History of Labette County, Kansas, and representative citizens, Part 85

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 85

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ICHOLAS ANDERSON, an expert plasterer and stone mason, of Par- sons, Kansas, is a native of Sweden, where his birth occurred July 21, 1842. He is a son of Andrus Pierson and Bangta ( Klemetson) Anderson, who remained in their native country, and reared four sons. Pier, the eldst son, emigrated to America four years before Nicholas came, settled in Gales- burg, Illinois, and died six months after his ar- rival in this country. He advised his brothers not to seek a home in America. Jans, the sec- ond, was a farmer by occupation, and died in Germany, where he then lived in 1898. Nels is a widower, and resides on the old home farm in Sweden, which he bought and paid for. He and Nicholas are the only surviving members of the family. the parents having passed away.

Nicholas Anderson was reared on his father's farm in Sweden, and according to custom was confirmed in the state church, at

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the age of fifteen years. When he attained the age of twenty-one years, his father bribed a physician to pronounce him physically disabled from entering the regular army, and in that way several years of valuable time were saved, as he was not obliged to become a soldier. Two years later he left his native place to shift for himself, and some time afterward drifted into Germany, where he spent four years at farm work. In 1872 he immigrated to Amer- ica, in company with a cousin, who is deceased. Being acquainted with a butcher who was lo- cated in Parsons, Kansas, he naturally sought the same location,-intending to take up a claim.

Mr. Anderson worked on the railroad for about a year and a half, and with that excep- tion he has made his home in Parsons, having visited his native country twice. After work- ing some time as a helper to brick masons, he decided to become a mason, and accordingly learned the trade. He then began business for himself, by building cisterns, walls, etc., and of late years has devoted much time to stone cut- ting and contracting. He has been a busy, energetic man, and having a good trade has prospered accordingly. He is now quite an extensive property owner, having several fine tracts of land near Parsons, which he leases, and also a tract of land in the western part of the town,-known as Anderson's Addition. Mr. Anderson has sold several building lots from this tract at excellent figures. He also owns a comfortable residence at No. 903 Lin- coln avenue.

In 1881 Mr. Anderson was united in mar- riage with Ingrede Nelson, a native of Sweden, who located in Parsons in 1880. The mar- riage took place in Carthage, Missouri. Six children blessed their union. The first three died in infancy. Elmer, who is nineteen years

old, is attending the business college at Par- sons. Minnie Elizabeth, the only daughter, has attained the age of fifteen years, and is a student : Oscar, the youngest of the family, is now twelve years old.

In his religious views, Mr. Anderson favors the United Brethren church, of which he was formerly a class-leader. His wife shows a decided preference for the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Anderson is a Republican, in politics, but his business demands nearly all his attention, and he has never sought political preferment save once, when he was a candi- date for the office of city councilman. Like all good citizens, he has the welfare of the city at heart, and nses his influence for the good of the community. He has assisted materially in building up the city, having erected several fine tenement houses in the west side of town. He lives in that part of the city, on Dirr avenue, near the railroad shops, until 1895. when he removed to his present residence.

R OBERT H. MUZZY. This gentle- man is an extensive hardware dealer both in Kansas and the Indian Ter- ritory. He is a resident of Edna. Kansas, where he conducts a prosperous busi- ness. Mr. Muzzy was born in Jefferson coun- ty, New York, in 1862, and is a son of J. B. and Henrietta (Coon) Muzzy.

J. B. Muzzy was born in Jefferson county, New York, and still resides in Adams, that county, aged sixty-eight years. He married Henrietta Coon, who was also a native of Jefferson county, and is deceased. They were the parents of four children, as follows: Robert H .; Byron J., a farmer in New York; John B., of Watertown, New York, who is an

MR. AND MRS. J. W. MORAIN.

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attorney in the office of the county clerk ; and Henrietta (Dare), of Jefferson county, New York.

R. H. Muzzy was reared and educated in New York, where he took an academic course at Union Academy. Belleville, New York. When he was twenty-four years old, he re- moved to Cherryvale, Labette county, Kan- sas, where he was engaged in the hardware business "for a year and a half. In 1886, he located in Edna, where he erected his pres- ent store building, which is 68 by 40 feet in dimensions, including the shop in the rear. He also has a storeroom in the rear which is 24 by 50 feet in dimensions. Mr. Muzzy car- ries a large stock of shelf and heavy hard- ware, harness, tinware, and sewing machines, and employs two or more men. For ,ten years he did his own tin work. Mr. Muzzy also lias a branch store at Centralia, Indian Ter- ritory, which he established in March, 1899, and placed in charge of R. F. Allen. He han- dles a full line of hardware, harness, imple- ments, furniture and undertaking supplies. He is also equal partner in the firm of W. T. Berentz & Muzzy, of Bartlesville, Indian Ter- ritory, carrying a similar stock, including fur- niture and undertaking supplies. Mr. Muzzy has been very prosperous, and is one of the most successful business men in Labette county. A man of splendid business and ex- ecutive ability, it is not surprising that he has reached the goal of success, and as this success has been all of his own earning, he deserves much credit. Mr. Muzzy has a very comfortable home in Edna.

Mr. Muzzy was married, in New York, to A. Etta Barney, and they have one daughter, Esther. He is a Republican in politics, and has served as a councilman, and as treasurer of Elm Grove township. Fraternally, Mr.

Muzzy is a member of the M. W. of A. lodge, of Edna. His wife is a member of the Pres- byterian church. Mr. Muzzy is a very popular man in Edna, where he and his wife assist in all social entertainments, and are well known.

W. MORAIN, a highly respected farmer living in section 29, town- ship 32, range 18. in Mound Valley township, Labette county, Kansas, was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, in 1836. He is a son of Joseph and Mary ( Murphy ) Morain.

Joseph Morain went with his parents from Maryland to Ohio, where he lived for a num- ber of years. When J. W. was but one year old, Mr. Morain moved to Douglas county, Illinois, where, eight years later, his · death occurred. His wife then returned to Ohio, and subsequently went back to Illinois, where she died, in March, 1892. They reared five children : J. W .; and James, Minerva, Sarah and Thomas, deceased.

J. W. Morain lived nine years in Illinois, and then returned with his mother to Ohio. When he reached the age of twenty-one years, he went back to Illinois. In 1868, he went to Missouri. In 1871, Mr. Morain drove from Jasper county, Missouri, to Labette county. Kansas, and in July of that year set the stakes on his present farm in Mound Valley township. This farm had been abandoned by a young man, who had placed four logs there, as a foundation for a house. Not a particle of the land was broken, and there was no timber on it. In the fall of 1871, Mr. Morain built a claim house, 10 by 12 feet, in size. He was alone on the claim at this time, and one of his horses got away. Mr. Morain went back to

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Missouri, on foot, and tried to find the ani- inal. He was unsuccessful, and returned to Labette county, with a friend. Later, he trad- ed the remaining horse for a yoke of cattle. He returned to Missouri during the winter of 1871-1872, and the following spring took his family, and once more settled on this farm. His claim house still stands, but in 1884 Mr. Morain completed an eight-room house, which is 24 feet square. He has 500 apple trees and two miles of hedge. He carries on diversified farming, and is very successful. Mr. Morain favors Hereford cattle, and Poland-China hogs. He has made many valuable improve- ments on his farm, and it presents a very at- tractive appearance.

Mr. Morain was united in marriage with Hannah Barnes, in De Witt county, Illinois, March 26, 1861. She was born in Marion county, Illinois, where her father was engaged in manufacturing woolens. Mrs. Morain has a half brother living in Illinois, and a half sister, who lives in Linn county, Kansas. Nine children have resulted from her union with Mr. Morain, namely : Charles, who was born in Illinois, married Emma Allmon, and lives near his father's home; Eva, who died in Illi- nois; Emma, who was a native of Illinois; Albert, deceased : Stanley, who lives in Labette county, and married Miss Britegham; Ora, deceased : Charity, deceased ; Leland, who lives in Iowa ; Azalia, who is married, lives at home, and has one child, Leila R .; and Floyd, who is also at home.

Mr. Morain has always been a member of the Republican party, and has taken an active interest in local politics. He served as clerk of the school board, in District No. 34, in 1874, and was township treasurer for two years. He attends the Methodist church at Excelsior, where he acts as church trustee.

Mr. Morain is a man of honest principles, and is highly esteemed by all who know him. Por- traits of Mr. and Mrs. Morain accompany this sketch, being shown on a preceding page.

G. EWING, familiarly known as Glenn Ewing, a popular passen- ger engineer on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway, was born in Kentucky, March 19, 1853, and is a son of William and Sarah (Glenn) Ewing, who lived a quiet rural life at their Kentucky home, being separated by death only three years. The father died in 1893, and was fol- lowed by the mother in 1896.

M. G. Ewing was reared to farm life, and followed that line of employment until he en- gaged in railroading. He went from his old home to Winfield, Henry county, Iowa, in March, 1873, and applied himself actively to farm work. There he met and married Alice Kepper, a native of Ohio. They have one (laughter, Lelia, at home, pursuing a course in music.

In April, 1877, Mr. Ewing moved from Henry county, Iowa, to Parsons, Labette county, Kansas, and at once went to the farm of his uncle. He applied himself assiduously to farm duties, and made many important improvements, which greatly enhanced the value of the property. In 1879, he left the farm and entered the car department of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway. He was transferred to the locomotive department in 1880, and afterward became a fireman on the road, first for Engineer William Dwyer in the freight service on the Cherokee and Neosho divisions.

In 1882, Mr. Ewing was promoted to be

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a freight engineer, and further advanced to the passenger service in March, 1896, when he was given a regular passenger run from Parsons to Kansas City. Mr. Ewing has gone through the different stages of railroad life, has overcome all obstacles to success, and now has a pleasant run, and takes pleasure in the distinction of being a very fortunate and successful engineer.

Mr. Ewing has purchased a fine home at No. 1706 Belmont avenue. In his political views, he favors the Republican party, al- though reared as a Democrat. Socially, he affiliates with the following fraternal orders: B. of L. E., Division No. 179; A. F. & A. M., of Parsons; Select Knights; Knights and La- dies of Security; and B. P. O. E. Mrs. Ewing is a member of the Fraternal Aid So- ciety, and the auxiliary to the B. of L. E. In their religious views, they incline toward Presbyterian doctrines.

OHN S. HILEMAN, a prominent real-estate dealer of Edna, Labette county, Kansas, was born in 1845, in Ohio, and is a son of Daniel and Mary (Huff) Hileman.

Daniel Hileman was born in Pennsylvania, of Pennsylvania-Dutch stock, and was mar- ried to Mary Huff in 1837. She was also a native of Pennsylvania. They moved to Ohio in 1837, and in 1860 Mr. Hileman and his brother Michael drove in covered wagons to Andrew county, Missouri, where Mrs. Hile- man died in 1881, aged sixty-eight years. After her death, Mr. Hileman moved to La- bette county, Kansas, in 1882, and resided on a farm near Oswego, where he died in 1899, aged eighty-five years. He was intensely

loyal and enthusiastic in his convictions, and was one of the delegates from Ohio to the convention at Baltimore which nominated James K. Polk for the presidency. He joined the Republican party in 1856,-the passage of the fugitive slave law and the Dred Scott decision having caused him to leave the Demo- cratic party. He and his wife reared seven children, as follows: James E .; Susanna E .; Rebecca; John S .; M. D .; Minerva; and D. O. James E. was a member of Company I, 16th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., who fell doubly wounded, December 29, 1862, in front of Vicksburg, and died in a rebel prison at Jack- son, Mississippi. Susanna E. (Crocket) is a widow, who lives at Lenora, Norton county, Kansas. Rebecca died at the age of eighteen years, in Ohio. M. D. is a farmer near Bax- ter Springs, Kansas. Minerva died in Mis- souri, at the age of twelve years. D. O. lives on the old homestead near Oswego. Six of the children came to Andrew county, Mis- souri.

John S. Hileman attended the schools of his native state, Ohio, until he reached the age of fifteen years, when his father moved to Missouri, where there were no public schools. When he was seventeen years old, he enlisted, ir August, 1862, in Company C, 35th Reg., Mo. Vol. Inf., and served until Richmond fell. He served in the 16th Army Corps, un- der General Hurlbert, and he was not wound- ed, although his health became impaired. He was mustered out in May, 1865, at St. Louis, where he donned citizen's clothes and returned home to Andrew county, Missouri, where he remained for some time on the old homestead on the farm. He reviewed his studies in the public schools and attended Stewartville Acad- emy one year, after which he taught school some years in Missouri. After his marriage,

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in 1868, he farmed unt.] 1883, when he re- moved to Labette county, Kansas, and bought a farm near the state line. He also bought 200 head of cattle and then followed farming and stock raising until 1896, when he bought property in Edna, moved there and engaged alone in the real-estate business. In Decem- ber, 1900, he sold his farm. His son was en- gaged in business with him until the spring of 1900, under the firm name of J. S. Hileman & Son, and then accepted a position as ab- stractor and bookkeeper with H. B. Hender- son, of Columbus, Kansas. Mr. Hileman is a thorough business man, has honest, upright principles, and deals fairly with all. He has one of the finest homes in Edna, situated on the corner of Delaware and Myrtle streets.

Mr. Hileman married Mary Briggs, and they have three children, namely: Gertrude (Todd), of Oswego, and Lora (Lower), of Abilene, Kansas, both of whom were married December 27, 1899; and Allen Dale, who at- tended the normal school at Emporia for one year. the Southwest Kansas College at Win- field for two years, and later the Commercial college at Quincy, Illinois,-he is a fine young business man, and has a splendid business training. Mr. Hileman has always been a Republican, and was nominated without his asking and elected to the Kansas legislature, in 1888, for a two years term. He has been commander of Knoxville Post, No. 458, G. A. R., for a number of years, and takes great pleasure in attending state and national en- campments and G. A. R. reunions ; he looks upon them as the best meetings on earth. He is also a member of the I. O. O. F. and M. W. of A. lodges. He belongs to the Sons and Daughters of Justice, and the Knights and Ladies of Security, and is one of the promoters of the new order, the Home Build-

ers' Union, in which he is supreme master builder. He and his family attend the Meth- odist church.

I. TANNER, who formerly repre- sented Labette county, Kansas, in the legislature, and is one of the highly respected farmers living in Osage township, was born in 1855, in Green county, Missouri. He is a son of Elias and Eliza Tanner, who are deceased. He is one of eight children, namely: Marion; Martha, who married Samuel Sliger, and now lives in Kansas City, Missouri; William; David; J. S .; Samuel; Stewart; and Louisa.

When his mother died, J. I. Tanner was very young. In 1870 he came to Labette county, where he was reared at the home of his brother-in-law, Samuel Sliger, who had taken a claim in section II, township 32, range 17, in Osage towiiship. Mr. Sliger died in 1877. There J. I. Tanner made his home un- til lie reached his majority. His first work was on the farm in Osage township. In 1882 Mr. Tanner purchased his present farm, in the southeast quarter of section 2, township 32, range 17, in Osage township, which has since been his home. The claim was first conveyed. to Mr. Sinclair, an early settler, who after- ward removed to Washington. Mr. Tanner carries on diversified farming and stock rais- ing, and has a thorough knowledge of agri- cultural matters. He is a self made man, of good business ability.

Mr. Tanner was united in marriage with Nellie Wheelock, who was born in Illinois, in 1862. They have five children, namely : Ethel: Mabel; William; James; and Homer. Politically, Mr. Tanner is a Democrat, and

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was elected representative of the county in 1891, serving two years. He has not accepted any nominations since that time. Fraternally, he is a member of the organization of the Sons and Daughters of Justice at Cherryvale. In religious views, he is liberal.

HARLES J. DARLING, a promi- nent resident of Osage township, Labette county, Kansas, came to this county in 1871, a poor man, and by years of careful saving and industry has laid by a handsome competency, and is now the owner of between 600 and 700 acres of excellent farm land. He was born August 22, 1841, in Jackson county, Ohio, and is a son of James H. Darling.

James H. Darling was born in Virginia, as was also his wife, both being of English descent. They were the parents of three daughters and five sons, as follows: P. B., who came to Labette county in 1869, and re- sides south of the home of Charles J .; Tacy E. (Dove), who died in Illinois; Virginia C. (Martin), of Jackson county, Ohio; Charles J .; Malinda S. (Eubanks), of Jackson coun- ty. Ohio; Joseph R., who resides west of Cherryvale, in Montgomery county, Kansas; W. L., who lives in Jackson county, Ohio; and Henry C., who also lives in Ohio, In 1882, James H. Darling was persuaded by his son, Charles J., to come and reside with him in Labette county, and here he died in 1895, at the age of eighty-two years, his wife hav- ing died here in 1892. He was a soldier in the Civil war, and served with the 73d Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., for two years, when he was discharged because of rheumatism.

Charles J. Darling attended the common

schools of Ohio, and enlisted from there in Company F. 173d Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., in 1864, receiving an honorable discharge at Nashville, Tennessee, in 1865. He then re- turned to Ohio, and in the fall of 1867 re- moved to Illinois. He came to Labette coun- ty, Kansas, March 31, 1871, and in April of that year purchased his home farm, the south- west quarter of section 31, township 31, range 18. Mr. Adams; the gentleman of whom he purchased, had placed some logs as a founda- tion, and Mr. Darling erected a log house in the rear of the site of his present house. The first frame house was moved upon the place in 1876, and the crude stable, characteristic of early days, was replaced by good substan- tial barns. His wife, who was in poor health upon their arrival in this county, died, and was buried on April 22, 1871. Mr. Darling was a very poor man. at the time, owning only two teams, and was obliged to borrow money to defray the funeral expenses. He now owns between 600 and 700 acres of land, including the south half of section 36, town- ship 31, range 17; the southwest quarter of section 31, township 31, range 18; 53 acres in section 7, township 32, range 18, for which he traded a span of mules; and 120 acres east of his home place in section 32. He broke hedge rows in the spring of 1871, and did all his early plowing. He is now raising two boys and a girl, who are Jonathan Rogers' chil- dren. At all times he has two men employed in work on the farm, and at intervals has many more than this number. Of late years, he has used mules almost exclusively in farm work, and has been engaged in raising mules, having imported a fine Spanish jack. He is engaged in general farming and stock raising, and favors Red Polled Angus cattle and Poland- China hogs. He has an excellent water sup-

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ply, as Gig Hill Creek runs through two of his farms.

Charles J. Darling was first united in mar- riage, in Ohio, with Jane Meeker, who was born in 1837 and died in 1871, leaving three children : James T .; Ruth Jane; and William C. James T., who married Anna Bussert, lives near LaFountaine, Kansas, and has three children, Charles K., Cleo, and Clair. Ruth Jane (Wagner), of Montgomery county, Kan- sas, has five children: Roy, Daisy, Charles. Lulu, and Maynard. William C. married Nellie Swart, a daughter of J. B. Swart, a well known politician of this county. The second matrimonial alliance of Mr. Darling was with Martha A. Cassill, who was born in Ohio, in 1849, and is a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (St. Clair) Cassill. She is one of 10 children, as follows: Mary J. (Newton), of Rich Hill, Missouri; Martha A .; Louis, of Missouri; Sarah (Aldrich), of Platte county, Kansas; Nancy (Gilbert), of Oklahoma; Josie; O. E., who lives in Illinois; George, an artist of Bos- ton, Massachusetts; and two who died in in- fancy. Mr. and Mrs. Darling have two chil- dren : Alonzo A. and Charles J. Jr., both of whom are engaged in the lumber business at Grand Falls, Washington. In politics Mr. Darling is really a Republican, although a bi-metallist. He served as township treasurer for several terms. Fraternally, he is a mem- ber of the A. O. U. W., of Cherryvale; the Sons and Daughters of Justice; Modern Woodmen of America; and was formerly a member of the G. A. R., and of the Anti-Horse- thief Association. His wife is a member of the Modern Tontines. Religiously, he is a Methodist and assisted in erecting the church, where he worships. His postoffice is Cherry- vale, but he is on one of the three free rural- delivery mail routes.

HARLES F. GEHRING, the compe- tent and well informed scale inspec- tor of the entire Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway, has been a resi- dent of Parsons, Labette county, Kansas, since October, 1891, and is one of the leading citizens of that flourishing city. Mr. Gehring, as his name indicates, is of German descent. He is a son of John and Rosanna (Loechner) Gehr- ing, both of whom were born in Germany.

John Gehring followed the occupation of a carpenter for many years, and was a fine me- chanic. He accompanied relatives to America when about nine years old, the lady that be- came his wife having crossed the ocean when about the same age. Their marriage took place in the state of Ohio. The beloved mother has been deceased for many years, but the father still survives and at the present time is a resident of Elkhart county, Indiana. Nine children were born to this worthy couple, two of whom, both daughters, died in infancy. The others are, William, deceased, who dur- ing his life was a prosperous farmer in Indi- ana ; George M. a mechanic, now residing at Bartlesville, Indian Territory; Charles F., who is a twin brother of Emma (Pearman), of Niles, Michigan ; Paulina (Lenocker), of Dex- ter, Iowa; Ida (Huffman), who resides on a farm in Elkhart county, Indiana ; and Frank, a mechanic, of Millersburg, Indiana.

Charles F. Gehring was born in Holmes county, Ohio, in 1852, but was reared princi- pally in Indiana, where he attended the com- mon schools until he attained the age of fifteen years. At that early age he began to make his own way in the world, working first on a farm in Indiana. When about twenty years old he began carpenter and scale work, in the employ of J. B. Voris, an agricultural imple- ment dealer at Monroe, Jasper county, Iowa.

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In 1878 Mr. Gehring went to Sherman, Texas, and worked in the construction depart- ment of a railroad there, under A. B. Good- rich, station agent at that place. Later he traveled with that gentleman for about two years, building and setting up the Fairbank Company's scales. He subsequently served on the police force at Sherman, Texas, for some time, and later was a brakeman for eighteen months, on the Texas & Pacific Railway. For several years thereafter he was engaged in rail- roading, and worked in the capacity of fore- man of a bridge gang on the same system. This occupied his attention until he entered the employ of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Rail- way Company, at Parsons, in 1891.

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History of Labette County, Kansas, and representative citizens, Part 85

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