USA > Kansas > Marshall County > History of Marshall County, Kansas : its people, industries, and institutions > Part 47
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JOSEPH M. SHUMATE.
The late Joseph M. Shumate, an honored veteran of the Civil War, for many years justice of the peace at Frankfort and a well-established insurance agent and real-estate dealer in that city, was a native of the state of Illinois, but had lived in Kansas since pioneer days and had therefore been a witness to and a participant in the development of this county almost from the time of the organization of the county. He was born on a farm in the vicinity of Carlinville, in central Illinois, January 27, 1840, a son of Hiram and Eliza Shumate, natives, respectively, of Virginia and Kentucky, and was living there when the Civil War broke out. He responded to the call for volunteers in 1861 and upon the completion of his original hundred-days service re-enlisted and went to the front as a member of Company B. Thirtieth Regiment. Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry, and was with that command when he was veteranized two years later. He re-enlisted and during a skirmish about a month after the battle of Atlanta, in which he had participated, was badly wounded in the hip. On account of this wound he went on furlough, but upon his recovery he hastened to New York to sail down the coast to rejoin Sherman's army. but the war terminating then he met his old commander at Raleigh in North Carolina and with his old command participated in the Grand Review at Washington, D. C.
Upon the completion of his military service Joseph M. Shumate returned to his home in Illinois and on September 12, 1865. was there united in mar- riage to Alida Osborn, who was born in Knox county, that state. July 4. 1845. a daughter of Robert and Betsy ( Roundtree) Osborn, natives, respec- tively, of Illinois and of Kentucky, the former of whom was a son of Stephen Osborn, an Ilinois pioneer. During that same year, in the summer of 1865.
MR. AND MRS. JOSEPH M. SHUMATE.
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Alida Osborn had been visiting in this section of Kansas and during her stay here had taught a three-months term of school, the first school taught in the Brophy district in this county, the school house having been a floorless log cabin, sixteen by eighteen feet in dimension, with unglazed windows, a clap- board door, slabs for benches and a goods box for a teacher's desk. In 1866. the year after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Shumate and the Osborn family moved over to Kansas from Illinois, bringing necessary household goods and some live stock with them, and settled about a mile north of the Barrett settlement in this county ; both Joseph M. Shumate and Robert Osborn bought land in that section. Mr. and Mrs. Shumate began housekeeping there in a log cabin and after a few years of such residence moved on down into Texas, but after six months of experience there returned to Kansas and located at Frankfort, which by that time was beginning to be somewhat of a village, and there Mr. Shumate began clerking in a store, later engaging in the real-estate and insurance business and was thus engaged the remainder of his life, early becoming recognized as one of the leading business men of that city. For thirty-five years he served as justice of the peace in Frankfort and in other ways contributed of his services and his energy to the public service. He was one of the organizers of the Frankfort post of the Grand Army of the Republic and ever took an active part in the affairs of that patriotic organization. He also was a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and of the Knights and Ladies of Security and was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Joseph M. Schumate died on March 13, 1913, and his widow is still living at Frankfort, where she owns a very pleasant home. She is a member of the Woman's Relief Corps, a member of the local chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star and a member of the Knights and Ladies of Security, in the affairs of which several organi- zations she takes a warm interest.
To Joseph M. and Alida (Osborn) Shumate four children were born, namely : Mrs. Lulu McConkey, who lives four miles southwest of Frankfort ; Mrs. Carrie E. Symonds, whose husband is a druggist at Wooster, Texas : W. R. Shumate, who is engaged in the drug business at Kansas City, and Herbert Shumate, who is at home with his mother. Mrs. Shumate is one of the eight children born to her parents, the others being as follow: S. S. Osborn, who is living at Washington; Mrs. G. N. Morris, of Frankfort, this county ; John Osborn, who is engaged in the grocery business at Cottonwood Falls, this state; Mrs. William D. Warnica, deceased; Mrs. Calvin Warnica, of Wells township, this county; Walter Osborn, who is a member of the
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Denver police force, and D. R. Osborn, a well-known resident of Frankfort. Robert Osborn, the father of these children, died at his home in this county in August, 1802, at the age of seventy years, and his widow is now living. at the age of ninety-one years, with her son, D. R. Osborn, at Frankfort. Mrs. Shumate has a picture showing six geneartions of her family, five generations of whom are still represented, all the subjects of that remark- alle picture being alive save the eldest, Mrs. Dosia Roundtree, Mrs. Shu- mate's maternal grandmother, who died at the great age of ninety-four years. the others being as follow: Mrs. Betsy Oshorn, now ninety-one years of age: Mrs. J. M. Shumate, seventy-one: Mrs. Lulu MeConkey, forty-nine : Mrs. Agnes Davis, thirty, and William, Wilbur and Willard Davis, aged, respec- tively, ten, eight and five years. Mrs. Shumate has seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Mrs. McConkey having two children, Mrs. Agnes Davis and Joseph : Mrs. Symonds, four children, Mrs. Alida Hill ( who has one child, Annellan ), Randall, Esther and Waldo, and W. R. Shumate, one son, Clarence, born in 1902. Mrs. Shumate has been a resident of this community since pioneer days. She is physically vigorous and able and retains vivid and distinct recollections of conditions here when she first came to Marshall county, back in the days of the beginning of a proper social order hereabout.
FRANK YAUSSI.
Frank Yaussi, one of Marysville's best-known and most progressive merchants, the proprietor of a well-stocked clothing and men's furnishing store there and who also has extensive banking interests, is a native of the Republic of Switzerland, but has been a resident of Kansas since he was twelve years of age. He was born in the city of Berne, Switzerland, March 21. 1856, son of Christian and Elizabeth ( Begert) Yaussi, the former of whom died in his native land and the latter of whom spent her last days in Marysville, this county.
Christian Yaussi, also a native of Switzerland, was born in 1825 and was early trained to the butcher trade, a vocation he followed all his life. He ilied in Canton Berne in 1863 and five years later, in 1868, his widow and her six children came to this country and settled on a farm in Brown county, this state, the family remaining there farming the place and holding together for about ten years and thus getting a good start in the country of their adoption. Mrs. Yaussi later moved to Marysville, where she spent her last days, an
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honored pioneer. her death occurring in 1907, she then being in the seventy- fifth year of her age. She was the mother of seyen children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the sixth in order of birth, the others being as follow: Rosa, who married John Detwiler and is now deceased; Fred J., deceased : Elizabeth, who married Gottlieb Buhler and died in Switzerland ; Rudolph, who is a well-known and substantial farmer of this county: Gott- lieb, a farmer of Brown county, this state, and Mary, who married John Aegerte, a farmer, of Garber, Oklahoma.
Frank Yaussi was about twelve years of age when his family came to this country and he grew to manhood on the home farm in Brown county, presently beginning farming on his own account. In 1884. about three years after his marriage in Brown county, he came over into Marshall county and bought a quarter of a section of land west of Marysville, where he established his home, later buying an adjoining tract of one hundred and twenty acres, and there made his home, farming and raising stock, for sixteen or eighteen years, at the end of which time he sold his place and moved to Marysville. He bought the bottling works that had been established in that city and for six years or more was engaged in the manufacture of soda "pop" and carbon- ated drinks. He then, in 1904. formed a partnership with George Love in the general merchandise business, with a store at the west end of Broadway in Marysville, and was thus engaged until 1908. when the partnership was dissolved and Mr. Yaussi entered upon his present successful line of men's furnishings and clothing, in which he has done very well, long having been regarded as one of the most substantial merchants in the city. He carries a full and complete line of clothing and men's furnishings and his store is well stocked and equipped in up-to-date fashion. In addition to his mercantile interests, Mr. Yaussi possesses considerable banking interests and is a mem- her of the board of directors of two banks, the Citizens State Bank at Marys- ville and the bank at Winifred. Mr. Yaussi owns a valuable tract of ten acres of land adjoining the city of Marysville and also owns land in southern Kansas. He is a Republican and has performed public service as a member of the Marysville city council.
On September 9, 1881, at Hiawatha, Kansas, Frank Yaussi was united in marriage to Mary Feller, who was born on a farm in the vicinity of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in February, 1869, a daughter of David and Mary ( Siegrest ) Feller, natives of Switzerland and early settlers in Iowa, who later came to this state and spent their last days in Brown county. To Mr. and Mrs. Yaussi nine children have been born, namely: Alma, who married F. Schmidtt and is now deceased; Ida, who married John Mohr, a farmer living
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west of Marysville: Dora, who married Otto Briefeldt and is living at Avis- ton, Illinois: Albert, who is engaged in the banking business at Winifred, this county: Florence, who is at home and is engaged in the teaching of music: Esther, also at home, who is a stenographer for W. W. Redmond: Ellen. who is a member of Marshall county's teaching corps: Charles, who died when three months of age, and Blanche, who is at home. The Yanssis have a pleasant home at Marysville and take a proper part in the social activities of their home town. They are members of the Lutheran Reformed church and have ever given their earnest attention to the various beneficences of the same.
EDWARD J. MCKEE.
Edward J. Mckee, one of the best-known merchants at Marysville and the proprietor of a well-equipped hardware store at that place, is a native son of Marshall county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a pioneer farm in Center township, this county, May 22, 1872. son of Robert F. and Sarah ( Crawford ) MeKee, the former a native of the Domin- ion of Canada and the latter of the state of New Jersey, who became pion- eers of Marshall county and later moved to Idaho, where Robert F. McKee died. His widow is now making her home at Portland, Oregon.
Robert F. McKee was born in the province of Ontario, Canada, in November, 1836, son of William and Mary ( Finley) Mckee. natives of Scotland or of the north of Ireland, who emigrated to Canada and settled on a farm in the province of Ontario. There Robert F. McKee grew to manhood. He married Sarah Crawford, who was born in the city of New- ark, New Jersey, May 10, 1844. daughter of Joseph and Anna Crawford. and in 1809 he and his wife came to Kansas and settled in Marshall county. Upon coming to this county. Robert F. McKee homesteaded a tract of one hundred and sixty acres in Center township and there established his home. Hle built a small house and started in to improve the farm, eventually meet- ing with much success, and presently had one of the most highly improved and best-developed places in that neighborhood. There he made his home until 1883. when he went to the Western coast, but returned to Marshall county in 1880 and bought a farm in Marysville township. again establish- ing his home in this county. In 19oo he sold that farm and bought a farm in Elm Creek township, where he lived until his retirement from the active labors of the farm in 1905, in which year he moved to Twin Falls, Idaho,
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where he died in 1900. His widow is now making her home with her daughter. Mrs. Mary Walker, at Portland, Oregon. Robert F. McKee and wife were the parents of eleven children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the fifth in order of birth and all of whom are still living save two.
Edward J. McKee was reared on the farm on which he was born in Center township, and attended the district school in that neighborhood, the school at that time having been under the direction of Mrs. Forter. Reared to the life of the farm, he early engaged in farming on his own account, and in 1901, the year following his marriage, bought a farm of two hundred and eighty acres near Blue Rapids, where he established his home and where he engaged quite extensively in stock-raising, his Hereford stock com- ing to be recognized as among the best in the county, his stock being ex- hibited to advantage at local fairs and stock shows. About three years after taking over that farm Mr. McKee sold the same and became engaged in the real-estate business, being thus engaged at Marysville and Axtell until 1910, when, in partnership with Wilard Dexter, he bought a hardware store at Marysville and has ever since been engaged in that business. In 1911 Mr. McKee bought Mr. Dexter's interest in the store and has since been conducting the business alone and has been quite successful. He car- ries a complete stock of general hardware and his store is equipped in up-to-date fashion. Mr. McKee is a progressive and wide-awake merchant and has long been recognized as one of the forceful factors in the commer- cial life of Marysville and of the county at large. He is a Republican, an ardent supporter of the progressive wing of that party in the memorable campaign of 1912, and has ever taken an earnest interest in the civic affairs of the county and state, but has not been included in the office-seeking class.
In 1900 Edward J. McKee was united in marriage to Anna Randolph. who also was born in Marshall county. She was born on November 8. 1883, daughter of Thomas and Martha (Tarvin) Randolph, natives of Pennsylvania and Kentucky, respectively, who came to Marshall county from Pennsylvania in an early day in the settlement of this county and set- tled in Balderson township. To Mr. and Mrs. McKee four children have been born. Jesse, Cecil, Merland and Vesta E. Mr. and Mrs. McKee are members of the Baptist church and take a proper interest in the various beneficences of the same. They have a very pleasant home at Marysville and take an active part in the general social activities of their home city. helpful in promoting all worthy movements having to do with the advance- ment of the common welfare.
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CAPT. WILLIAM LOFINCK.
Capt. William Lofinck, a well-known and substantial retired merchant of Marysville, an honored veteran of the Civil War, former treasurer of Marshall county and former member of the city council of Marysville, is a native of the state of Illinois, but has been a resident of Marysville ever since 1871, with the exception of a few years spent in business in Colorado. Hle was born in the town of Waterloo, county seat of Monroe county, Illi- nois. December 20, 1843. son of John and Katherine (Lotz) Lofinck, na- tives of Germany, whose last days were spent in Illinois.
John Lofinck was born in the city of Worms, on the Rhine, in Hesse, Germany, March 6, 1808 and was trained to the trade of a carpenter. There he married and in (842 he and his wife came to the United States. the sailing vessel on which they took passage being six weeks in making the voyage. They settled at Waterloo, Illinois, where John Lofinck worked at his trade for a number of years and then engaged in the hotel business there and was thus engaged until his retirement 'a few years before his death, his death occurring in 1867. His widow, who was born on Novem- ber 30, 1800, survived until 1873. They were members of the German Lutheran church and their children were reared in that faith. There were five of these children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the third in order of birth, the others being as follow: Henry, deceased: Bernhard. deccased: Katherine, who lives at St. Louis, the widow of C. Ruppert, a veteran of the Civil War, and Mary, who is still living at Waterloo, Illinois. the widow of W. Bode.
William Lofinck received his early schooling at Waterloo, Illinois, and at the age of fourteen went to Belleville, that state, and was there engaged as a clerk in a grocery store for eighteen months, at the end of which time he returned to Waterloo, remaining there, a valued assistant to his father in the operation of the hotel. until 1800, when he went to St. Louis and took a position as a clerk in a store and remained there until September 1. 1801. on which day he returned home and enlisted in Company AA. Forty- ninth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, for service during the Civil War. He was detailed as one of the company fifers and presently was made chief fifer of his regiment. With this command he saw service at the battle of Shiloh. Later securing a discharge from this command he helped to organize a company of colored troops and on April 13. 1865, was made first lieutenant of Company D. Sixty-first Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry,
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and presently was made captain of Company F of that regiment. Captain Lofinck saw much active service in the South and upon the cessation of hostilities was stationed for guard duty at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he was mustered out on December 30, 1865.
Upon the completion of his military service, Captain Lofinck returned to his home at Waterloo, Illinois, and resumed the hotel business in which he had received careful training from his father in the days of his youth. He married in 1867 and in 1871 came to Kansas, locating at Marysville, where he engaged in the mercantile business and was thus engaged until his election to the office of county treasurer. He entered upon the duties of that office in October. 1882, having been elected in the election of Novem- ber, 1881, and in the fall election of 1883 was re-elected, thus serving two terms as treasurer of the county. In 1886, upon the completion of his term of public service, Captain Lofinck went to Trinidad, Colorado, where he established a grocery store and was thus engaged in business at that place until 1890, when he returned to Marysville, where he has since con- tinned to make his home and where he has been occupied in looking after his numerous investments. Captain Lofinck has a good deal of property in Marshall county, has an interest in a gold mine in Santa Fe county, New Mexico, and is accounted among the substantial and well-to-do citizens of Marysville. He is a life-long Republican and has ever given his earnest attention to local civic affairs. Besides his long service as county treasurer. he also has rendered valuable public service as a member of the Marysville city council and has ever been on the side of progress and public improve- ment.
On January 29, 1867, at Waterloo, Illinois, Capt. William Lofinck was united in marriage to Agnes E. H. Goelitz, who was born in the village of Osterode, in the Hartz mountains of Germany, September 26, 1846, and who was but six weeks old when her parents, George and Christina (Tahlbusth ) Goelitz, came to this country and settled at St. Louis, Mis- souri. Later, George Goelitz and his family moved to Monroe county. Illinois, where he bought a farm, which he later sold and then moved to Waterloo, where his wife and daughter Agnes engaged in the millinery business and the latter was thus engaged at the time of her marriage to Captain Lofinck. George Goelitz was a veteran of the Civil War. When Captain Lofinck came to Kansas he and his wife accompanied the Captain and his wife and the two men became engaged in business together at Marysville, where Mr. and Mrs. Goelitz spent their last days. To Captain and Mrs. Lofinck have been born four children, namely: Amanda, who
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married George P. Seinmidt, the well-known banker at Marysville. George. declared: Emma, deceased, and Olga, who married James T. Spellman and lives at St. Joseph, Missouri.
Captain Lofinck for many years has been one of the most active mem- bers of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic at Marysville and is now the senior vice-commander of the post. He also is a Mason and in the affairs of the local lodge of that ancient order takes a warm interest.
ASHER F. REED.
AAsher F. Reed. now deceased, who was for many years one of the well- known farmers and highly respected citizens of Marysville township, Mar- shall county, was born at Champlain, Illinois, on April 30, 1871. being the son of AAndrew Jackson and Mary A. ( Miller ) Reed.
Andrew Jackson Reed was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, on .August 4. 1824, and was reared on the farm and received an excellent edu- cation in the public schools. He remained a resident of the state of his nativity until he was twenty-eight years of age, when he located in Illinois. He and his family later came to Kansas and established their home on a farm of three hundred and twenty acres of excellent land in Marshall county. near Marysville. They remained on the farm for some five years when they sold the place and retired to Marysville. The money from the sale of the faim was invested in a cattle ranch in South Dakota, which was managed by the son, Asher, for some years. It was at his home in Marysville that Andrew Jackson Reed died on November 15. 1966, and his untimely death was mourned by the entire community, for he had ever taken the keenest interest in all things that would tend to the pleasure and the happiness of the people of his home district. For many years he was superintendent of the Sunday school of the Methodist Episcopal church, and while serving in that capacity he not only wom the friendship and love of the older people of the church and Sunday school. but the children and young people were his most enthusiastic admirers. His kind and pleasing disposition made for him many friends in all the walks of life, and his greatest pleasure was in doing a kind deed for some friend and in giving happiness and comfort to the members of his family. His home life was a happy one, and few men enjoyed more the privacy of the home and the companionship of his family.
MATHIAS AND URSULA KUONI.
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than did Mr. Reed. To be with his family and his friends was one of the greatest pleasures that he could enjoy.
Andrew Jackson Reed was the son of Hugh and Catherine (Gordon) Reed, both of whom were natives of Chester county, Pennsylvania. There they were educated in the public schools, grew up and were married. They lived their lives in the county of their birth and were among the prominent people of the community in which they lived. Hugh Reed was for many years identified with the Republican party and took much interest in all local affairs, and served the people of his township as trustee as well as in many of the other offices of the district. Mary A. ( Miller) Reed was born in Ches- ter county. Pennsylvania, on February 27, 1829, and was reared on the home farm and educated in the local schools. She was the daughter of Jacob W. and Ann G. (Bolton) Miller, both of whom were natives of the state of Pennsylvania. Her father was a shoemaker by trade and carried on a retail trade for many years. His birth occurred on November 13. 1803, and he died on May 22, 1862. The mother, Ann G. Miller, was born on August 5. 1808, and died on November 22. 1856. She was a woman of considerable ability and took much interest in the services of the Methodist Episcopal . church, of which she was a member.
To Andrew Jackson and Mary A. Reed were born nine children as follow: Fannie, Charles, Laura, Frank, Anna M., Harry T., Edwin A., Ella R. and Asher F., deceased. This family of children are now all deceased with the exception of Laura M. O'Neil, who is a resident of Indianapolis. Indiana, where Mr. O'Neil is employed by one of the railroads, and Ella R. Snyder, also a resident of the city of Indianapolis, Indiana, where her husband is a well-known contractor and builder.
Asher F. Reed was reared on the home farm and received his education in the local schools and attended high school. As a lad and young man he assisted his father with the work on the farm, and at the age of twenty- three years he started farming for himself. He rented his father's farm in Marysville township and here he was engaged in general farming and stock raising for five years. For the next two years he rented a farm in the same vicinity. after which he operated his father-in-law's place for two years. He then purchased forty acres of his own in Marysville township, which he developed and improved. This farm he enlarged, until the time of his death on November 1. 1908, he was the owner of two hundred and eight acres of splendid land, all of which was well developed and nicely improved. He and his wife were regular attendants of the Methodist Episcopal church and were prominent in the social and the religious life of the community.
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