USA > Kansas > Leavenworth County > History of Leavenworth County Kansas > Part 38
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54
Julius Payeur was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and in early manhood settled in Leavenworth County, where he farmed. He died thirty years ago. Mrs. Julius Payeur was born in Kickapoo Township and is a daugh- ter of Lawrence and Elizabeth (Dunne) Kennedy, a sketch of whom ap- pears in this volume.
Francis Payeur was reared on the farm where he now lives, which consists of 100 acres, and which he is now farming. He attended District Number Four School when a boy. He is not married but his mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Payeur, lives on the farm with him and keeps house.
Mr. Payeur is a democrat, and a member of the Catholic Church.
Henry Ode, an enterprising farmer and stockman of Leavenworth County, was born January 26, 1857, in Hanover, Germany, the son of Frederick Kramer and Elizabeth Ode, a further sketch of whom appears in the review of August Ode of this volume.
Henry Ode was educated in Germany, and also attended school in the United States, having come to this country with his parents when he was sixteen years of age. After leaving school, he worked as a farm hand, receiving for his labor $13.00 per month. In 1879, he began farming for himself on rented land in Platte County, Missouri, and farmed there for about ten or twelve years, when he then came to Kickapoo Township, where he purchased his home place of 140 acres, on which he has made nice improvements. He has been a good manager and has met with suc- cess in farming and stock raising. He specializes in the breeding of Shorthorn cattle. Mr. Ode has taken an active part in the affairs of his township. He served on the school board for fifteen years. He is one of the men who has helped develop this locality and has many friends.
March 3, 1880, Mr. Ode was married to Minnie Krueger, who was a
500
HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
native of Hanover, Germany, born July 4, 1858. She died August 2, 1904. Mr. and Mrs. Ode were the parents of six children: Elizabeth, who lives at home; Marie, of Leavenworth, Kansas; Mollie, Edward, and Alma, all at home; and Rose, the wife of Thomas Cahill of Leavenworth County.
Mr. Ode is a member of the Lutheran Church, and of the Modern Woodmen of America Lodge. In politics he is a democrat.
Joseph P. McEvoy, a prosperous and progressive farmer of Kickapoo Township, is a native of Leavenworth County, Kansas. He was born December 21, 1870, the son of Patrick and Caroline (Young) McEvoy, who were the parents of six children, as follows: Thomas of Kickapoo Town- ship; Anna, the wife of Mr. Huber of Brookfield, Missouri; Joseph P., the subject of this sketch; Isaac J., of Kickapoo Township, who lives on the home place; William, deceased; Mary, the wife of Thomas Murray of Kickapoo Township.
Patrick McEvoy was a native of Kildare, Ireland, born in 1832. He left there when a boy, coming to the United States, and joined the army here, serving in Troop E., of the United States Mounted Rifles. He en- listed on the first day of March, 1852, and re-enlisted February 3, 1861, in Company E of the United States Cavalry and was discharged February 3, 1862. He then worked for the government at Fort Leavenworth, and, in 1867, moved to a farm in Kickapoo Township. The mother of Joseph McEvoy was born August 3, 1844, in Somerset, England, and came to America when about nine years old. She is now living on her farm in Kickapoo Township.
Joseph McEvoy has been a farmer all of his life. In 1900 he bought the farm where he now lives, consisting of 160 acres of good land, and on which are good improvements. Mr. McEvoy began breeding Shorthorn cattle in 1900, and has many well developed progressive opinions along this line. Mr. McEvoy is a shareholder in the Farmers Exchange of Kickapoo, Kansas. He is a democrat; a member of the Catholic Church, and is of the Knights of Columbus and Modern Woodmen of America lodges.
April 26, 1900, Mr. McEvoy was married to Anna K. Mayer who is a native of Easton Township. They are the parents of five children: Ed- ward, deceased; Henry, at home; LeRoy; Clara and Anna.
Mrs. McEvoy is a daughter of Jacob and Anna K. Mayer, natives of
501
HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
Germany, but who settled in Leavenworth County, Kansas, in pioneer days. Jacob Mayer is deceased, and his wife lives in Easton Township. They were the parents of eight children, Mrs. McEvoy being their third child.
Patrick McEvoy was a prominent farmer and pioneer of Leavenworth County. He was born March 17, 1833, in County Kildare, Ireland, and died January 9, 1904. He left his native land when a young man after his war record. He moved to a farm in this township in early days, and bought forty acres of land. He had a land grant for 160 acres, but gave this grant to William Finley, who built a house on the land.
Patrick McEvoy and wife reared a family of six children. His wife was Caroline Young, who was born August 3, 1844, and now lives with her son Isaac J. McEvoy. Mr. and Mrs. Patrick McEvoy were married July 31, 1864, and lived an industrious and useful life, meeting with well mer- ited success.
Isaac J. McEvoy was reared on his present farm, and attended the dis- trict schools when a boy. He worked first in Nebraska for the Missouri Pacific Railroad for thirteen years as a bridge builder, and, in 1907, he rented the old home place and engaged in farming. He was married November 20, 1907, to Mayme Kennedy, who was born in Kickapoo Town- ship, a daughter of Matt and Emma Herley Kennedy, both natives of Kickapoo Township, the latter being deceased.
Mr. and Mrs. Isaac McEvoy have had four children, as follows: Charles M., who was born May 5, 1910; Irene C., who was born June 11, 1912; Vincent I., who was born March 25, 1916; and Helen M., who was born December 6, 1920.
The McEvoys are well respected citizens of Kickapoo Township and have many friends.
Giles H. Thornburgh, a member of a well-known and prominent fam- ily of Easton Township, was born June 23, 1868, on the farm where he now lives. He is the son of Pleasant and Susan (Henderson) Thornburgh. Pleasant Thornburgh was born in New Market, Tennessee, April 20, 1830, and came to Leavenworth County, Kansas in 1854, being one of the first settlers of Easton Township. He settled on Stranger Creek, which land
502
HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
around and on his place was thick with timber. A station, which was established about 1915 on the Santa Fe Railroad was named for the Thorn- burgh estate. Mr. Thornburgh did general farming and was also town- ship trustee of Easton Township. Mrs. Susan Thornburgh was born in Platte County, Missouri, July 15, 1840, and died July 30, 1917, her hus- band having died January 16, 1879. Both Mr. and Mrs. Thornburgh are buried in Round Prairie Cemetery. They were members of the Christian Church.
Mr. and Mrs. Pleasant Thornburgh were the parents of five children, as follows: William, who is deceased; Sarah, the wife of Robert Mitchell, of Potter, Kansas; Emma, the wife of Levi Turner, of Prague, Oklahoma ; Giles H., the subject of this sketch; and Jefferson, of Nortonville, Kansas.
Giles H. Thornburgh was reared on the farm where he lives at pres- ent, and has always made this his home. He bought the place in 1917 and has made many improvements. The farm consists of 240 acres of good land, which he rents.
Mr. Thornburgh is a representative citizen of his community. In politics he is an independent voter and is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons Lodge. He is not married.
T. F. Hall, a practical and enterprising farmer of Easton Township, was born June 27, 1879, in Sullivan County, Tennessee, the son of James F. and Nancy (Sturn) Hall, the eighth of nine children; his father was born in Tennessee and came to Leavenworth County in 1881, locating on his present farm, which he farmed until his death December 26, 1899, at the age of sixty-three years. His wife was born in Tennessee and died in 1902 at the age of sixty-four years. Both were members of the Methodist Church and are buried at Round Prairie Cemetery.
T. F. Hall was educated in the District Number Sixty School and Horton High School, and later attended the Chillicothe Normal. After finishing his education, he taught school very successfully for one year, and then engaged in farming. He and his brother Richard D. Hall bought his present farm in 1905, and in 1920, T. F. Hall bought his brother's share. He has made extensive improvements on the place, and is mak- ing a marked success of farming and stock raising. He is a member of the Christian Church, and the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons Lodge of Kickapoo No. 4 at Potter, Kansas. Mr. Hall ranks as one of the pro- gressive, substantial citizens of his community.
503
HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
Mr. Hall was married June 21, 1905, to Carrie M. Mitchell, who was born in Easton Township, the daughter of R. F. and Sarah (Thornburgh) Mitchell, early settlers of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Hall have three chil- dren, all living at home: Elliott, Francis and Howard.
Michael Begley, deceased, was a substantial farmer and citizen of Easton Township for many years. He was born August, 1851, in Ireland, and, when a young man, came to the United States, and settled in Easton Township, where he farmed eighty acres of land. His brother, Peter Beg- ley, owned eighty acres adjoining, and they farmed together. Michael Begley also worked on the plains for a few years. He was a dependable and honest man, and has many friends who remember him well. He died in Leavenworth County, in 1896.
May 19, 1885, Mr. Begley married Rosa McCoy, who was also a native of Ireland, born January 7, 1862, in Armaugh County, and left her native land in 1883, coming to the United States and settling with her parents in Atchison, Kansas. She and three of her sons conduct the home farm, which they own.
Mr. and Mrs. Begley were the parents of four sons: James, M. Leo and Michael, at home with their mother; and John, of Valley Junction, Iowa. The Begley family are all devout members of the Catholic Church.
M. Leo Begley served in the late World War in the 353d Infantry of the 89th Division, and was in France for two years and was gassed while in battle. He was inducted into service September 3, 1917, and was dis- charged in 1920, when he came home and began farming.
Mrs. Begley and her sons are enterprising farmers and continue farming along the progressive lines that were followed by Mr. Begley during his lifetime. They are meeting the same success that followed Mr. Begley in his work.
Clarence W. Corson, a leading farmer and stock breeder of Easton Township, was born on his present farm August 8, 1884, the son of W. B. and Mary J. (Shipp) Corson, who were the parents of five children: Oscar J. and Jennie, both deceased; Josehine, a widow, and Sallie A., both living on the home place; and Clarence W., the subject of this sketch, who was the youngest child.
504
HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
W. B. Corson was born at Staten Island, New York, February 17, 1827, and died March 10, 1900. He was a blacksmith, and traveled quite exten- sively. In 1849, he went to California, and then went to Australia and England. In 1860, he bought 160 acres of his present farm, and paid $2,000.00 for same. He later added more land. He specialized in the breeding of jacks and jennies, commencing this line of work in 1882, and continued in it until his death. He was a democrat, and member of the Christian Church. He was married June 12, 1860; his wife was born in Platte County, Missouri, March 29, 1842. She came with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Shipp, in 1854 and settled in Leavenworth County.
Clarence Corson has always lived on his present farm, which now comprises 550 acres of well improved land, and which is owned by him, his mother and his two sisters. He was educated in District Number Sixty School, this school being on his parent's farm. Clarence Corson began breeding jacks with his father, and has been engaged in this busi- ness since. He usually has six to twelve head on the place. He and his brother Oscar J. were breeders together until the death of the latter. Clarence Corson is unmarried. He is a wide-awake young farmer, depend- able and progressive, and is well known throughout the township and county.
Dennis O'Dea, a pioneer farmer and stockman of Reno Township, who, for over fifty years has been a resident of Kansas, is a native of County Limrick, Ireland. He is the son of Dennis and Catherine (Hogan) O'Dea, natives of Ireland, where they were tillers of the soil. They spent their lives in their native land. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Dennis O'Dea, Sr., as follows: Patrick, James and John, all deceased; Dennis, the subject of this sketch; Bridget, deceased; Ellen, deceased; Matthew, in Stevens, Kansas; and Thomas, deceased. John and Thomas O'Dea were Civil War veterans.
Dennis O'Dea was born January 12, 1837 and received his education in his native land. In 1849, in company with his sister, Bridget, he came to the United States. Dennis O'Dea located in New York State for four years, where he was employed as a farm laborer; then in Ohio for one year and in Illinois eight years. In 1867, Mr. O'Dea came to Leavenworth County, Kansas, and purchased 160 acres of virgin land. On this he built a one room log cabin. He was married to Johanna O'Connell, March 3,
RESIDENCE OF DENNIS O'DEA
505
HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
1862 in Illinois. In 1883, Dennis O'Dea built a nine room house which is still the family residence.
In the early days Mr. O'Dea hauled wood to Lawrence, Kansas, and brought his family supplies from there. He has added to his original'160 acres of land from time to time and now owns 550 acres of well improved and productive land. Mr. O'Dea has specialized in feeding and shipping cattle, while he has carried on general farming.
Dennis and Johanna (O'Connell) O'Dea are the parents of three chil- dren, as follows: Ella, born April 12, 1863 in Illinois, at home with her parents; Nettie, born September 19, 1867, at home with her parents; and Charles, born December 24, 1871, died in 1891.
Mr. and Mrs. O'Dea are members of the Catholic Church and he is independent in his political views. The O'Dea family stands high in the esteem of the people of the county. In 1912 Mr. and Mrs. O'Dea celebrated their golden wedding and Mrs. O'Dea died June 5, 1914.
George William Roe, well known County Commissioner of Leaven- worth County, and prosperous farmer of Easton Township, was born Sep- tember 3, 1858, in the western part of Leavenworth, Kansas, the only child of John and Julia (Hickey) Roe, pioneers of Kansas.
John Roe was born in Manchester, England, but located in Kansas when a young man. He was a soldier during the Civil War, belonging to the first Kansas Volunteer Infantry, and was killed at Wilson Creek. His wife was born in County Carlow, Ireland. Since Mr. Roe's death, she was married the second time to Patrick Clavin, a farmer of Leavenworth County, Kansas. No children were born of her second marriage.
George William Roe was fifteen years of age when his mother and step-father moved to the farm, where he has since remained. He became heir to 200 acres of land, and later bought 160 acres, on which he has made extensive improvements, changing log cabins and shanties to mod- ern buildings. Mr. Roe is a republican, and, in 1914 was elected county commissioner, and has held this office ever since, having no opposition, the second time he ran. He was also a trustee of Easton Township in 1900, and handles civic affairs with the same good judgment with which he man- ages his farm and private affairs. He is a member of the Catholic Church; Modern Woodmen of America and Knights of Columbus lodges.
Mr. Roe was married May 5, 1886, to Mary E. Gallegher, a native of
506
HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
Leavenworth County, Kansas, and daughter of John and Ann (Clavin) Gallegher, who came from Ireland before the Civil War and settled in the United States.
Mr. and Mrs. Roe have had eleven children, as follows: Anna, the wife of Benjamin Banks of Kickapoo Township; Elizabeth, who lives at home; George W., Jr., Mary S., Henry, Julia, Leo, Catherine, Emma and Frank, all at home; and John P., who served in the World War. He was drafted in 1917 and went into training at Camp Funston with Division 89, 353d Infantry, Company C, March 15, 1918, he was assigned to the 3d Division, 30th Infantry at Camp Merritt, New Jersey, and was a sharp shooter. He was wounded at Chateau Thierry on the 18th of July, 1918, and lost a limb by a shrapnel. He was discharged February 19, 1919, from Walter Reed Hospital at Washington, D. C.
Fred W. Lohmann, a practical and energetic farmer of Easton Town- ship, was born in this township February 13, 1870, the son of August and Phoebe Gropengiesger Lohmann, the third oldest of nine children, all of whom are living; his father was born in Germany and came to the United States after the Civil War and settled on Stranger Creek on the Worden place in Easton Township. He later bought a farm, and, at one time, owned 400 acres of land. He died in 1915 at the age of sixty-nine, and his' wife, who was also a native of Germany, is now living with her son John, the oldest child. She is seventy-two years of age. Mr. and Mrs. August Lohmann assisted in organizing the Lutheran Church, in which church they held membership.
Fred W. Lohmann has always been on a farm, and during his boy- hood days he attended school in District Number Six. When about twenty- four years old he began working for himself, and he and his brother John Lohmann bought eighty acres of land and farmed together for five or six years. Fred Lohmann now owns 130 acres of land about six miles from Easton. This place was formerly owned by William Minert, who improved it. Ten acres near Potter, Kansas, is in timber. Mr. Lohmann has always been an industrious man and thoroughly merits the success which he has met in life. He is a democrat in politics and a member of the Lutheran Church.
Mr. Lohmann was married April 27, 1904, to Mary Schott, who was born April 27, 1877, in Leavenworth, Kansas, the daughter of Conrad and
507
HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
Katherine Schott, natives of Germany. Her father was a farmer and came to Leavenworth County prior to the Civil War.
Mr. and Mrs. Lohmann have two children: Helen M., born September 13, 1906, and Marie C., born April 26, 1909.
Fred Krueger, a well-known retired farmer of Kickapoo Township, was born December 23, 1854, in West Prussia, Germany, the son of Fred and Christena (Krueger) Krueger, the second oldest of five children. His parents died in Germany.
Fred Krueger was reared in Germany and served in the army there for two years. When twenty-two years old, he came to Leavenworth County, Kansas, and worked as a farm hand near Tonganoxie, Kansas, for $10.00 per month. Six months later he went to Leavenworth and worked in a sash and door factory for Munson and Burrows, for one and one-half years. He then worked in a coal mine, at Leavenworth shaft for a year and a half and then in a furniture factory for Dilwood and Lysle at Leav- enworth for two and one-half years, later going into carpenter work, in which work he was engaged until 1886. He sold his property in town at that time and bought a forty-acre farm near Mt. Olivet in Kickapoo Town- ship, which he improved and where he made his home for twenty years. He sold out and bought the Fred Thees farm of 165 acres, upon which he made many improvements and where he lived for thirteen years, when he sold the place. Mr. Krueger has been an industrious man, thrifty and dependable and has met with well merited success.
October 18, 1879, Mr. Krueger was married to Wilhelmina Orlowski who is now dead. They were the parents of nine children, as follows: Mary, the wife of Otto Tretting of Kickapoo Township; Fred of Fort Leavenworth Barracks, who is an engineer at the prison; Minnie, of Leav- enworth, Kansas; Lottie, deceased; Henry, a farmer of Kickapoo Town- ship; Otto, on the home place; Ferdinand and Johanna, of Leavenworth ; and William, deceased. Mr. Krueger lives with his son Henry.
Ferdinand Krueger was in France during the World War, with the 88th Division, doing service as a gunner. He was drafted in May, 1918, and after short training at Camp Funston went to Camp Dodge, Iowa, and from there was sent overseas. He is now a draftsman in Kansas City, Missouri, but lives in Leavenworth, Kansas.
508
HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
I. W. Robinson, a progressive farmer of Easton Township, and mem- ber of a pioneer family of this section, was born on his present farm September 10, 1862, the son of Jonathan J. and Susan (Mott) Robinson, and the youngest of five children, all of whom are dead, except I. W. Robinson and Charles A. Robinson, of Denver, Colorado.
Jonathan J. Robinson was born in 1806 in Vermont. He was married twice, the first time to Miss Kieth of Indiana. They were the parents of six children, all deceased. His second wife was also a native of Indiana. Jonathan J. Robinson was a farmer and came to Leavenworth, Kansas in 1856, and homesteaded a farm, on which he built a log cabin. When he came to this county there was a printing press setting under a tree at Leavenworth. Jonathan Robinson used oxen to break and cultivate his ground. He made long trips to market with his produce. He died in 1868 at the age of sixty-two years, and his wife died in 1896 when seventy-two years old.
I. W. Robinson was reared on his present farm, and was educated in District Number Eleven School. He bought this farm after the death of his mother, and has made necessary improvements on the place. He is a breeder of sheep, and is also interested in advanced agriculture from every standpoint, having some very good ideas on the subject of farming and breeding.
Mr. Robinson was married February 23, 1899, to Louise Krohne, who was born in Platte County, Missouri, and came to Leavenworth County, Kansas, when ten years of age, with her parents, William Krohne and wife.
Mr. and Mrs. Robinson are the parents of five children: Albert, of Easton Township; Mott, now attending the Kansas State Agriculture Col- lege at Manhattan, Kansas; Susie, a high school student at Easton, Kan- sas ; Harry, at home, and Charlotte, who died when one year old.
Mr. Robinson is a republican, of which party he is a staunch supporter, taking an active interest in political affairs. He is a member of the An- cient Free and Accepted Masons.
John G. Heim, a pioneer of this section, who has made a success in farming by hard work and good management, was born in Wertumberg, Germany, August 3, 1845, the son of John and Elizabeth (Schafer) Heim, the third of six children; John Heim's father was a blacksmith in Ger- many, and also engaged in farming. He and his wife were born, reared and died in Germany.
509
HISTORY OF LEAVENWORTH COUNTY
John G. Heim received his education in his native land and grew to manhood there, serving awhile in the German army. In 1868, he came to the United States and first settled in Columbia County, Ohio, where he worked as a farm hand until January, 1873, when he came to Leavenworth County, Kansas, and bought his present farm. This place was in brush at that time, but Mr. Heim has made extensive improvements, and now has a modern, up-to-date farm. At that time, razor back hogs were in prominence in this section, and the farmers drove their hogs to St. Joseph to the market, but Mr. Heim says that the hogs of today could not walk four miles without dying. He also says that the railroads have done more for the country towards modernizing the farms than the people have done. Mr. Heim now owns 229 acres of valuable land. He owes his suc- cess to his hard work. He is one of the pioneers who has seen the crude implements used by the early farmers replaced by modern machinery, such as tractors, etc.
Mr. Heim is an independent voter in politics and is a member of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Heim helped organize St. John's Lutheran Church and donated the site of one acre for the building which is located on the north eighty acres of Mr. Heim's farm.
January 22, 1880, Mr. Heim was married to Mary C. Meinert who was born in Germany November, 1859, and died March 11, 1893. To this union seven children were born: Henry, who was accidentally knocked off of a horse and died from wounds received; Adolph, who is at home; Fred, of Easton Township; Mary, the wife of Fred Nieman, of Atchison County, Kansas; John C., at home; Anna, the wife of Otto Gaupp, of Keenesburg, Colorado; and Gustave, deceased.
R. W. Stafford, one of the most prominent citizens of Easton, Kansas, is cashier of the Easton State Bank and also editor and publisher of the "Transcript". He was born April 7, 1878, at Franklin, Nebraska, the son of J. C. and Rachel (Murray) Stafford, who were the parents of five chil- dren, R. W. Stafford being the oldest. The other children are: Grace, the wife of R. Phillips, who lives on a farm near Easton, Kansas; Mary, the wife of Fred Miller, who is employed on the railway, and who lives in Easton, Kansas; John E., the postmaster of Easton, Kansas; and a child, who died in infancy.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.