USA > Kansas > Marshall County > History of Marshall County, Kansas : its people, industries, and institutions > Part 51
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In April, 1915. D. W. Ludwick was united in marriage to Alice Deven- derf. of Topeka, daughter of Capt. Henry Devendorf, a Civil War veteran, who settled at Topeka in 1876 and there spent the rest of his life, his death occurring in 1912. Mr. and Mrs. Ludwick have a very pleasant home and take a proper part in the general social activities of their home city. They attend the services of the local branch of the Church of Christ ( Scientist ) and take much interest in the general good works of the community.
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F. A. GASTON, D. D. S.
Dr. E. A. Gaston, well-known dentist at Axtell and former member of the city council of that city, is a native of the old Hoosier state, but has- been a resident of Kansas since he was seventeen years of age. He was born in Monroe county, Indiana, July 29, 1875, son of Dr. J. H. Gaston and wife, the former of whom was born in Greene county, that same state. a son of James Gaston, a native of Tennessee, who was one of the early set- tlers in southern Indiana.
J. H. Gaston was born in 1843 and early turned his attention to the study of medicine. When the Civil War broke out he enlisted in Company AA, Ninety-seventh Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served with that command until he was incapacitated for further service by reason of a severe wound in the right forearm received during the battle of Kenesaw Mountain. Following his discharge from service he resumed his medical studies and completed the same at the Miami Medical College at Cincinnati, after which he engaged in the practice of his profession in Monroe county, Indiana. Doctor Gaston also took an active part in the civic affairs of his home county and served for two terms as treasurer of Monroe county, mak- ing his home at Bloomington, where he continued to reside, following the practice of his profession, until 1892. when he came to Kansas and settled at Axtell, where he continued in the active practice of medicine until a short time before his death, which occurred in 1911. His wife, who was Martha A. Connet, also a native of Indiana, had preceded him to the grave about one year, her death having occurred in 1910.
E. A. Gaston was about seventeen years of age when his parents moved from Indiana to Axtell. About five years later, in the fall of 1897, he entered the Western Dental College at Kansas City, Missouri, and was gradu- ated from the same in 1900. Thus admirably equipped for the practice of his chosen profession, Doctor Gaston opened an office at Axtell and has ever since been there engaged in the practice of dental surgery, one of the best- known dentists in this part of the state. Doctor Gaston has a well-appointed suite of offices in the Citizens Bank building and has built up an excellent practice. He keeps fully abreast of the latest advancement in the science of his profession and is a member of the Kansas State Dental Association, of the Northeastern Kansas Dental Association and of the National Dental Association, in the affairs and deliberations of which he takes a warm inter- est. Doctor Gaston is a Republican and ever gives a good citizen's atten-
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tion to local civic affairs, having served for some time as a member of the .Axtell city council.
In 1901 Dr. E. A. Gaston was united in marriage to Effie Ford. He and his wife have a very pleasant home in AAxtell and take a proper part in the general social activities of the city. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and take an earnest interest in the various beneficences of the same. Doctor Gaston at present being one of trustees of the church. He is a Mason and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Knights of Pythias, besides being affiliated with certain fraternal insur- ance orders, and in the affairs of all these several organizations takes a warm interest.
BENJAMIN WILLIAM HERRING.
Benjamin William Herring, one of the early pioneers of Oketo town- ship. Marshall county, and now deceased, was born in England on October 30, 1834. near the town of Lyn. He received his education in the schools of his native land and at the age of eighteen years he decided to come to the United States. On his arrival in this country he established himself at his trade as a blacksmith in New York. He remained in New York for a time and later came to Illinois, where he again engaged in the work of a blacksmith at old Dement. now Creston.
While living at Creston, Benjamin William Herring was imited in marriage to Mary Ann Bigham, in 1858. She was born in Canada on May 2, 1839. the daughter of Thomas and Jane ( Davis) Bigham, natives of Canada and Ireland, respectively. In 1857, when the daughter, Mary .Ann, was eighteen years of age, the family came to Illinois. She had re- ceived her education in her native land and the next year after coming to Illinois she was married to Mr. Herring. Her parents later came to Kansas. and established their home in Marshall county.
In 1866 Mr. and Mrs. Herring decided to leave their home in Illinois and locate on the farm in Oketo township. Marshall county, that Mr. Her- ring had homesteaded one year before. They made the journey in a prairie schooner and experienced many of the hardships of that mode of travel. They established their home on their new farm of one hundred and sixty acres of land, and at once entered into the task of development and im- provement. The first house was built from the roof of a barn that Mr. Herring had purchased. The building consisted of but two rooms, and in
MR. AND MRS. BENJAMIN W. HERRING.
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this the family lived for some years, or until the present substantial house was built. They met with success in their new home and in time added to the farm until they were the owners of two hundred and sixty acres of splendid land, all of which was placed under high cultivation and was well improved with two sets of buildings.
Mr. Herring was always a hard-working man and a splendid citizen. In 1885 he was bothered with the ague, and in order to regain his health he went to Vancouver Island and worked at his trade for three years. There he was engaged in sharpening picks and shoeing mules. On his return to his home he conducted a shop on his farm for a number of years. He al- ways took the deepest interest in local affairs and was identified with the Republican party. He served for many years as a school director and as school treasurer.
Mr. and Mrs. Herring were among the well-respected people of their home community, and were held in high esteem by all who knew them. On January 13, 1908, they celebrated their golden wedding, which was at- tended by a large number of their friends and neighbors. That same year, Mr. Herring lost the sight of one of his eyes, which interfered much with his comfort. The next year he and his wife visited the Seattle Fair, then Victoria and the Island of Vancouver, where Mr. Herring had worked for three years, the trip proving a most enjoyable one.
There were six children in the Herring family: Hattie Lillian, Ben- jamin Henry, Samuel Thomas, Robert Elroy, Vinnie Victoria and Hiram L. Hattie Lillian Suggett is a resident of Marietta, Kansas, and is the mother of three children, Sidney R., Bernice M. and Cyril J. Sidney R. Suggett is married and has two children, Lloyd and Norman Randall. Bernice M. Suggett is the wife of M. H. Schmidt and is living on the old home place. Benjamin Henry Herring was born in Illinois and is now deceased. Samuel Thomas is a successful farmer of Oketo township. He is married to Lottie Hawes and they are the parents of one child. Vida May. Robert Elroy lives in Oregon and is married to Louisa Schmidt and they have five chil- dren, Benjamin Michael, Mary, Magdelena. Howard and Elroy; Vinnie Victoria is the wife of James Curtis, of Firth, Nebraska, and they are the parents of two children, William James and Earl J. ; Hiram L. is a resident of Oketo township, and is married to Maggie Schmidt, and to them has been born one child, Hiram Michael.
To Mr. and Mrs. Herring is due much of the early progress in the township, as well as the county. They entered into the development of their home district with a determination that was sure of success. In addition
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to the improvement of their own home farm, they were interested in the development of the territory in which they had established themselves. They were indulgent parents, and the welfare of their children was always one of their chief considerations. They were always interested in the schools and the moral well-being of the district. To such men as Mr. Herring the present generation owe much for the excellent system of schools that are now established in the township and the county. He was also a strong advo- cate of the building of good roads and believed that in the schools and the highways of the county depended a good deal of the future greatness of this section of the state. He was a most entertaining man, and being a great traveler, he was possessed of much interesting information. He was a great reader and kept well posted on the current events of the day.
J. G. SCHMIDLER.
One of the native sons of Marshall county, who has met with much suc- cess and is one of well-known residents of Marietta, where he is the cashier of the Marietta State Bank, was born on Horseshoe creek in Logan township, the son of John and Catherine ( Steinmetz) Schmidler.
The State Bank of Marietta was organized- in August, 1909, with a capitalization of ten thousand dollars, and now has a surplus of over one thousand dollars and deposits of over ninety thousand dollars. The officers of the bank are: President. Benjamin R. Bull; vice-president, Fred Ober- meyer : cashier, J. G. Schmidler : directors, E. R Fulton. B. R. Bull, S. W. Bull, A. J. Cottrell, W. W. Cottrell and W. M. McCloud. The institution owns its own banking house, which is one of the modern buildings of the city, and is furnished with the latest modern furniture. There are twenty- four stockholders, they being among the most substantial and representative men of the district, and there has been no change in the personnel of the stock- holders for the past four or five years. The bank has done a splendid busi- ness and the officers of the bank, by their courteous treatment of the general public, have won the confidence of all. The institution, while but a new one in the financial world, has made substantial progress and is recognized as a sound banking institution. The officers are recognized as among the sub- stantial and influential people of the district.
J. G. Schmidler received his education in the schools of Marshall county, where he grew to manhood. His father, John Schmidler, was born in
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Luxemburg, Germany, in 1837, and when two years of age came with his parents to Wisconsin in 1839. The family established their home in that state and there John was educated, grew to manhood and was married to Catherine Steinmetz, who was born in 1847, in Wisconsin. At the time of her birth her parents lived near Port Washington, Sheboygan county, where they resided until 1869, at which time they came to Kansas. The father first came to the county in 1866 and he and Peter Schumacher chiseled out the tunnel water course for the Hutchinson mill. After the family came to the county, they located on the old Marshall farm, which was owned by J. G. Schmidler's grandfather, Jacob Schmidler, and it was here that the family resided for some years. In 1876 they spent the winter in California, after which they returned to their former home in Kansas. In 1881 the parents moved to a farm in Oketo township, where they now reside, all of which is well improved and under a high state of cultivation.
To John and Catherine Schmidler have been born the following children : J. G., Theresa, Anna, Sophia, Lulu. Elsie, Agatha, John H. and Henry W. Theresa Bommer is now a resident of Oketo township; Anna died in 1915; Sophia is the wife of I. J. Adams, of Cleveland, Ohio; Lulu is the wife of A. R. Young, who is city engineer of Topeka; Elsie is a successful teacher in the schools of Blue Rapids; Agatha is at home; John H. is a successful farmer and resides two miles south of Oketo and Henry W. is one of the successful farmers of Oketo township.
J. G. Schmidler, after completing his education in the common schools of the county, attended a private normal school for some time and then engaged in teaching, and was successfully engaged in that work for nine years in the district school, after which he was principal of the Herkimer schools for a year. While engaged in teaching, he spent his summer vaca- tion in farming. He continued in his work as a teacher and a farmer until IQIT, at which time he took charge of the bank, where he is still the efficient cashier. In addition to his interest in the bank, he is the owner of one hun- dred and three acres of splendid land and a half interest in one hundred and sixty acres with his father.
In June, 1901, J. G. Schmidler was united in marriage to Minnie M. Cottrell, who was born in Oketo township and is the daughter of Robert and Sarah Cottrell, old settlers of the county. Her parents came to the county in an early day, and established themselves on a farm, which they developed and improved, and here they lived for many years, dying some years ago. They devoted their lives to the interests of their family and the good of the community in which they lived, and were held in the highest
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regard. Their lives were active ones, and they had much to do with the growth and the development of the district. They were progressive people and to them is due much of the advanced condition of the community. They took great interest in the welfare of their children and were much concerned in the good of the neighborhood.
To J. G. and Minnie M. Schmidler have been born three children, Marjorie Lenore, aged fourteen years; John Carlisle, aged twelve and Lorna Katherine, aged eight years. Mrs. Schmidler is a graduate of the Marys- ville high school, and after completing her work in that institution. she taught in the schools of that place for a number of years, with much success. As a teacher. Mrs. Schmidler was recognized as one of the most proficient in the county.
The life of Mr. Schmidler has been an active one. When but a lad of eight years he herded cattle on the plains and was engaged in this work until he was twelve years of age. As a lad he was ever busy in useful occu- pation, and during his active life he found but little time for vacations. He is an independent in politics, yet takes much interest in local affairs, and has had much to do with the civic life of the community in which he lives and where he is held in the highest regard.
ORLIN PEARL WOOD, M. D.
Of the many progressive and well-known men of Oketo, Marshall county, who have won distinction in their chosen work and have met with a large measure of success, is Dr. Orlin Pearl Wood, who was born in Coffey county, Kansas, the son of William H. and Emma Alice ( Beaumont ) Wood.
William H. Wood was born in Ohio in 1840 and his wife is a native of the state of Maryland. They are of old and well-established families, whose lives have been closely associated with the growth and development of American institutions. Representatives of the family won distinction in the occupations and professions of their home communities and were ever held in high regard by the residents of their home districts. William H. Wood was reared in his native state and there he received his education in the common schools and engaged in agricultural pursuits. At the outbreak of the Civil War he was one of the first to offer his services in the defense of the flag of his country, and enlisted in the First Ohio Regiment, Light Artillery. He saw much active service and at the battle of Chancellorsville
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he lost his right arm. Being unfitted for further service he returned to his home in Ohio, where he remained until 1866, when he came to Kansas and homesteaded a tract of land, six miles from Burlington, in Coffey county. This farm he later developed and improved into one of the well-cultivated farms of the district. He was an excellent farmer and a good manager and soon became recognized as one of the prominent and successful men of the county. After many years of active life on his homestead he retired to Burlington, where he now resides. His life has been an active one, and he is today honored and respected by his neighbors and friends.
Doctor Wood was born on November 7, 1880, and received his early educational training in the public schools of Coffey county and later attended the high school at Burlington. After completing his high school work he engaged in teaching and for one year followed that profession with marked success. In 1897 he entered the medical school of the Kansas University, at Kansas City, this state, and was graduated from that institution in 1900. He entered the practice of his profession at Hall Summit, Kansas, where he remained for twelve years. He then came to Oketo in 1912, and here he has met with much success, and is today known as one of the prominent inen in the profession in the county. He gives care and attention to his patients and by his professional dignity and close attention to business, he has won the confidence of the entire community. Some years ago he took post- graduate work in the University of California, in order to better prepare himself for his work. His worth as a physician and surgeon has been recog- nized by the management of the Union Pacific railroad and is their district surgeon.
In 1904 Doctor Wood was united in marriage to Jessie A. Barnard, of Hall Summit, Kansas, and to them has been born one child, Merrill, aged ten years. Doctor and Mrs. Wood are active members of the Methodist Episcopal church and have long been prominent in the social and the religious life of the community, where they are held in high regard. Mrs. Wood is an excellent woman and by her kindly disposition has made friends.
Fraternally. Doctor Wood is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Politically, he is identified with the Republican party and has always taken a keen interest in the affairs of the community. His worth was recognized in 1915. when he was elected as mayor of the home town. During his administration, he has given the people of Oketo excellent government and many reforms and much progress have been made. Today, Oketo with its enforcement of law and order, excellent streets and splendid walks and its own electric light plant,
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is one of the model and progressive towns of the county. To Doctor Wood is due much of the credit for the new life that has been inaugurated in the little city.
FRED H. PRALLE.
Fred H. Pralle, one of the prominent and successful business men of Bremen, Marshall county, was born in Germany on November 22. 1864. the son of Jordan and Minnie ( Rahlis) Pralle, both of whom were natives of the fatherland.
Jordan Pralle was born in 1837 and received his education in the schools of his native land and as a young man learned the butcher trade, which he followed until his death in 1879. He and his wife, who died in 1875, were active members of the German Lutheran church and were prominent in the social and religious life of the district in which they lived. They were the parents of four children, Fred H .. Louisa. Justina and Henry. Louisa Hor- man is the wife of a well-known farmer and stockman of Herkimer town- ship: Justina Timme resides in Idaho, where her husband is engaged in farm- ing and Henry is farming in Oklahoma.
Fred HI. Pralle received his education in the public schools of Germany, where he lived until he was seventeen years of age, when in 1881 he came to the United States. On his arrival in this country he at once came to Kansas and located in Marshall county, where he worked on a farm for nine years in Logan township. He then rented one hundred and sixty acres of land in Washington county. He devoted his time for the next two years to butchering, after which he rented one hundred and twenty acres of land of Mrs. Caroline Geishler for one year, at which time they were united in marriage. They continued to live on the farm until September, 1910, but during the last three years the farm was managed by his son, while Mr. Pralle continued his business in Bremen as cashier of the Bremen State Bank. He then built his beautiful modern brick house, which is one of the finest in Bremen.
Mr. Pralle was first married in 1802 to Caroline Geishler, a widow and the daughter of Fred and Mary ( Breneka) Germer. To this union three children were born, Minnie Lemke, who lives at Carleton, Nebraska, where Mr. Lemke is engaged in teaching : Ralph, who is a student in the Theolog- ical Seminary at St. Louis, and Walter E., assistant cashier of the Bremen State Bank and is living at home. Caroline Pralle died on September 24.
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1908, and on September 9, 1910, Mr. Pralle was united in marriage to Louisa Friedrichs, the daughter of Fred and Catherine ( Raemer) Fried- richs, who were natives of Germany. Mrs. Louisa Pralle was born in Marshall county on June 4, 1865, and was reared on the home farm and received her education in the local schools. She and Mr. Pralle are promi- nent members of the German Lutheran church. They are the parents of one child. Fridel, who was born on January 29, 1913.
Fred H. Pralle has always taken a keen interest in local affairs and is recognized as one of the progressive and successful citizens of the county. In addition to his interests in the bank, he owns a splendid farm of one hundred and seventy-five acres in Herkimer township, which is under high cultivation and well improved. His ability as a business man was noted when he assisted, on August 7, 1907, in the organization of the Bremen State Bank, by the following named representative people of the county : Charles F. Pusch, P. F. Laughlan, W. H. Smith, Frank Yaussi, William Rabe, F. W. Stohs, Ernest Koeneke. On the completion of the organiza- tion the following officers were elected: President, William Rabe; vice- president, F. W. Stohs, and cashier, Fred H. Pralle. The bank was opened for business on September 14, 1907, and conducted successfully during the trying times of 1908. The first location of the bank was in a one-story frame building, where they continued until the disastrous fire of March 17, 1908, when not only the bank, but the entire business district of the town was burned. The bank at that time had no vault, but had a burglar-proof iron safe, in which was some five thousand dollars in currency the most of which was mutilated by the heat. On advice from the department from Washington, W. H. Smith, one of the directors of the bank took the cur- rency to Washington, after the safe had cooled. After a thorough exan- ination the money was ,all restored, with the exception of a five-dollar bill that could not be identified. The bank was at once reopened after the fire and for some time they operated in a box-car on the Rock Island railroad, which was the only available location. At the time the bank established the business in the box-car, they had deposits of thirty-nine thousand nine hundred seventy-five dollars and thirty-five cents and when they removed to their new building they had a deposit of seventy-two thousand three hundred thirty-eight dollars and thirty-nine cents. During the time they were doing business in the temporary quarters they built their present sub- stantial brick building into which they moved on September 10, 1908. They now have a surplus of five thousand dollars and a deposit of one hundred
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and thirty-five thousand two hundred and ninety dollars and sixty-seven cents, and the bank is recognized as one of the strongest in this part of Kansas. Through the efforts of Mr. Pralle, who has been the cashier since the organization, much credit is dne for the high standard to which the bank has risen. He has given his untiring efforts to the work, and by his business-like methods and courteous treatment of the public, he has the confidence and the respect of all. His constant aim is to serve the patrons of the bank in the best manner possible, consistent with good banking, and the success of the institution demonstrates his ability in this line.
JOHN PECENK ..
Among the prominent citizens of Logan township, Marshall county, who have won success and recognition in the county is John Pecenka, who was born in Bohemia on April 21. 1847, the son of John and Kate ( Casper ) Pecenka. both of whom were born in that country.
John Pecenka, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in 1825 and received his education in the schools of Bohemia and there grew to manhood. When a young man he engaged in the grist-milling business, . at which he worked until 1861, when he decided to come to America. On his arrival in this country he located in lowa, where he rented a farm and engaged in general farming and stock raising for eight years. He then came to Kansas and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land, and at the same time pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres in Marshall county. This he developed and improved and here he did general farming and stock raising until his death in 1902.
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