USA > Kansas > Atchison County > History of Atchison County, Kansas > Part 62
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Edward J. Kelly was educated in the district schools and spent two years as a student in St. Benedict's College in Atchison. He lived on the old home place of his parents until 1885, in the meantime improving one of his father's farms in Benton township, upon which he moved and resided thereon until 1894, at which time he married and moved on another farm which he owned in the same township. Mr. Kelly followed farming until 1903, and then removed to Efifngham and engaged in the hardware and grain business for a period of five years. In 1909 he entered the State Bank of Effingham as bookkeeper and remained one year, when he became financially interested in the Farmers and Merchants State Bank, of which he is the present efficient cashier.
Mr. Kelly was married February 16, 1898, to Mary Gerety, of Mon- rovia, Kan., a daughter of Richard and Sarah Rooney Gerety, natives of Ireland, who first immigrated to Indiana, and from there came to Kansas as early as 1856. Both are now deceased. The Gerety's settled on the prairie south of Monrovia, when Indians were camping in the neighborhood. They lived there all of their days and prospered. Richard Gerety died in 1906, and his widow removed to Effingham, where she died in 1910. They were the parents of the following living children: Mrs. Elizabeth ( Berney). Hor- ton, Kan .: Thomas Gerety, near Nortonville, Kan .; James, Everest, Kan. ; John, Wichita, Kan .: Margaret, Independence, Kan .; Richard, Wichita,
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Kan. ; Sarah, Colorado Springs, Colo. During the Civil war Mr. Gerety pur- chased horses for the United States Government.
It is not alone as a farmer, merchant and banker that Mr. Kelly has achieved a certain amount of prominence. but he has taken an active part in political affairs during his life and stands high in the councils of the Dem- ocratic party. He was elected to represent Atchison county in the State legislature in the session of 1909, and during that session acquitted himself creditably as an honest and fearless legislator. He was a member of the committees on roads and highways, mines and mining, and judicial appor- tionments, etc., and has the unique record of never missing a roll call of the house while attending the session. Mr. Kelly has likewise shown his inter- est in his home city by serving on the city council for four years. His reli- gious affiliations are with the Catholic church.
Farmers and Merchants State Bank, Effingham, Kansas.
This bank was organized in 1905, with a capital stock of $12.000, and officers as follows: President, U. B. Sharpless; secretary and cashier, A. J. Smith : vice-president, Fred Sutter ; chirectors, R. M. Thomas, J. W. Davis, C. N. Snyder, U. B. Sharpless, A. J. Smith. Since this time there have been some changes in the personnel of the official body governing the bank's affairs, and the present officers are as follows: President, Fred Sutter ; vice- president, L. T. Hawk; cashier, E. J. Kelly; assistant cashier, D. R. Gerety ; directors, Fred Sutter, L. T. Hawk, Alexander McKay, U. B. Sharpless; E. J. Kelly. The capital and surplus now exceed $15,000 and the bank averages in deposits over $120,000. In 1910 the bank erected a handsome brick build- ing on the corner of Main and Howard streets, which is fitted up with hand- some new fixtures and a new burglar proof vault of the latest construction at a cost of over $4,000. This bank is purely a local concern and is financed by local capital, all of the stockholders residing in Effingham and vicinity, and comprising the leading merchants and farmers of Effingham and the sur- rounding country.
BENTON L. BROCKETT.
Successful business man, upright citizen and Christian worker, are char- acterizations which aptly describe Benton L. Brockett, who has been estab- lished in the lumber business in Atchison for over thirty years. He began as a poor man with little capital, and has built up a splendid retail concern at
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1019 Main street. Mr. Brockett first established a small lumber yard at East Atchison in 1885, and six years later moved to Atchison. His buildings and warerooms occupy space 175x150 feet, and he employs six men and four teams to handle his extensive business. The concern supplies Atchison and vicinity with lumber, lime, cement, and builder's material, including cement blocks, and practically all materials used in building. The yard work includes the only cement working plant in the city which turns out cement blocks for foundation work and porches.
Benton L. Brockett was born in Ashtabula, Ohio, September 5, 1864. His parents were Lewis B. and Lucy S. (Fisk) Brockett, natives of New York and Ohio, respectively. The Brockett family is of English origin, and the founder of the family in America first settled near New London, Conn. His descendants afterward located in the state of New York. Lewis B. was the son of Ambrose Brockett, who moved to Ashtabula county, and was one of the first settlers of the Western Reserve. Here Lewis was reared, and married Lucy S. Fisk, a daughter of an early settler of the Western Reserve. He became a merchant at Saybrook, and served as post- master under President Cleveland's administration. He died at the ad- vanced age of eighty-six years. The mother of Benton L. is still living and is now over eighty-three years of age. To them were born three sons and three daughters, namely : James D., of Lincoln, Neb .; Haddie, the wife of Charles C. Parker, a resident of Portland. Ore .; Ellen F., residing in Ashtabula; and Amy, the wife of Charles Simon, of Ashtabula, Ohio; and two died in infancy.
Benton L. was educated in the Ashtabula schools, and came west in 1884, where he engaged in business, as stated in a preceding paragraph. Suc- cess has attended his efforts, and he is universally recognized as one of the substantial men of the city. The account of the growth of Mr. Brockett's business is simply a narrative of his life work on the material side. His prosperity is well deserved, and has been acquired by close application to his affairs and square and honorable dealings with his fellow men. Mr. Brockett was married on October 10, 1888, to Daisy Denton, a daughter of Henry Denton, an attorney of Atchison ; she died July 15, 1898, leaving two sons, namely : Louis D., born August 14, 1889, who is associated in the real estate and loan business with C. D. Walker, and married Isabella, a daughter of Mr. Walker. The second son is Wallace James Brockett, born February 14, 1895, and is a student at Baker University, at Baldwin, Kan. On July 23, 1903, Mr. Brockett married Margaret Schriver, a daughter of Peter P. Schriver, of Cedar Point, Kan. To this union one child has been born, Helen Louise, born November 12, 1907.
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Mr. Brockett has always espoused the principles of the Republican party, although his father was a Democrat. He has served his home city as a mem- ber of the city council, and has been generally active in all undertakings tending to advance the best interests of Atchison and make the city a better and more attractive place in which to live. He is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. It is in church work, however, that Mr. Brockett is most active, aside from his business affairs. Ever since coming to the West he has been identified with church and Sunday school work, and is a prominent and active member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He sup- plemented his work in behalf of making better men and women of the grow- ing boys and girls of this locality in East Atchison, where he has conducted a mission school for the past four years. He is a trustee of his church, and has taken part in the work of the Sunday school for several years. The highest tribute that can be paid to him is that he is universally known as an earnest Christian, who has reared his family to be valuable members of the community.
JOHN STUTZ.
John Stutz, one of the younger successful farmers of Center township. Atchison county, was born November 5, 1870, on his father's farm in Lan- caster township. His parents were Christian and Kathrine Stutz, concerning . whom a complete review is given in the biographies of Gustave and Christian W. Stutz. The reader is referred to these sketches for the history of this worthy pioneer couple, who were among the early settlers of the county. John grew up on the home farm and attended the public schools of Lancaster, re- maining at home with his parents until 1898, at which time his father died and John was employed by the Cain Milling Company of Atchison for two months. He became heir to eighty acres of land as his share of the family estate, and began farming for himself. His farm was only partly improved by a small shack and granary. He at once set about to remedy conditions on the land, and erected a substantial home, a good barn and other out-buildings which are well kept. He built a two-story ,five-room house, and in 1903 erected a fine barn, 48x30 feet in dimension. He has also added to his acreage, and now owns 160 acres of highly productive land.
Mr. Stutz was married October 8, 1895, to Nora Walz, and to this union have been born three children, namely : Christian W., Grover J. and Lester E. all at home with their parents. Mrs. Nora Stutz was born August 24, 1876,
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HISTORY OF ATCHISON COUNTY
on a farm in Shannon township, a daughter of Charles and Margaret ( Diehs- back) Walz. Charles Walz, the father, was twice married, his first wife being Kathrine Reidel, who bore him four children: Mrs. Rosa Buff, of Shannon township; Charles, deceased; Mary married Fred Stutz, a member of the Atchison police force, and Kathrine, wife of Christian W. Stutz. By the second marriage of Charles Walz, that with Margaret Diehsback, there were born eight children, as follows: Margaret, wife of Gustave Stutz, of Lancaster township; Nora, wife of John Stutz, the subject of this sketch; Frederick, deceased; Mrs. Anna Hager, of Atchison : William, farmer, Shan- non township; Mrs. Clara Peterson, Atchison; Albert, Atchison ; and Jerry resides on the old home place, in Shannon township.
Mr. Stutz is a Democrat, and a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles. Naturally he has a deep and abiding love for his home county, and thinks there is no place on earth better than Atchison county. His labor and interests have generally been given towards the welfare of his home county, and his standing in his community is assured, as a well respected and industrious citi- zen who has the respect and esteem of all who know him.
A. S. SPECK.
The Speck family is one of the oldest of the pioneer families in Kansas and the date of the settlement of A. S. Speck in Atchison county goes back to sixty years ago, when in September 20, 1855, Mr. and Mrs. Speck with their two children arrived at the banks of the Missouri river, after a six weeks' trip overland in a covered wagon from their old home in an eastern State. They crossed the river by ferry to the Kansas side and landed near old Sumner, traveled over the hills and finally stopped at a little log cabin, not far from Stranger creek, which stream is said to have received its name from an un- known man having been drowned in the stream some years previous. The Specks made a settlement in the county and experienced a great deal of trouble from the border ruffians and pro-slavery advocates because of the fact that Mr. Speck was a pronounced anti-slavery man. It was the aim of the border ruffians to intimidate or "get rid" of all Free State peope in order to gain their ends and make Kansas a slave State. A story concerning these troublous times is timely here. One afternoon Mrs. Speck glanced from her cabin door and saw a cannon facing the house and planted on a little knoll with about thirty men surrounding the sinister looking weapon. They sent one of their
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number to the door of the cabin to ascertain if Mr. Speck was at home. In reply to their question as to Mr. Speck's whereabouts, Mrs. Speck said, "If he were here he would never send his wife to talk for him." After a long confer- ence the men went away, but returned that night and demanded the privilege of searching the house. All the weapon of defense Mrs. Speck had was an axe which she held in her hand when she opened the door. As the door was opened she asked for the revolver held by one of the men who entered. This he refused to do, but the leader of the gang, a man named Adkins, called out with an oath, "Give it to her, we will protect you." The gang searched the house thoroughly and were satisfied that the man they sought was not there. They then went away leaving the children crying in fear, and the mother so fearful of her life that she sat up the remainder of the night on the outside of the cabin with her babe in her arms, thinking they would return. Not long after this came the news of the Quantrell raid and the burning of Lawrence, Kan., and Mr. Speck with others went to the relief of the sufferers. The ruf- fians returned to the Speck cabin in the afternoon of the day of Mr. Speck's departure, but this time Mrs. Speck was armed with a gun which Mr. Speck had left with her. She also had another gun which had been given her by a neighbor named Martin, who had had similar trouble with the ruffians, who searched through Martin's cornfield for him, and when the raiders would get near him he would slip away unseen to the rows through which they had al- ready searched and thus elude them. When the men saw the gun one of them insisted that she give it up, and wrenched it from her hands. She at once reached for the other gun which she kept hidden behind her and fired at her assailant, frightening him so that he dropped the gun he had seized and ran from the vicinity of the home. The others who remained near the cannon saw on a high ridge some distance away what they thought was a company of men coming to capture them. They at once took flight and left hastily. leav- ing behind them a long rope which was evidently intended to be used in hang- ing Mr. Speck. The small army seen in the distance later proved to be neigh- bors driving a herd of cattle. One little son of the family made a vow to whip Adkins when he grew up and had the later satisfaction of fulfilling his vow when still a boy. The old neighbor of "cornfield fame" still lives in practically the same locality. Pardee Butler, the famous Free State advocate, who was placed on a raft and set adrift on the Missouri by border ruffians, was an intimate friend of the Speck family. When the Civil war broke out and the call for volunteers was sent out by President Lincoln, Mr. Speck enlisted as lieutenant of Company F, Thirteenth regiment, Kansas infantry, in September,
41
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1862, serving until his resignation, and later being appointed recruiting officer in August, 1863.
Mr. and Mrs. Speck lived on their farm until death took them, the demise of Mr. Speck occurring in February, 1901, and that of Mrs. Speck occurring January, 1904. They are survived by eight children : William A., of Kay See, Wyo .; Frank, James and Arthur, of Nortonville, Kan .; Mrs. D. P. Bar- ber, of Cummings, Kan .; Mrs. Joseph Hotchkiss, of Willow Springs, Mo .; Mrs. S. W. Adams, of Atchison, Kan.
ROBERT L. GRIMES.
Robert L. Grimes, farmer and stockman, of Lancaster township, Atchison county, Kansas, is one of the representative and enterprising citizens of the county who have made good. He has been a resident of Kansas for the past forty-four years, and during that time has worked his way upward by his own unaided efforts and is now the owner of 350 acres of good Kansas soil. Of late he has practically retired from active farming, and has rented out his land, that he may be able to take a well earned repose and enjoy a life of leisure.
Robert L. Grimes was born February 11, 1852, in Fayette county, Penn- sylvania, a son of James and Margaret (Laughlin) Grimes, both of whom were horn and reared in that county. The father was born May 1, 1824, and was the son of Henry and Sallie Grimes, who came of old pioneer stock in the Keystone State, and were of Scotch and German descent. Henry was a black- smith and made a good living for his family. James Grimes was reared in his native county, and when he grew up became a farmer. He tilled the soil in Pennsylvania until 1871, and then disposed of his holdings, and migrated west- ward, to Kansas, investing his cash capital in Lancaster township, where he bought 160 acres, located in sections 15, 5 and 18, Atchison county. There were little or no improvements on his land when he hought it, but with charac- teristic thrift, he improved the land and made it into a desirable place of resi- dence. Like others who came to the county in that early day he went through the "grasshopper era," and was discouraged for a time but held on, and as a result became fairly well to do in the course of time, as better years followed the lean era. He lived on his farm until his demise in 1905, and at the time of his death was one of the well respected and best known citizens of his township. Grimes, senior, was married in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, to
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Margaret A. Laughlin, and this marriage was blessed by the following chil- dren : Robert Laughlin, subject of this sketch ; William, a farmer of Lancaster township; Elizabeth, deceased; John A., Huron, Kan. ; Mrs. Sallie Hardin, Lancaster township, and Hugh L .. Lancaster township. The mother of the foregoing children was born February 12, 1828, and departed this life in 1901. She left the impress of a noble and womanly character upon the lives of her children, who have all led exemplary lives and been a credit to their parents. She was a daughter of Robert Langlilin, a farmer of Pennsylvania.
Robert L., with whom this review is directly concerned, was reared to young manhood on the family farm in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, received his early education in the nearby district school, and at the age of nineteen years accompanied his parents to the new home in this county. His first schooling was obtained in the Mt. Vernon district in his native county, and he also attended the school near his new home in Lancaster township, when not assisting his father in developing their Kansas farm. He remained on the home farm until he was twenty-seven years of age, and after his marriage, he launched into agricultural pursuits for himself by renting a tract of land for two years. His first efforts in his own behalf were successful and he then used his savings to purchase a tract of land in Lancaster township, south of Eden. His first investment was in a farm of 160 acres, which he improved as his prosperity continued to increase. By the exercise of industry, self-denial and good financial management, he has become the owner of 350 acres of fine land. This land has twenty-five acres of standing timber, which is a valuable asset when one considers that timber is almost a rarety in the greater part of Kansas. Mr. Grimes cultivated his land until 1914, when he decided to shift some of the burden which grew heavy as he felt himself taking on added years, and he accordingly rented it, but retains the supervision of the farm.
For several years Mr. Grimes has been a breeder of Shorthorn cattle, and takes considerable interest in his fine stock. His success in farming is due to the fact that he has not been content to just be an ordinary farmer, but has endeavored to keep abreast of the latest developments in agriculture and has aimed to keep the best of live stock on his place. He has an excellent barn, 32×60 feet in dimension, with a capacity of eighty tons of hay, and which cost over $1,500, despite the fact that most of the lumber used in its construc- tion was cut and sawed from the timber on his place.
Mr. Grimes was married April 16, 1879, to Miss Viola Wilson, who has borne him two children : Mrs. Edith Shufflebarger, living on a farm in Lan- caster township, and Mrs. Franketta Carson, whose husband is farming the Grimes farm land. Mrs. Grimes was born in Lancaster township, December
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21, 1862, and is a daughter of Andrew and Nancy (Carpenter) Wilson, who came to Atchison county from Kentucky in the early pioneer days. Andrew Wilson was a Union veteran who saw valiant service during the Civil war.
In political matters Mr. Grimes has always been identified with the Demo- cratic party, and has served as a member of the school board in his township. He attends religious services at the Methodist Episcopal church, and Is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.
CHRIST KANNING.
The proverbial success of the members of the German race, who have left the Fatherland in search of fortune in America, is well illustrated in re- viewing the career of Christ Kanning. of Lancaster township, Atchison county, Kansas. In a little more than a score of years, beginning with prac- tically no capital, Mr. Kanning has accumulated 240 acres of the best land in Atchison county. He is the owner of two well improved farms, and it was necessary for him to build practically all of the improvements on his home place since purchasing the land in 1893.
Christ Kanning was born in Westphalia, a province of Prussia in the German Empire, May 20, 1854. He is a son of Henry and Christena ( Poos) Kanning, who were the parents of seven children, three of whom are de- ceased. The parents spent their lives in the Fatherland. Christ Kanning is the only member of the family living in Atchison county: two of the children live in Germany, and the other resides in Illinois. Christ received eight years of schooling in his native land, became a farmer in Westphalia, and in 1889 left the old home and immigrated to Madison county, Illinois, where he worked as a farm hand four years. In 1893 he migrated westward, to Atch- ison county. and with his savings bought eighty acres of land in section 24, Lancaster township. This tract was improved at the time of purchase, but Christ, in keeping with the policy of his neighbors and the other enterprising farmers of this noted township, was not satisfied with the buildings, and has practically replaced all the original improvements with residence and barns more in keeping with his ambition and prosperity. He has erected a large, eight-room residence, and a barn 40x46 feet, a granary, and a large windmill which pumps the water for his home and live stock. The Harry Searls place, which he also owns, is a very well improved farm, and is located just one-half mile east of the home farm of Mr. Kanning. It is a well kept modern place. Mr. Kanning keeps graded stock on his place.
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Mr. Kanning was married February 29, 1888, to Caroline Stahlhut, and this marriage has been blessed with seven children, namely : Henry, deceased ; Mrs. Christina Poos, Benton township; Mrs. Mary W. Poos, Benton town- ship; Bertha, Otto, William, and Ada, all of whom are at home with their parents. Mrs. Kanning was born April 27, 1869, in Madison county, Illinois, and is a daughter of Henry and Mary (Debtner) Stahlhut, both of whom were natives of Germany, immigrating to America and settling in Madison county, Illinois, where they died. Mr. Kanning is one of those citizens who believe in doing their own thinking in political affairs, and is not allied with any political party, voting for the man, regardless of his politics, and making up his own mind as to each candidate's personal fitness to ably perform the duties of the office sought. He and his family are members of the German Lutheran church.
THEO INTFEN.
Theo Intfen has been a resident of Atchison county for over half a century. He has seen the county transformed from a wilderness and un- broken prairie to a land of fertile farms and thriving cities and towns. Prac- tically all of his life has been spent within sight of, or within, Atchison, and he has witnessed and taken part in the wonderful growth of his home city. Nearly thirty years of his life have been spent in building up the immense furniture and house furnishing business now located in his own building at 623-625 Commercial street. This business had its initial beginning in 1887 in the old Municipal theater building, under the firm name of Miller & Intfen. In 1890 the store was moved to the west half of the Ramsey building, where it remained under Mr. Intfen's management until November 25, 1912, when it was removed to the present quarters. Mr. Intfen purchased the building and thoroughly remodeled it, erecting a new and modern front, and building an addition on the rear, 50x150 feet. A stock worth over $40,000 is carried on three floors and the basement. An immense credit business is handled in a successful manner, and nine men are employed by Mr. Intfen in the car- ing for the trade. Goods from the Intfen store are sold over a wide range of territory, the store having patrons located in Tennessee, Iowa, Florida, Philippine Islands, the Dakotas, Arkansas, Nebraska, Oregon, Illinois, Mich- igan, Oklahoma, and other states. He does an extensive business in Kan- sas and Missouri, and cares for a great many orders received from a distance.
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