his neighborhood. He died in the prime of life, passing away in 1855, at the age of forty-four years. His wife lived to the age of sixty and was called to her final rest in 1875.
This worthy couple were the parents of ten children, of whom two died in early life. The others were Moses, who is well known throughout Kan- sas and is a leading politician of the west, his home being now in Okla- homa; Mrs. Fannie Whiteside; Thomas J., who died in 1862; John A., who resides in Missouri; Mrs. Fisher; William, also a resident of Oklahoma; Mrs. Sarah Todd, deceased, and Robert, of Washington.
Nancy E. Neal, the fifth of the family, spent the days of her girlhood
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in the state of her nativity, and pursued her education in one of the old- time, log school houses, conning her lessons while sitting upon a rude bench without a back or a desk. When a young lady of twenty years she came to Kansas to visit her brother Moses, who was then living in Leaven- worth, and while there she became acquainted with Paul Fisher, a young man who had removed from Texas to Allen county, Kansas. They were married in 1862. A married life of thirty-five years was vouchsafed to them, Mr. Fisher taking his bride to his farm, three miles west of Humboldt.
Mr. Fisher was a native of Ohio and removed from that state to Texas, whence he came to Kansas. For seven years he and his wife resided upon one farm, after which they spent three years in Humboldt. On the ex- piration of that period Mr. Fisher purchased a farm a mile from the town, on the river bottom, and for twelve years it was their place of abode, after which they again became residents of Humboldt, occupying one of the finest dwellings in the place. Mr. Fisher was a man of marked diligence and executive ability and his indefatigable labor, guided by sound judg- ment, enabled him to acquire very extensive realty holdings, so that he left to his family a handsome estate. He died on the 30th of December, 1897. at the age of seventy-five years, and thus the community lost one of its reliable and valued citizens, and his neighbors a faithful friend.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Fisher were born six children, but three died in early childhood. The others are Katie, the wife of O. H. Stewart, presi- dent of the State Bank of Parsons, Kansas; Maggie. wife of L. P. Stover, County Surveyor of Allen county; and Nannie, the wife of A. F. McCarty, of Humboldt.
Mrs. Fisher has always been a very energetic woman, and since her husband's death has given evidence of the possession of superior business and executive qualifications. She has very important business affairs, superintended by Mr. A. F. McCarty, and her efforts are attended with prosperity. After the estate was divided each of the daughters had one thousand acres of land while there remained to Mrs. Fisher, in addition to her large farming interests, considerable business property in Humboldt and Iola and her beautiful residence in Humboldt. She is one of the old- est residents of Allen county in years of continuous connection with this portion of the state, for she has lived here through thirty-nine years. She has therefore witnessed almost the entire development and upbuilding of southeastern Kansas for at the time of her arrival the homes were widely scattered and Indians were frequently seen in the neighborhood. Great changes have since been wrought, and as the population has increased the circle of Mrs. Fisher's acquaintances and friends has been continually en- larged. She enjoys the warm regard of many with whom she has come in contact, and well deserves representation in this volume among Allen county's leading citizens.
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L UCIUS B. KINNE, Moran's efficient post master and for many years a leading merchant of that city, is among the substantial and sterling citizens of Allen county. It is almost a score of years since he came amongst the people of Moran and since that September day in 1881 when he became an inhabitant of the town his life has been one even and straightforward career, devoted not only to his private needs but to the public interests, as well. He established a drug and grocery store in Moran when that village was in its infancy and became at once one of the central figures in the development and growth of one of the business centers of Allen county.
By training Mr. Kinne is a western man, but a native of the east. He was born in Livingston county, New York, August 5, 1850. He was trained a merchant, for his father, Elias G. Kinne, passed a lifetime mer- chandising. In 1851 the latter moved his family to Van Buren county, Michigan, and resided in Paw Paw many years. In 1882 he died in Kala- mazoo county. He was born in the same county in New York as our subject, in 1815, and was a public spirited man and much interested in public affairs. He was a useful and honorable citizen and while his maiden vote was cast with the Democrats the issues of the war changed his opinions and he was ever afterward a Republican.
The Kinne name was imported into New York from Ireland by Lyman Kinne, our subject's grandfather. He accompanied his children from New York to Michigan and died at Albion in 1864 at the age of ninety years. He was the father of two sons, Allison and Elias Kinne, and of the follow- ing daughters: Clarissa, who married Jonathan Rogers; Hannah, who married Elisha Goodrich; Phebe, wife of E. J. House, and Mary, who be- came Mrs. Jedediah Holmes.
Elias G. Kinne married Amanda Alvord, a daughter of Phineas and Rachel (Lemon) Alvord. Their two children were sons: Lucius B. and Frank E. Kinne, deceased. Lucius B. Kinne grew up at Paw Paw, Mich- igan, and acquired his education in the public schools. Among his first efforts were those of a farmer, first as hired man and second as a tenant. He was engaged in business as a druggist in Texas, Michigan, for a time and upon coming to Allen county he put in the first stock of drugs in Moran.
Mr. Kinne was early recognized as a man of sound judgment and of correct business principles. In spite of the opposition and of jealousy en- gendered because of success, he prospered and maintained his commercial standing unimpaired. This record, together with his known integrity had much to do with securing his appointment as receiver of the Moran Bank in 1898. His political activity and his intense loyalty to Republicanism and to Mckinley, especially, placed him in line for the appointment as post master and in June 1897 he succeeded Charles Mendell as chief of the Moran post office. For many years he was a member of the Republican
L. B. Rinne
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County Central Committee and the direction of matters political for Marma- ton township has been left to the care of him and his advisors.
February 15, 1876, Mr. Kinne was married in Kalamazoo, Michigan, to Esther, a daughter of John S. Harrison, of the line of the first Benjamin Harrison, of Virginia. Mr. and Mis. Kinne's children are: Clare B., born October 7, 1877, is a registered pharmacist and looks after the drug depart- ment of the store; Lulu, born April 23, 1881; Bessie, born June 22, 1885, and Verle, born June 17, 1890.
In reviewing the life of a citizen for this work it is only possible to touch upon the chief events therein and to impress posterity with the domi- nant elements of his mental makenp. It will be seen that Mr. Kinne was a son of respected and honorable parents and that industry was his capital from early manhood. His accumulations have come by dint of toil and prudent management and his reputation established by right living and right conduct toward his fellow man.
H IRAM M. BURTIS-In New York the Burtis family has taken root and in the years which have followed since the original one landed in this country the family name has spread over the west. Platt V. Burtis, one of this numerous family, was married to Miss Mary A. Freeman. Two children were the result of this union, Hiram M. Burtis, the subject of this sketch, born in Saratoga County, New York, August 8, 1848, and Margaret A. Cowles, now living in Harper County, Kansas. Platt Burtis was one of the largest business men of his section of the State. His grandfather had been a large slave owner, but becoming convinced that slavery was wrong mannmitted his slaves and allowed those who wished to to remain on his land until they accumulated enough to get a start in life. Platt Burtis embarked in the carrying trade of the canals and soon owned a large num- ber of vessels which did a part of the carrying trade of the Erie canal. The panic coming on he was crippled seriously and, after paying all his obliga- tions, suspended business and with the remnants of his once ample fortune turned his face toward the west, settling in Illinois on a farm. The busi- ness reverses through which he had gone undermined his health and he was forced to turn over his property to his son. The wreck of his health found him also completely wrecked in fortune and the only heritage he was able to give his son was a good constitution and a debt. Young Hiram Burtis was not daunted by the prospects before him. He went to work with manly vigor to pay his father's debts and redeem the name. He went to work in Kankakee County, at once farming and stock raising and after some years disposed of his effects and moved to Ottawa, Illinois, where he engaged in the hardware business. Three years afterward, in 1880, he sold out the business and moved to Hastings, Nebraska. Here he lived but a short time and then came to Kansas, purchasing farms four miles southeast of Iola. He lived here but two years when he moved to
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