History of Labette County, Kansas, and representative citizens, Part 59

Author: Case, Nelson, 1845-1921, ed
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Chicago, Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 846

USA > Kansas > Labette County > History of Labette County, Kansas, and representative citizens > Part 59

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).

Mr. Bostelmann had one brother, Henry, who fell in the German military service. Their father, George Bostelmann, was a native of Germany, and never left his native land.

Frederick Bostelmann was united in mar- riage with Theresa Minder, a daughter of Dan- iel Minder, a respected citizen of Springfield, Illinois. Four children have blessed their home. One daughter, Rosie, is deceased. Those living are Mary, Henry and Edna.

Mr. Bostelmann is a man of great industry as a farmer. Success has attended his every effort, and in pecuniary acquisition he has be- come one of the substantial men of his section. He is a member of the German Evangelical church, and, fraternally, affiliates with Parsons Lodge, No. 12, A. O. U. W. He is closely attached to the Democratic party, and exer- cises all his influence in behalf of the interests of that party. During his long residence in Walton township he has gained a large number of friends, who hold him in the highest esteem.

S. GETZENDANER, one of the early pioneers of Labette county, Kansas, has been located on his farm in Howard township,-the northeast quarter of section 14, township 35, range 17,-since the spring of 1869. He is a progressive citizen, and has contributed his share toward the great development of the county. He was born in Maryland, in 1849, and is a son of A. and Mary (Buckey) Getz- endaner.

A. Getzendaner was born in Maryland and followed the business of a stockman and farm- er. He married Mary Buckey, also a native of Maryland, and they reared eight children, as follows: W. H .; Anna W .; Laura V .; Mar-

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shall, deceased; WV. S .; Mary; Fannie S .; and Milton E.

W. S. Getzendaner was thirteen years of age when he left his native state for Illinois, where he resided until he settled in Kansas, March 17, 1869. He immediately located on his present farm, and built a cabin, 10 by 12 feet in size, and also broke some ground the first year. He entered his claim in 1871, and has since carried on general farming and stock raising; his first market was at Chetopa. He has an excellent orchard of 40 acres, and has made many other improvements. His origi- nal cabin was replaced by his present two- story, eight-room, frame house, which was built twenty-six years ago. He has been a good manager, and his affairs are in a very prosperous condition. He is a man of high character, and enjoys the respect and esteem of all.

Mr. Getzendaner was united in marriage with Mary Mabry, who was born in Illinois, in 1854, and they have had two children : Frank; and Edmond, deceased. The subject of this sketch is a Democrat, in politics, and has served on the school board of his township. He belongs to the Anti-Horsethief Associa- tion ; and is a member of Star Lodge No. 117, I. O. O. F., of Coffeyville, Kansas. Relig- iously, he is a Protestant.

h ENRY L. RICH, an energetic and pro- gressive young farmer of Walton township, Labette county, Kansas, is one of the most prominent men in his community. He is a son of Thomas J. and Jane L. (Demorest ) Rich. and was born in McLean county, Illinois, in 1863.

His father was born in Massachusetts,

April 7, 1807. His mother was born in Co- lumbus, Ohio, February 15, 1822. At an early age Thomas J. Rich learned the carpenter's. trade and spent many years in pursuing that occupation. The latter part of his life, how- ever, was devoted to agricultural pursuits upon the farm now occupied by his son, Henry L. Upon this farm, which is the northeast quarter of section 5, Walton township, his last days were spent, and he passed to the life beyond in 1875. His wife died about five years pre- vious to his demise. She was a native of Logansport, Indiana. They reared II chil- dren. All are deceased, with the exception of Henry L., who is the youngest of the family, and his brother George, who was the eighth in succession of birth. The other children were : Sarah A .; Smith; Martha; Jane; Thomas J .; Viola; Vilroy ; Charles S. and Amozina.

Henry L. Rich accompanied his parents to. Kansas in 1870, when but seven years of age. Principally through his own efforts in apply- ing himself diligently to his books, he obtained. a good practical education. Thus he was well equipped for the active and uniformly success- ful career he has subsequently enjoyed. Hav- ing been reared on a farm, it was but natural that he should adopt that calling as his life work.

He was joined in marriage with Lizzie F. Murray, who was born in Maryland, in 1867. Six children blessed their union, namely : Mamie; Mabel; Fay; Iva; Nellie; and Stan- ley. Mamie, Fay and Stanley are deceased. The family are devout members of the Dunk- ard church, and are charitably inclined.

Like his father, Mr. Rich firmly adheres to. the principles of Democracy. He carries on general farming and devotes especial attention to stock raising .- breeding some very fine cat- tle, hogs and horses. Few men of his age hold

Unuistruly. Fredt, Brown

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so prominent a place in the public estimation. His friends pronounce his success the manifest result of resolute purpose and unflagging in- dustry, and predict a bright future for him.

ARED C. RICHCREEK, formerly pro- bate judge of Labette county, Kansas, is now a lumber dealer of Oswego, and is well and favorably known throughout the county. He was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, in 1845, and is a son of George W. and Eliza ( Mansfield) Rich- creek.

George W. Richcreek was born in Virginia, in 1812, and was a child of six years when he moved with his parents to Ohio, where he was reared and schooled. He took to the occupa- tion of a farmer, and after a time moved to the vicinity of Paris, Edgar county, Illinois, where he was engaged in farming until his death, in 1896, at the age of eighty-four years. His wife was Eliza Mansfield, who was born in 1822, and died in 1882. They were the parents of II children, as follows: Absalom; Mahala J .; Emily A. (Roller) ; Jared C., the subject of this sketch; Edward A .; Benjamin F .; Seth M .; Anna L. (Moore) ; Jesse; and Hiram and Howard, twins. Politically, George W. Richcreek was originally a Whig. and afterward a Republican. Religiously, he was a member of the Methodist church.

Jared C. Richcreek received his intellectual training in the public schools of his native town, and afterward taught a few terms in Illinois. From 1869 until 1875 he was one of the super- intendents of a farm of 45,000 acres. After this he moved to Strawn, Illinois, where he was engaged in the grain and lumber business for a period of five years. He sold out his

interests there and settled in Labette county, Kansas, where he bought a farm in Montana township, and conducted it successfully for fourteen years. He followed general farm- ing, and raised stock on an extensive scale. In 1894 he moved to Oswego, but still owns his original farm of 160 acres, and an addi- tional tract of 80 acres. In the fall of 1894 he was elected, on the Republican ticket, judge of the probate court of Labette county, and served in a most creditable manner until the expiration of his term, January 2, 1897. He afterward purchased the Thompson Gunter lumber yard, and has since operated it suc- cessfully. He is a prosperous business man, and an enterprising and progressive citizen.

Judge Richcreek was united in marriage, in 1874, to Wilhelmina Kantauk, by whom he has five children : Emory H .; Alice ; Jena- vieve; Tecumseh S .; and Orville K. The subject of this sketch is a Republican, in poli- tics, and served as justice of the peace while in Illinois.

RED H. BROWN, a prominent busi- ness man of Parsons, Kansas, whose portrait appears on the opposite page, is secretary and treasurer, and general manager of the Kansas Telephone & Electrical Company.

Mr. Brown was born in Carthage, Mis- souri, in 1869, and was educated in the schools of Girard, Kansas, whither his parents moved in 1877. He also attended St. Francis Insti- tute, of St. Paul, Kansas, and Wyman's Insti- tute, of Alton, Illinois, taking a course in civil engineering. In 1888, he entered the engineer- ing department of the R. H. & E. Ry. Com- pany, with which he was identified until 1890. He then became traveling salesman for the

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Pittsburg & Midway Coal Company, of Mid- way, Kansas, and remained in that position un- til 1894. The following year, he organized the Kansas Telephone & Electrical Company, which was chartered under the laws of Kan- sas, with the following officers : Hon .- Charles H. Kimball, president; A. A. Osgood, vice- president ; and Fred H. Brown, secretary and treasurer. Mr. Brown has had the active man- agement of the promotion and general business of the enterprise, with head offices in Parsons. The company operates in Montgomery, Chero- kee, Crawford and Labette counties. It has an exchange in Cherryvale and one in Parsons, and the lines in Labette county extend over 75 miles. Mr. Brown has resided in Parsons since 1895.

The subject of this sketch was united in marriage, in 1892, with Minnie M. Hitz, of Girard, Kansas, and they have one son, Fred H., Jr. Fraternally, Mr. Brown is a Royal Arch Mason and a member of the K. of P. Politically, he is unswerving in his support of the Republican party.

EORGE W. HALL, deceased, for many years one of the prominent, in- fluential citizens of Parsons, Kansas, was a blacksmith and machinist by trade. He was a man of sound principles, and of the strictest integrity, and his death was sin- cerely regretted by all who knew him. Mr. Hall was born in Steuben county, New York, in 1824, and was a son of John Hall. John Hall was born in Steuben county, New York, in 1805, and died in the same county, in 1824.

George W. Hall, the subject of this sketch, learned the trade of a blacksmith and machin- ist, and in 1852 moved to Fairfax, Virginia,

where he was engaged in the manufacture of plows. In 1861, the Confederates destroyed his property, and he barely escaped death, being obliged to crawl on his hands and knees, for 16 miles through brush in order to save his life. He journeyed on, and finally reached Washington, D. C., where he joined the Pio- neer Corps, and was made a captain in the regi- ment. He was mustered out in 1865, and re- turned to Fairfax, Virginia. In 1871, Mr. Hall decided to locate in the West, and accord- ingly removed to Parsons, Kansas, where he be- came superintendent of the water tanks of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway, between Junction City and Pryor Creek, Indian Terri- tory. In 1874, Mr. Hall went into the Mis- souri, Kansas & Texas Railway shops at Par- sons, as a machinist, and worked there until the time of his death, which occurred in 1883. He died of pneumonia, after having been sick but one day. He was greatly loved by all his fellow workmen, as he was ever ready to lend a helping hand, and to assist those in trouble. He was a good and faithful workman, and his employers reposed great confidence in him.

Mr. Hall was united in marriage with Lucy Golden, who was born in Greene county, Penn- sylvania, in 1838. She is a daughter of James and Margaret (Syphers) Golden; Mr. Golden was born in Richmond, Virginia, in 1800, and his wife was born in Winchester, Virginia, in 1802, and her death occurred in Blacksville, Virginia, in 1854. Mr. Golden was engaged in operating a large woolen mill at Blacksville. His death occurred in that city, in 1854. Mr. and Mrs. Golden reared the following children : James W., who located in Kansas in 1854; Margaret, deceased ; Louisa, of Blacksville, Vir- ginia ; Henry, of Colorado; Addie (Christley), deceased; Harford, of Jacksonville, Pennsyl- vania; Josiah, and Modock, both deceased;

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Fannie (Franks), of Burton, Virginia; and Lucy.

Mrs. Hall traveled, in 1895, as correspond- ent for the Waynesburg ( Pennsylvania) Re- publican, and the Oswego Independent, passing through the Southern States, Cuba, and Ja- maica. She is widely known in Labette coun- ty, where she is living in section 26, Liberty township.

OSEPH CARR, ticket agent for the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway Company, at Angola, Labette county, Kansas, is a native of Ohio. He was born September 23, 1860, and is a son of Jo- seph and Margaret (Humphreys) Carr.

Joseph Carr, Sr., was born in Ireland, in 1817. He came to the United States, in 1819. and when a youth learned the trade of a car- penter. He is now living with his son, Joseph. He married Margaret Humphreys, and this union was blessed by the birth of two children : William, who is farming in Ohio; and Jo- seph, the subject of this sketch. Joseph Carr, Sr., was previously married to Ann Caruthers, by whom he reared three children, as follows: Samuel and Mary J., who live in Ohio, and James, who enlisted in the Union army at the age of sixteen years, and died in Anderson- ville prison.

The latter lived at home until 1881, when he moved to Kansas, and located two miles east of Angola, where he lived one year. He then conducted a bakery in Mound Valley un- til 1889, when he went to the Indian Terri- tory. There he was employed as a switch- man on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Rail- way. While serving in this capacity he was run over and lost both of his feet. This mis- fortune disabled him for some time, and, after

he was able to walk, he went to Wisconsin, ·where he was occupied in mercantile pursuits. In 1893, he went to Joplin, Missouri, where he was engaged in the fruit business until 1894. In October of that year, he returned to Angola, and accepted his present position with the railroad company. He has entire charge of the depot at that station. He is a competent man, and discharges his duties to the entire satisfaction of his employers and the public.

Mr. Carr married Emma Stone, who was born in Grant county, Wisconsin. She died in 1889, leaving two children,-Arthur J. and Bessie A. Mr. Carr married, secondly, Har- riet B. Daugherty, who was born in Grant county, Wisconsin, in 1866. They have reared three children: Nolan W., Byron H. and Harry J.

Mr. Carr is postmaster of Angola, having been appointed February 21, 1890. In politics, he is a Republican. Fraternally, he is a mem- ber of the Anti-Horsethief Association. Re- ligiously, he attends the Methodist church.

1 RA M. FLEMING, one of the progress- ive and successful business men of La- bette county, Kansas, is superintendent of the Southwestern Coal & Improve- ment Company, of Parsons,-a position his father held before him. Mr. Fleming was born in Henry county, Illinois, in 1866, and is a son of Thomas Fleming.

Thomas Fleming came west in 1875, to take charge of the McAlester mines of the Osage Coal & Mining Company, and remained with that company until 1885. He then be- came identified with the Rich Hill Coal & Mining Company of Rich Hill, Missouri. In

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1890, he severed his connection with that con- cern, and was made general manager of the Southwestern Coal & Improvement Company, in which capacity he was serving at the time of his death, in 1894. at the age of sixty-three years.

Ira M. Fleming attended the public schools, and was a pupil in the Missouri State School of Mines. In 1885. he became associated with his father's work, in a clerical capacity, chang- ing from one company to another, when the latter did. On January 1, 1895, his knowledge of the business and his ability received recog- nition, when he was made superintendent of the Southwestern Coal & Improvement Com- pany, with office at Parsons.

Mr. Fleming was joined in matrimony, in 1889, with Clara Pye, of Cherokee, Kansas. Fraternally, he is a member of Cherokee Lodge, No. 117, A. F. & A. M .; and Parsons Lodge, No. 527, B. P. O. E.

A M. STRODE, who has resided in Os- wego since 1893, is a prominent cat- tleman and owns two fine farms in Labette county, Kansas,-one in Fairview township and the other in Mount Pleasant township. He was formerly propri- etor of the Oswego Hotel, and conducted that well known hostelry for a period of five years. Mr. Strode was born in Clinton county, Ohio, in 1840, and is a son of John L. Strode. His father was born in Fleming county, Kentucky, and was there reared and schooled. He was a farmer, by vocation, and at the time of his death, which occurred near Rome, Ohio, he was thirty-one years of age.

A. M. Strode was reared and mentally trained in Clinton county, Ohio, where he

lived until the outbreak of the Civil War. July 31, 1861, he enlisted in Company H, 39th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., and served in the Army of the Tennessee. He was in General McPherson's command, on the day when that popular and able officer was killed. He was in the army three years and twenty-seven days, and participated in numerous hard-fought bat- tles in a creditable manner. After the close of the war, he was engaged in mercantile pur- suits at Centerville, Ohio, until 1876, when he disposed of his interests there and removed to Chetopa, Labette county, Kansas. He ap- plied himself to farming and stock raising very successfully until 1894, when he became pro- prietor of the Oswego Hotel. This he con- ducted for a period of five years, and in 1900. opened another hotel at Wagoner, Indian Ter- ritory, which he sold out after keeping it four months. He now owns an excellent farm in Fairview township, and another in Mount Pleasant township, and is engaged in cattle dealing. He is a shrewd business man, and has been very successful in his various under- takings.

Mr. Strode was united in marriage with Elizabeth Canny, of Centerville, Ohio, in 1862. In political attachments, he is a strong Re- publican.

m ATTHEW CAIN, deceased. For many years this gentleman was one of Labette City's leading mer- chants, and most highly respected citizens. He was a man of more than ordinary intelligence, good principles, and splendid busi- ness ability, and his death was deeply and sin- cerely mourned in the community. Honorable and upright in his dealings with all men, he won many lifelong friends, and his genial and pleas-

MR. AND MRS. R C. SHUMAKER AND FAMILY.

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ing personality made him a favorite with all. Mr. Cain was born in Monroe county. Ohio, in 1834, and was a son of Alfred and Nancy (Laughin) Cain.

Alfred Cain was born in Monroe county, Ohio, in 1809, and died in that county in 1854. He married Mary Laughin, who was born in the same county, in 1813, and whose death took place there just seventy years later. They were the parents of the following children, namely : Rachael (Ambler), deceased; Rich- ard, of Monroe county, Ohio; Matthew, the subject of this sketch; Louisa, deceased; Thomas, of Monroe county, Ohio; Luther, of Labette county, Kansas; John, deceased ; Amanda (Mehl), of Virginia; Nancy, de- ceased ; and Nelson.

Matthew Cain was reared and educated in Monroe county, Ohio, and in 1860 moved to Vermilion county, Illinois, where he lived for two years. In 1862, Mr. Cain enlisted in Com- pany L, 125th Reg., Ill. Vol. Inf. He served gallantly until the close of the war, when he was mustered out, and returned to Vermilion county. He made that county his home for the following seventeen years, when he decided to move to Kansas. In 1882, Mr. Cain settled in Labette county, Kansas,-opening a place of business in Labette City. He continued in mercantile pursuits in Labette City, from 1882 until 1890,-the year of his death. He was much missed, both in business and social circles.

Mr. Cain married Jane Laughton, who was born in Monroe county, Ohio, in 1839. She is a daughter of John and Mary (Reed) Laughton. John Laughton was born in Scot- land. in 1803, and died in Monroe county, Ohio, in 1843; his wife was born in Mary- land, in 1810, and died in Vermilion county, Illinois, in 1877. They reared the following

offspring: Elizabeth (McCoy), deceased; Jane (Cain), of Labette county, Kansas ; Alexander, of Buffalo county, Nebraska ; and William, deceased. Matthew Cain and his wife were the parents of the following chil- dren: Mary (Lamm), of Labette City, who has had three children,-Leslie, Mazie, and Eva, deceased; Ida (Miller), of Crawford county, Kansas, who has six children,-Clar- ence, Oscar, Mabel, Earnest, Bessie, and Amy ; Frank, deceased; Anabel (Webb), of Kansas City, Missouri, who has one child,-Beulah ; Clara, deceased; and Vernon, of Labette county.

Mr. Cain was a Republican, in politics, and held the office of road overseer. He was a Mason, in his younger days, and belonged to the Anti-Horsethief Association. In religious belief, he was a member of the New Light So- ciety. Mrs. Cain is a member of the M. E. church and attends worship at Labette City. She resides in section 34, Liberty township.

R OBERT COLUMBUS SHUMAK- ER, a very prominent farmer of Mound Valley township, Labette county, Kansas, has an excellent farm in section 14, township 32, range 18. He was born in Indiana, in 1849, and is a son of J. O. and Sarah (Stotts) Shumaker.

His family originally came from Holland, and located in New York State, previous to the Revolutionary War, and subsequently, in the state of Pennsylvania. The great-grand- father of Robert C. was one of the first settlers of Marion county, Indiana, and lived there when Indianapolis was founded. Mr. Shu- maker's grandfather was born in Pennsylvania, where he remained until he was twelve years

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old, when, with his father, he moved to Indi- ana, in 1812. He journeyed to Missouri, in 1856, with his son, J. O., and lived there until his death.

J. O. Shumaker was born and reared in Indiana. He was a Democrat in politics until 1864, when his first Republican vote was cast for Abraham Lincoln. He died in November, 1898, at the age of seventy-three years. His wife, Sarah Stotts, was born and reared in Daviess county, Indiana, and died at the age of twenty-eight years, in the year 1860. Her mother's name was Laughlin, and she was of Scotch-English descent. Mr. and Mrs. J. O. Shumaker were parents of four children : Robert Columbus; Moses Milton, who resides on the old homestead in Missouri; Sophia (Cooper), whose husband is a farmer and stockman of Nevada ; and Mary S. (Charlton), who also resides on a portion of the old fam- ily homestead in Missouri.

Robert C. Shumaker was six years of age when he was taken by his parents to Lewis county, Missouri, where he lived for twenty- two years. He moved to Labette county, Kan- sas, in 1878, and located on his present farm, in section 14, township 32, range 18, which he purchased of W. T. Stotts, who acquired first title to the property. The latter had broken and partly improved 40 acres, and had put up a small house, to which Mr. Shumaker built an addition. Mr. Shumaker also purchased 80 acres in section 11, north and west of his brother, M. M. Shumaker, who held the orig- inal deed thereto. He has successfully fol- lowed general farming and stock raising, and prefers Shorthorn cattle and Poland-China hogs. His crops are chiefly corn, wheat and oats. He has a fine orchard of five acres and a well improved farm.

Mr. Shumaker was united in marriage in

Labette county, with Luella Traughber, who was born in Missouri, and is a daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (Dunkle) Traughber. She is one of four children: Emma (Wata- wa), of St. Louis, Missouri; Luella; Fanny (Dancy), of Kansas City, Missouri; and Charles A., who resides on section 23, town- ship 32, range 18, in Labette county. Mr. and Mrs. Shumaker have five children, as follows : Gertrude E., A. Mabel, Orville E., Dora F., and Edna M. In politics, Mr. Shumaker is a Republican, and has served as trustee of Mound Valley township for one year. At pres- ent he is a member of the school board in dis- trict No. 65. He belongs to the Odd Fellows lodge of Mound Valley. In religious attach- ments, he and his children are members of the Methodist church, and his wife is a mem- ber of the Christian church.

A group picture of Mr. and Mrs. Shumaker and family, executed from a recent photo- graph, accompanies the foregoing sketch, be- ing presented on a page in proximity to this.

ILLIAM SULLIVAN. a representa- tive citizen and prominent business man of Parsons, Kansas, is the proprietor of a fine drug store in that city, located at No. 2128 Johnson avenue. He keeps at all times a fine line of pure drugs, makes a specialty of filling prescriptions, and maintains a complete stock of apothecaries' supplies.

Mr. Sullivan was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in July, 1856, and was the eld- est of two sons born to James and Anna Sulli- van. James Sullivan was also a native of Pennsylvania, and followed civil engineering for many years. During the Civil War, he

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entered the Union service as a member of the Mulligan brigade, and never came back,-thus breaking the thread of the family history. The widowed mother, who was then living in Chi- cago, Illinois, was left with two small children, William, and his brother James, whom she was unable to support. They were placed with the Sisters of Mercy, in Chicago, and after a time homes were obtained for them. James was the first to leave the asylum, and William was ignorant of his brother's whereabouts for a number of years.

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History of Labette County, Kansas, and representative citizens, Part 59

Author: Case, Nelson, 1845-1921, ed Publication date: 1901 Publisher: Chicago, Biographical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 846

Author: Case, Nelson, 1845-1921, ed
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Chicago, Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 846