USA > Kansas > Labette County > History of Labette County, Kansas, and representative citizens > Part 86
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In 1895 Mr. Gehring succeeded his father- in-law, Cyrus Mehring, as scale inspector. He has charge of inspecting, testing, and re- pairing all scales over the entire Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway system, which neces- sitates much travel. His position is one of much importance, but, as he has learned the business from the very beginning, he has no difficulty in attending to his various duties. The task has become a "profession" to him, as he is quite an expert in his line, and gives all work his personal attention.
In 1882 Mr. Gehring was united in mar- riage with Kate Mehring, an accomplished daughter of Cyrus and Susan (Hilderbrand) Mehring. Mrs. Gehring was born in Penn- sylvania, in 1862, and is the eldest of a family of six children, two of whom died in infancy. One sister, Lizzie, is also deceased. Two sis- ters are still living ; they are: Annie (Scott), wife of a railroad employee at Parsons; and Etta (Parker), of the same city. Mrs. Gehr- ing remained in her native state until she was about nine years old, when her parents re- moved to Marion county, Illinois, where she at-
tended school until she was seventeen years old, the family removing at that time to Sher- man, Texas.
Mr. and Mrs. Gehring have a family of eight bright, healthy children, all of whom are still around the home fireside. The eldest one works in the mill. With the exception of the youngest, the others are students. Their names are Frank, Claude, Ira, Carrie, Fred, Edith and Ethel, twins, and Ruth. Mrs. Gehring and her eldest son are devout mem- bers of the Christian church, which the others also attend. They reside in a comfortable residence at No. 2511 Belmont avenue, the lot having a frontage of 75 feet.
In his political preferences, our subject uses all his influence toward furthering the inter- ests of the Democratic party, and votes a straight ticket each and every time .. His relig- ious views are liberal, and he has not allied himself with any denomination. He is a val- ned member of Lodge No. I, A. O. U. W., of Parsons. He is known as a good citizen, is thoroughly progressive and wide awake, and can be depended upon to keep abreast of the times. In his successful life we have an example of what may be accomplished by steady and persistent effort, coupled with a determination to succeed.
ENRY SCHMITZ was born in Ger- many in 1830, and came to America in 1850, locating in Dana county, Wisconsin, where he farmed. There he met Margaret Wahl, a native of Germany, whose hand he sought and won in marriage. Miss Wahl left her German home and came to America in 1852.
Mr. and Mrs. Schmitz sought a home in
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the West, coming to Neosho county, Kansas, and locating at Osage Mission (now St. Paul), in October, 1870, where they resided two years. Mr. Schmitz bought property in town on which he built and operated a brewery. In 1873 he moved to Parsons, being largely in- fluenced by the father-in-law of J. C. Appich, who had conducted a bakery at St. Paul, and also by the fact that the division headquarters of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway were located at Parsons.
Desiring a change of business, Mr. Schmitz disposed of his brewery property at St. Paul. For a time he rented a house in the southeast- ern part of Parsons, and was employed in various ways. He finally engaged in the dairy business, handling from 40 to 50 cows. He bought 10 acres of land situated between John- son and Corning avenues, which he still owns, and continued in the dairy business several years, supplying his customers from the dairy wagon, and enjoying a fine patronage in the city. Mr. Schmitz has established himself in an elegant and commodious home on Forrest avenue and Fourteenth street, and is now prac- tically retired.
Ten children have been born to him and his wife, as follows: John; Gertrude; An- thony P .; Girard G .; Charles J .; Labourous and Louise, deceased ; Katie; Henry; and Ag- nes. John was born in 1858, and is engaged in the jewelry business at Parsons. Gertrude (McInerny), a widow, residing in Parsons, was born in 1860. Anthony P. was born in 1862, and lives in Chicago, and is manager of a hat and fur store. Girard G. was born in 1864, and is a jeweler in Chicago. Charles J. was born in Sauk county, Wisconsin, in 1866, but was practically reared and educated in Par- sons. His first work was for George Walters at a lunch counter. In 1886 he became a
brakeman on the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway, under Superintendent T. G. Golden, and worked thus until 1889, on the Cherokee Division. He then was promoted to be a freight conductor. He runs over the Chero- kee and Neosho divisions mainly at the pres- ent time, but has changed runs over three divisions. He has been very fortunate, hav- ing been connected with but one slight acci- dent ; he is generally regarded as a successful and competent young railroad man. He is making his home with his parents. Frater- nally, he is a member of Division No. 161, O. R. C., of Parsons, also of Lodge No. 525, B. P. O. E., of Parsons. Labourous and Louise died young. Katie, who was born in St. Paul, in 1872, is a clerk, and for the past eight years has had a position in Joice's large department store. Henry, who was born in 1876, is at home, and is now running a switch engine at Muskogee. Agnes was born in 1879, and is at home.
Mr. Schmitz is a supporter of the Demo- cratic party, and an admirer of the principles of Jefferson and Jackson, but has never al- lowed his party enthusiasm to interfere with his daily duties in the least. The family are members of the Catholic church.
ILLIAM H. MADDOCKS, chief draughtsman of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway Com- pany, resides at Parsons, Labette county, Kansas. He was born in England in December, 1862. His parents were both na- tives of England, where his father is superin- tendent of the Brunswick works of the Patent Shaft & Axletree Company, Limited. He is a man of fine mechanical ability, which was
J. A. JONES.
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transmitted to his sons, who follow similar professions. Mrs. Maddocks, whose maiden name was Sarah Ann Orme, is deceased. Will- iam H. Maddocks has three brothers now liv- ing: Thomas, George and Arthur.
Mr. Maddocks attended the common schools, and afterward the grammar and tech- nical schools of his native city, and was later apprenticed to the trade of machinist and draughtsman. He finally located in America, and for a time was at Toronto, Canada. From there he went to Bloomington and Chicago, Illinois, where he was employed on the Chicago & Alton and Chicago & North-Western rail- roads as a machinist. He chose a floating po- sition in order to better familiarize himself with his chosen profession. In the course of his travels he first visited Kansas about 1882. The following year he entered Cornell Uni- versity, in New York State, and took a course in mechanical engineering, thus completing his preparation for his chosen life work. Re- turning to service on the Chicago & Alton Rail- road, he served some time as a draughtsman, and did similar work on the Missouri Pacific Railway, at Palestine, Texas. He was later transferred to St. Louis and placed in charge of the draughting department for the entire system, under O. A. Haynes, superintendent of locomotives and cars. In 1889. Mr. Mad- docks was called to Parsons, where he received an offer from the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway Company, and immediately assumed the duties of his present position. He pre- pares designs for the locomotives, machinery, boiler plants, etc., used over the entire sys- tem. He has a fine office at the Missouri, Kan- sas & Texas Railway shops in Parsons; his duties call him away on the road frequently.
Mr. Maddocks married Ada Bate, a daugh- ter of J. R. and Sarah (Stearn) Bate. for- 42
merly of Michigan, but now of Parsons, Kan- sas. He has invested in some fine residence property in Parsons, and recently remodeled. his home. Mr. Maddocks is a man of sterling worth and integrity. He is a prominent mem- ber of the Republican party in his section, and his convictions in matters of public interest are based on accurate information and cor- rect conclusions. He affiliates with Masonic bodies, is a Knight Templar and a member of Abdallah Temple of Mystic Shriners, of Leavenworth, Kansas. He is a member of the Royal Arcaniun and also of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, with head- quarters in New York City, being the only member from Kansas. He is also a member of St. Louis and Chicago Railroad clubs. In his religious views, he adheres to the Episcopal faith and is a regular attendant at church. He stands high in his chosen profession and has reached a degree of efficiency attained by few. He has made an excellent record, rarely bet- tered in all its particulars. He takes great personal pride in keeping abreast of the times, and uses only the best and most modern plans and materials, many of which are the result of his striking originality, skill and genius.
J A. JONES, widely known as a rep- resentative farmer of Walton town- ship, Labette county, Kansas, whose portrait appears on the opposite page, is living in the southwest quarter of section 22. He was born in Summit county, Ohio, in 1846, and is a son of Nathan S. and Sarah Jones.
Nathan S. Jones and his wife were natives of Ohio, where they lived during their mar- ried life. They reared two children: Oscar
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N., who went to Knox county, Illinois, when he was twenty-one years old, and died shortly afterward; and J. A., the subject of this sketch.
J. . A. Jones was not yet two years old when his parents died, and he went to live with an uncle, whose name was James Hammond. James Hammond was a farmer in Knox coun- ty, Illinois, where Mr. Jones lived until he located in Labette county, Kansas, in May, 1869. He built the first house on the prairie in the south half of Walton township, and named the township, in 1870, after his old friend, George T. Walton. With an ox team, he hauled lumber from Oswego, to build his house. He first located on the northeast quar- ter of section 28, where he lived until 1871, when he sold that place, and bought the north- west quarter of the same section, and also his present farm,-the southwest quarter of section 22. In 1873, he built the house which now stands on the land, and the place has been his abode ever since. Mr. Jones carries on gen- ral farming and stock raising, and keeps 200 head of cattle. He has been very successful, and is one of the best farmers in the county.
Mr. Jones married Jennie M. Singleton, who was born in Kentucky. She is a cousin of Jesse Harper, who is owner of the famous race horse, Ten Broek. Mr. Jones and his wife have had the following children, namely : Susan A. ; James H. and Addie, deceased ; Lena J .; Willie B .; Oscar N., deceased; Elsie; John I .; and James A. Lena J. and Willie B. are teachers in the government Indian school in the Chocktaw Nation.
Mr. Jones is independent in politics, and was the first treasurer of the township. He helped to organize its first school district and has served on the school board a number of years. He has also been a justice of the peace. Mr. Jones has served as clerk of the dis-
trict court one term. He and his family are members of the Baptist church. Mr. Jones is an upright man, and a good citizen.
AMES A. WILSON, foreman of the machine shops of the Missouri, Kan- sas & Texas Railway Company, was born in Scotland, at Bathgate, Lin- lithgowshire, just 15 miles from the city of Edinburgh; in 1860. He is a son of James and Margaret (Andrews) Wilson, both of whom were natives of Scotland.
James Wilson was born in Scotland, in 1825, and was a millwright by occupation. He came to the United States, in 1862, with his wife and child. Two days before landing at Montreal, Canada, he had the misfortune to lose his wife. After reaching his destination, he entered the employ of the Chicago & Alton Railroad Company, during which time his son was left with his brother-in-law, John An- drews, in Indiana. Our subject remained with him six months, and then went to live with an uncle, Robert L. Wilson, at Piasa, Illinois. Robert L. Wilson sold out shortly after this, and went to Kansas to live, locating in Green- wich, Sedgwick county. James A. Wilson then took charge of his son.
The subject of this sketch received his schooling in Illinois, and in St. Louis, Mis- souri, where his father moved after leaving the employ of the Chicago & Alton Railroad Com- pany. During his vacation in 1870, he entered the machine shops of that company, and later in the year went to Glasgow, Scotland, with his father. There Mr. Wilson at once entered the marine department of Randolph & Elden, ship builders, and served as an apprentice, for eight months. He then worked, for six
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months, at Dubb's Locomotive Works, and later, for the Newton Steel Company, Limited, of Glasgow, Scotland. He remained there un- til he became of age, and in October, 1881, again came to America, and landed at New York. He visited with a friend in New York for three weeks, and then went to Pitts- burg, Pennsylvania, where he engaged as a machinist in the Westinghouse High Speed Engine shops, where he remained for six months. Mr. Wilson then went to Chicago, where he was engaged with the Frazer & Chalmers Machine Company, where he re- mained about one year. He worked for the Preston Iron Works, of Marinette, Wisconsin, for six months, after which he returned to Chicago, where he was employed by the J. J. Clawson Printing Machine Company. After his marriage, in 1884, he started a steam and gas fitting shop, and was building up a splen- did trade, when, in 1886, he decided to go to Washington. He did not carry out this re- solve, however, but located in Parsons, La- bette county, Kansas, July 7, 1886. He en- tered the employ of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway Company, as a machinist. His fine abilities were soon recognized, and in 1888 he was made foreman of the shops,- the position he now holds. He has had some valuable experience, and is considered a very fine machinist. The shops, in which he is em- ployed, give work to 65 men in the machinery department and are the main machine shops of the system.
Mr. Wilson was united in marriage with Lillie MeDown, in September, 1889. She is a daughter of William McDown, who was an early settler of Labette county. She was raised near Matthewson. Mr. Wilson and his wife have four children, namely : Beatrice; James William; Josephine Helen; and Ralph An-
drew. Mr. Wilson is a Democrat in politics, and served as councilman of the Fourth Ward during 1898 and 1899. Fraternally, he is a member of the K. O. T. M. and M. W. of A .; he was formerly a member of the Knights of Pythias. Mrs. Wilson is a member of the Royal Neighbors. Mr. Wilson was raised a Presbyterian. His wife is a member of the Methodist church. They are well known in Parsons, where they have a host of friends.
HARLES L. ANDERSON. This gentleman is a well known engineer, employed by the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway Company. He Ins had a long and varied career in the railroad business, is a thoroughly competent man, and enjoys the confidence and respect of his em- ployers, and of those associated with him in his work. Mr. Anderson was born in the northern part of Sweden, in a town called Norrkoping, in 1850. ' He is a son of Gustav and Catherine Anderson, both of whom died in Sweden.
Mr. Anderson was the only child of his parents, and he received his mental training in. his native town, where he lived until he reached the age of eighteen years. Then he left Sweden, alone, and came to this country. Following the example of many foreigners, he headed for Chicago, but shortly after his ar- rival there he set out for the state of Kansas. He located in Junction City, and engaged as a laborer, in grade work for the Missouri, Kan- sas & Texas Railway Company. April 1, 1870, he went to Oswego, where he worked under Foreman Chess. They camped near the site of the present depot at Oswego. Mr. Ander- son continued grade work until 1873, when he
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moved to Parsons, and helped to build the roundhouse. June 19, 1873. he was employed as wiper in the roundhouse, and three years later he became fireman on a switch engine, for Engineer George Carr. Mr. Carr was one of the pioneers of Parsons, and is now de- ceased. Mr. Anderson was promoted to be a road engineer, June 12, 1882, and his career as such has been very successful. His first work as an engineer was mainly in pulling freight over the Cherokee Division. In 1897 he was given a regular passenger run, and is now engineer on trains Nos. 3 and 4, running opposite to Samuel Wick. Alfred Wick, now deceased, was Mr. Anderson's partner in the building and stock business in Oswego, and was one of his warmest friends. Mr. Wick was one of the first friends made after Mr. Ander- son came to America.
Mr. Anderson formed a marital union with Matilda Holstrom, in 1874. She was also a native of Sweden, and died three years after her marriage. Two children resulted from this union: One, a son, dying in infancy ; and Rena, who died at the age of seven years. August 19, 1879, Mr. Anderson was married to Mollie Terrell, who was born at Prairieton, Indiana, near Terre Haute, in 1858. They have had five children, namely: Fred, who died at the age of eight days ; Willie, who died, aged seven and a half years; Arthur, who was born in May, 1883, and is now employed in the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railway shops ; Edward, who is at school; and Louisa, who was born in June, 1896.
Mr. Anderson built a very comfortable home on the corner of Stevens and Eighteenth streets, where he has lived for the past twenty- two years. He formerly lived in Crawford, Kansas, where in 1874 he built one of the first houses erected in that town. Mr. Anderson
is a member of the Brotherhood of Locomo- tive Engineers, Division No. 179, of Parsons ; and is also a Mason and Knight Templar. He is a charter member of the A. O. U. W., Lodge No. 1. of Parsons, and of the Select Friends. Religiously, he favors the Methodist church, of which his wife is a member.
J. WILSON, a member of the firm of W. J. Wilson & Brother. dealers in coal and farming im- plements, is one of Mound Val- ley's most progressive citizens. He was born in Portage county, Ohio, in 1846, and is a son of William and Letitia ( Glendenning ) Wilson.
William Wilson was a native of Scotland, and came to America at the age of ten years. He located in Labette county, Kansas, in 1883, and died there in 1899, aged ninety years. His wife, whose name was Letitia Glendenning, died ten years before her husband's decease. They were the parents of six children, namely : Mrs. Allison Savage, of Mound Valley, Kan- sas; Rebecca ( Moncrief), of Nevada, Mis- souri; Isabel, who was married in Indiana, and died in Mound Valley ; William J .; Jud- son, who is in business with his brother Will- iam ; and Joseph, who settled on a farm in La- bette county, in 1883.
William J. Wilson obtained his early schooling in Portage county, Ohio, and at the age of nine years moved with his parents to Jennings county, Indiana, where he attended the common schools. In 1866 he went to Illi- nois, where he remained three years, after which he returned to Indiana. In 1870, Mr. Wilson moved to Kansas, and took up the northeast quarter of section 22, township 33, range 18, in Mound Valley township, Labette
THOMAS J. SHARP.
MRS. HARRIET S. SHARP.
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county. At that time there were about two dozen settlers in Mound Valley township. He traded his farm for one owned by H. W. Sav- age, his brother-in-law, who now cultivates a farm south of Mound Valley. In 1872, Jud- son Wilson bought the northwest quarter of section 22, township 33, range 18, and the brothers farmed together. They also lived some years with Mr. Savage, conducting the farm in partnership. Then Mr. Wilson traded 80 acres of the claim he originally filed on, and Mr. Savage built on the corner 80 acres. Mr. Wilson, later, bought 80 acres more, and still owns the farm. In 1884, he moved to Al- tamont, where he ran a lumber yard for a short time, and, one year later, sold out the lumber yard to S. A. Brown & Company. Mr. Wil- son entered the coal business, in Mound Val- ley, with his brother Judson, in 1885, and they have continued in that line ever since. In 1890, they added implements and grain to their stock, and three years later, erected a building, the under-roof portion of which is 80 by 48 feet, in dimensions. They handle Rock Island goods largely, and also the Emerson & Company, Mo- line Plow Company and Robinson & Company wares. They have a well stocked store, and their business is very large and is increasing each year. Mr. Wilson and his brother are men of good business principles, and are honest and upright in all their dealings.
Mr. Wilson married Huldah Moyer. who was reared in Pennsylvania. She has a sis- ter,-Mrs. Sarah Hildreth,-who lives at Al- tamont. Mr. Wilson and his wife have one daughter, Delia G., who was born in 1884. Mr. Wilson is a Prohibitionist, although he was formerly a Republican. He and his brother have served in the council, and as township officers. They are loyal citizens, and actively interested in all public enterprises,
which are for the good of the community. Mr. Wilson is a member of the I. O. O. F. Religiously, he belongs to the Baptist church, in which he is a deacon.
HOMAS J. SHARP, a highly respect- ed farmer residing in section 13. township 34, range 20, in Hackberry township, Labette county, Kansas, is one of the pioneer settlers of the county. He was born in Macoupin county, Illinois, in 1849, and is a son of Madison Sharp, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume.
Thomas J. Sharp was reared in Illinois, until he reached the age of seventeen years, when he moved to Hunt county, Texas. In 1868, he moved to Neosho county, Kansas, and one year later to Labette county, where he took up the southwest quarter of section 7, township 34. range 20. This he greatly improved, and still owns the farm. In 1892, Mr. Sharp re- moved to the farm of his mother-in-law in Hackberry township. Her property consists of a half section, and is finely improved. This farm had been purchased by her husband from Mr. Peck. Mr. Sharp prefers and raises Shorthorn cattle and Poland-China hogs. He is very well informed on all agricultural mat- ters, and uses many modern implements in tilling the soil.
Mr. Sharp was married in Labette county, to Harriet Snow, a daughter of Henry and Mary J. (Colby ) Snow. Mr. Snow located in Labette 'county in 1868, and took up a claim adjoining Mr. Sharp's. He died there in 1873- Mrs. Snow married Mr. Houts in 1885, and he died several years later. Mrs. Houts now lives in Oswego. Mr. Sharp's wife was born in Macoupin county, Illinois, in 1852. Mr.
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and Mrs. Sharp have been blessed with seven children, namely: Henry, who is a butter- maker in a creamery at Matfield, Kansas, and who married a daughter of D. M. Miller, and has two children,-Myrl and Gladys; Isaac M., who is a stenographer for a hardware and implement company at Shreveport, Louisiana, and was formerly with Funkhouser, of West Plains, Missouri; May, who is cashier in C. M. Condon's store at Oswego; Maude; Lula; Ettie; and Bessie.
In politics, Mr. Sharp is a Republican. He has served in township offices and on the school board, in District No. 7. He was for- merly a member of the Anti-Horsethief Asso- ciation. Religiously, he attends the Methodist church at Oswego. Mr. Sharp is always an active supporter of all public enterprises, and is a useful and irreproachable citizen. Por- traits of Mr. and Mrs. Sharp, engraved from photographs taken in July, 1901, accompany this sketch, and may be found on a page in proximity to this.
ISE BROTHERS. The citizens of Mound Valley, Labette county, Kansas, have reason to be proud of the fact that in their thriving little city is one of the largest merchandise stores in Labette county. This store is owned and conducted by Luther H. and J. Albert Wise. They are sons of W. J. and Susan ( Allen) Wise.
W. J. Wise is a native of Greene county, Illinois. His wife was also a native of that place; her death occurred in Montgomery county, Kansas, in 1876. W. J. Wise located on a farm at Cherryvale, Kansas, in 1869,“ where he followed farming during his active
life. He now resides at Coffeyville, and is sixty-eight years old. Four children resulted from his union with Susan Allen, namely : Luther H .; J. Albert; J. F., who is a hard- ware merchant of Cherryvale; and G. E., who is employed in his brothers' store at Mound Valley.
Luther H. Wise was born in 1858, and was reared and schooled in the state of Kan- sas. His first work was as clerk in the store of Kincaid & Root, general merchants. He was employed there for some time, and became familiar with all the details of the work. In 1883, in partnership with his brother J. Al- bert, Mr. Wise entered the general merchan- dise business at Mound Valley, and they now have one of the largest and finest stores in the county. In 1890, the present two-story, brick block was erected by them, through the assist- ance of F. P. Dicus & Company, at a cost of over $9,000. Since that time, Wise Brothers have purchased the Dicus interests and own the entire building. Their store occupies the whole lower floor, and the second floor is used for offices, and for the Masonic hall. One side of the store is devoted to the sale of dry goods and clothing, and the other side to groceries and shoes. The stock is valued at $15,000. A cash-carrier system is used, thus requiring the constant attention of a cashier. Five peo- ple are employed as clerks, and a very large business is done. Mr. Wise and his brother are men of excellent business ability, and of up- right principles, and the knowledge of this fact has brought them a large number of patrons, who are sure of receiving prompt and respectful attention.
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