USA > Kansas > Marshall County > History of Marshall County, Kansas : its people, industries, and institutions > Part 57
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On October 20. 1909, at Kansas City, Missouri, Herman R. Fisher was united in marriage to Tessie Cupples, who was born at Eldorado, Kan- sas, July 28, 1883, daughter of John and Elizabeth ( Long) Cupples, natives of the state of Pennsylvania, the former a carpenter, who are now living at Eldorado, where Mrs. Fisher was reared and where she received her school- ing. Mr. and Mrs. Fisher are earnest and active members of the Methodist church at Marysville and Mr. Fisher is a member of the board of trustees of the same and the leader of the "gospel team" in the men's Bible class in the Sunday school. Mr. Fisher is a Royal Arch Mason and a Knight Tem- plar and has held numerous Masonic offices, taking a warm interest in the affairs of that ancient organization. At this writing he is occupying the chair of worshipful master of the lodge at Marysville. The success that Mr. Fisher has attained he attributes to his efforts of trying to lead a Christian life. Hle, for one, thinks so, and wishes that everyone who reads his biography would do the same. He says he knows it pays.
HENRY C. WATERS.
.Among the substantial and well-known men of Oketo, Marshall county. who holds the responsible position of agent for the railroad company, is Henry C. Waters, who was born on March 8, 1849. at Alexanderville. Ohio, the son of Thomas and Mary (Cabin) Waters, who were natives of Pennsylvania. They were educated in the common schools of that state, and there they spent their early years and later were married.
Thomas Waters was born in the year 1818, the same year that his future wife first saw the light of day. After their marriage they established their home on a farm in their native state and they resided there until 1845. when they moved to a farm in Ohio. There they lived in Montgomery county until 1869, when Mr. Waters came to Iowa. With his family he made the trip to Washington county with horses and wagon, enduring many of the hardships of such means of travel over poor roads and an unknown territory. He estab- lished himself on a farm in Washington county, where he resided until his death in 1800. He was a hard-working man and a first-class farmer and stockman. He developed his tract of land into one of the ideal farms of the county and was recognized as one of the substantial farmers. His wife met her death in 1872, having been killed by a terrific storm that passed over that section of the country. She was a woman of high ideals and by her kindly
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disposition made many friends in her western home, who moured her untimely death.
Thomas and Mary Waters were the parents of the following children : Solomon, William, Simon, Samuel, George, Henry C., Thomas and Eliza- beth. Solomon, now deceased, was a farmer and during the Civil War he left his home and gave several years to the service of his country; William, also deceased, served during some of the hard campaigns of the Civil War, and after his honorable discharge he returned to the farm and became a farmer and stockman ; Simon, now a resident of Posttown, Ohio, and his brothers, Samuel and George, also enlisted ; Samuel and George are now both deceased; Thomas is a resident of Washington county, Iowa. and Elizabeth Van Circle resides at Westchester, Iowa.
Henry C. Waters received his education in the public schools of Ohio ' and was reared on the home farm, where he assisted his father with the farm work. He remained at home until he was eighteen years of age, when he started in life for himself. In 1881 he was employed as station agent for the Union Pacific railroad and served in that capacity at several stations, with singular success. In 1889 he was transferred to his present position, where he has secured the confidence of the public and the railroad company. He is a man of pleasing qualities and is held in the highest esteem.
On New Year's Day, 1884, Henry C. Waters was united in marriage to Mary Jane Watkins, who was born in Iowa in 1862. When but a child her parents moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, where they lived for many years, and were among the prominent residents of that place. Mrs. Waters has spent the greater part of her married life in Oketo, where she has made many friends.
Mr. and Mrs. Waters are the parents of five children, as follow : Henry, assistant cashier of the Oketo State Bank ; Olive, postmistress of Oketo: Dott and Charlotte, both teaching in Marshall county, and Charles, attending college in Kentucky. Mr. Waters is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and has ever taken the warmest interest in the good of the order.
JOHN LINK.
John Link, a successful farmer and a well-known resident of Marysville township, Marshall county, was born in Germany on April 27, 1838, the son of Martin and Elizabeth ( Homan) Link.
Martin Link was born in Germany in 1800 and received his education in the common schools and grew to manhood on the farm. He was later married
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to Elizabeth Homan, who was born in 1800 and received her education in the public schools. After their marriage they established their home on a farm, and were engaged in farming until the time of their deaths, the father's death having occurred in 1872 and the mother's in 1859. They were devout members of the Catholic church and took much interest in all church work. They were the parents of six children, as follow : Fronie, who came to the United States and located in Illinois, where she died some years ago; Gertrude is now deceased; Valentine is deceased : Mary Berger resides near Herkimer, Logan township, Marshall county; John is the subject of this sketch, and Fred is deceased.
John Link received his education in the schools of his native land and there grew to manhood, and at the age of fourteen years he started in life for himself. For many years he worked in Germany as a farm hand and in 1867 he decided to come to America. On his arrival in this country he located in Illinois, where he worked by the month for eight years, when he rented a farm for three years. During the years that he rented he was unable to save any- thing and lost much that he had made in the former years. He then came to Kansas, and for three years he worked in Marysville as a laborer, after which he rented a farm near that city and was thus enagged for nine years. He then purchased one hundred and forty-nine acres of good land near Marysville and here he has since made his home. While he still lives on the farm, he has for the most part retired from the more active duties of farm life, his son now operating the place.
In 1874 John Link was united in marriage to Catherine Leupold, a native of Germany. Her parents were also natives of that country, where they were married and died some years ago. There were three children in the family. all of whom are now deceased. Catherine Leupold was born on November 25. 1848, and received her education in the public schools of Germany and there grew to womanhood. She later came to the United States and located in La Salle county, Illinois, where she worked for three years before her marriage. After their marriage they continued to live in Illinois for some years, and then Mr. and Mrs. Link came to Kansas and located in Marshall county. They later established their home on a farm in Marysville township, and here Mrs. Link died on April 12. 1915. Mrs. Link was a member of the German Luth- eran church and Mr. Link was a member of the Catholic church. They were ever active in all church work, and were for many years prominent in the social life of the community They were the parents of the following children : Amelia, Elizabeth. John, George W., Anna. B. F., Katie, John G., Marie and William M. Amelia, born on September 22, 1875 is now at home with her
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father; the first John died in infancy; Elizabeth Cottrell was born on Feb- ruary 12, 1877, is now a resident of Marshall county, where Mr. Cottrell is a farmer and stockman; George W., born on May 7, 1880, is now a farmer of South Dakota; Anna Newman, born on March 16, 1882, is now a resident of Oketo, where her husband is a farmer : B. F., born on February 23. 1886, is a farmer near Home City; John, born on July 17, 1888, is on the home farm; Marie Cumro born on March 14, 1890, is now a resident of Herkimer town- ship, where her husband is a farmer and stock raiser ; Katie Paper, born on December 3, 1884, died at the age of twenty-four years, and William MI., born on September 29, 1892, is now at home.
JOSEPH C. DICKEY.
Joseph C. Dickey, who was born at Catawba, Ohio, in 1838, was for many years before his death, on April 20, 1903, one of the prominent and highly respected residents of Marshall county. He grew to manhood in Ohio, and there received his education in the public schools. As a lad he learned the trade of a blacksmith, and before the Civil War he came to Indiana, where he worked at his trade for a number of years. After Ft. Sumter had been fired upon, and President Lincoln had called for volunteers, Mr. Dickey was one of the first to offer his services in the defense of the Union. He enlisted in an Indiana regiment for one hundred days service. and while crossing the Potomac river he was made a prisoner, but was later released. At the end of his first enlistment he returned home, but in 1863 he re-enlisted in the One Hundred and Thirty-ninth Regiment, Indiana Volumn- teer Infantry, and saw much active campaigning. Owing to illness he was obliged to return to his home, one month before his regiment returned. He was at the battles of AAntietam and Chickamauga, as well as many other en- gagements. For bravery and efficient service he was made lieutenant of his company, and later, captain.
While home on a furlough, Joseph C. Dickey was united in marriage to Mary Stewart, who was born at Urbana, Champaign county, Ohio, on Novem- ber 12, 1842. She was the daughter of Louis M. and Hannah Stewart, both of whom were natives of Ohio. They were a highly respected and a most patriotic people, and two of their sons were also in the service, Robert J .. who died at Sweetwater, Tennessee, and Theodore. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Dickey established their home at South Whitley, Indiana, where
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Mr. Dickey worked at his trade. He operated his blacksmith shop at that place until 1869, when he and his family came to Kansas, where they located at Waterville, Marshall county, when the town was just starting. He estab- lished and operated the first shop in the town, and from the beginning had more work than he could do. The freighters of those days required the services of a blacksmith and to Mr. Dickey much of their work was brought. His first shop was but a small shanty, but in the early seventies he built a stone structure, which he later enlarged to accommodate his many patrons. He was a first-class workman and honest, and he soon had an extensive busi- ness, becoming well known throughout the district.
Joseph C. Dickey was a man who took great interest in local affairs and had much to do with the civic life of his home town as well as the county. Hle was a strong advocate of substantial public improvements, and was espe- cially interested in good roads and good schools. For a number of years he served as a member of the board of county commissioners, and from 1884 to 1888 was the postmaster of Waterville. He homesteaded eighty acres and purchased eighty acres, shortly after coming to the state. His farm was increased until he became the owner of a splendid tract of two hundred acres cast of Waterville, which Mrs. Dickey sold in 1914 for twelve thon- sand dollars. During the last years of his life he looked after his property interests, having retired from his work as a blacksmith. He was a useful citizen, and his ability was recognized by the people of his home town, who elected him to many local offices. He was long a member of the Grand Army of the Republican, and was made a Mason at a called meeting, before he entered the service as a soldier. The latter order was always to him the greatest of fraternal bodies. To them he always felt that he owed his life. for while a prisoner of war, his condition was such that he developed scurvy. and was about to die from starvation, when he gave the sign of distress and help came to him at once.
To James C. and Mary Dickey were born three children, William Louis, Ray and Daisy. William Louis was born on September 30, 1866, and grew to manhood and was educated in Marshall county. His death occurred on March 9, 1897. the result of a surgical operation ; Ray, who was born on Sep- tember 23, 1800. is the electrician for the light plant at Blue Rapids. He is married to Hallie Thompson and they are the parents of two children, Don- ald. in a bank at Topeka, and Creta, at home. Daisy was born on February 3. 1876, and is now the wife of Frank Keefover: they reside at Tacoma. Washington. Before coming to Waterville. Mr. Dickey was a member of the Lutheran church, and for many years after locating in Marshall county,
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he attended the Methodist Episcopal church, of which his wife was an active member.
Mr. and Mrs. Dickey were always active and prominent in the social and the religious life of the community in which they lived and where they were held in the hghest regard. To them has been due much of the credit for the high moral and social standing of the little city of Waterville. Mrs. Dickey takes much interest in her church work, and has long been active in the Woman's Relief Corps and the Order of the Eastern Star and is also a member of the Rebekah lodge and of a fraternal insurance society.
GEORGE PETERSON.
George Peterson, one of the substantial and highly respected retired res- idents of Waterville, Marshall county, was born on March 17, 1849, in Den- mark, and is the son of Peter and Martha Peterson, both of whom were natives of that country and there spent their lives. George Peterson received his education in the schools of his native land and there lived until he was twenty-four years of age. He then came to the United States and arrived in this country without funds and among strangers and amid strange condi- tions. He at once came to Kansas and located in Doniphan county, where he worked for twenty dollars per month as a farm hand, the greater part of his time being employed in the cutting of hazel brush. After a time he located on a piece of land of his own and engaged in general farming with success. After having lived for eleven years in Doniphan county he sold his farm and came to Waterville, and in 1883 he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Walnut township. The tract at that time was all wild land, and had to be broken and improved by Mr. Peterson. In time the place became one of the ideal farms in the township, and here he engaged in general farming and stock raising until October, 1908, when he moved to Water- ville, where he has a splendid home. His house is situated on a beautiful tract in the corporation and is one of the pretty places of the little city.
In 1885 George Peterson was married to Elsie M. Nelson, who was born in Denmark on September 23, 1858, and died at her home in Waterville, Kansas, on February 8, 1916. Mrs. Peterson came to the United States in 1884 at the time when Mr. Peterson returned to this country after a visit to his native land. It was on this trip that they became acquainted and two years later they were married at Hiawatha, Kansas. Mrs. Peterson was an excel-
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lent woman, and always took much interest in her husband's affairs, assisting him during their many years of happy married life. During her residence in Waterville and in the township, she made many friends by her kindly dispo- sition and her readiness to assist in sickness and trouble. Her life was well spent and at her death, she was mourned by a large circle of friends, who knew that a good woman had gone to her reward. Mr. Peterson has always taken much inteerst in the affars of the district and has had much to do with the development of one of the finest sections of Marshall county. Coming to this country without funds, he has by his own efforts risen to a position of influence and is recognized as one of the substantial men of the county.
To Mr. and Mrs. Peterson were born two children. Margaret Sophia and Anna Dorotha. Margaret Sophia is the wife of George Downard, a pro- gressive young farmer of the county, who is now operating the farm for Mr. Peterson. Mr. and Mrs. Downard are the parents of two children. Harold Edward and Elsie Geraldine, both of whom are at home with their parents. Anna Dorothy received her primary education in the district schools of the township and of Waterville: she is now at home with her father.
Mr. and Mrs. Peterson were members of the Lutheran church. Mrs. Peterson was a regular attendant and took considerable interest in all church services, and was one of the active workers in the local society. Mr. Peter- son is still a member of the church at Waterville and, when able, attends the services. The daughters were reared in the faith of that church and have remained active members. The family is held in high regard in the com- munity and are prominent in the social life of the town.
Mr. Peterson has a pleasing personality: he is a hospitable and pleasing entertainer. He can tell many interesting tales of his early life in his native land, as well as his experiences when first he came to the United States.
JAMES WASHINGTON DENTON.
James Washington Denton, deceased, formerly one of the prominent and successful residents of Biglow township. Marshall county, was born in Bath county, Kentucky, on April 22. 1843, and was the son of Abraham and Elizabeth Denton, who were Southern people and lived their lives in the South.
James Washington Denton was united in marriage on December 1. 1866. to Caroline Jackson, also a native of Kentucky. They established
JAMES W. DENTON.
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their home in the state of their nativity and there they resided until 1871, when they decided to locate in the state of Kansas, where they might better have an opportunity to obtain a home for themselves and those de- pendent upon them. They left their home at Owensville by stage and pro- ceeded to Maysville, Kentucky. From there they proceeded by boat to Cincinnati, Ohio, and from there to Barrett, Kansas, by railroad. From Barrett they journeyed to Springside, Kan'sas, with horses and wagon, and there they established their first home in the new state. Mr. Denton home- steaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in Marshall county, but con- tinued to maintain his home in Pottawatomie. He engaged in the cattle business, and bought and shipped many head. He proved up on a claim he had made in Pottawatomie county, and there he lived for nineteen years. In 1894 he sold the farm and purchased the farm of W. J. Williams, in Bigelow township, Marshall county. This farm, of fourteen hundred acres, was located near Irving, and here he engaged extensively in general farnı- ing and stock raising until 1906, when he moved to Irving, where he lived until the time of his death on May 19, 1915. During his active life on the farm he kept many cattle and for many years delivered to the markets some five hundred head. His aim was to keep only the best stock, to which he gave the most careful care and attention, and when placing them on the market he received the highest prices. As a farmer and stockman he was recognized as one of the most successful in the county. Few men in this section of the state attempted either farming or the handling of stock on so large a scale. He was a man of great ability and was able to master large business interests. He was most systematic and conservative, and was possessed of keen business acumen.
He was a member of the Republican party and while taking the great- est interest in the civic life of the district, he was not a seeker after office. Being a man of pronounced convictions and possessed of a wide range of information, his advice was often sought in matters that pertained to the welfare of the community, as well as for individual advice relative to finall- cial matters. He was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church and was a liberal supporter of the local society. He was a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and of the Order of the Eastern Star.
James Washington and Caroline Denton were the parents of four children as follow: George H., Elizabeth, Ida M. and Roscoe. George is a well-known and successful farmer and stockman, living six miles north of Frankfort, Kansas. He married Gertrude Dexter and they are the par- ents of two children, Kenneth and George W. Elizabeth is the wife of
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P. C. McCall. of Marshall county, and they live on the old home place. They are the parents of three children, Denton, Luceil and Elizabeth. Ida MI. Hughes is a resident of Fulton, Missouri, and Roscoe is a successful farmer and stockman. He is married to Alena Boyd and they are the parents of two children, Hazel and Kale Everett.
Few people of the county have ever been held in higher regard than have Mr. and Mrs. Denton. They were a most estimable people and they had many friends throughout the county and were most active in all that tended to make better and greater the county wherein they resided. In the social, educational, religious and the general activities of the district, they were always active and influential. Mrs. Denton is also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and holds the office of Martha in that organiza- tion. While their early lives in the state were fraught with hardships, they ever remembered their duty to society.
THOMAS DEVER.
Many men and women of Ohio have come to the state of Kansas, where they have played an important part in the development of the state. These representatives of the eastern state have entered into the business life and agricultural pursuits, attaining much success. Among the number who have come to Kansas from Ohio is Thomas Dever, now a retired farmer and one of the prominent men of Marshall county. Ile was born on December 4. 1846, in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, the son of .Andrew and Elizabeth ( Wise ) Dever.
Andrew Dever was born in Ireland in 1813, and remained a resident of his native land until he was eight years of age. At that time his parents decided to come to America and seek a home. The parents had received their education in the schools of their native land and were familiar with the condi- tions of that country. There was little in life for them in their native land. and being of a progressive nature, they were anxious to have a home of their own. On their arrival in the United States in 1867, they established their home in Ohio, where they lived for a time and later moved to Hancock county, Illinois, where the father died in 1882. Mrs. Dever, the wife of Andrew Dever, was born in Ohio in 1817 and died in 1891, her parents being natives of the state of Pennsylvania.
To Andrew and Elizabeth ( Wise) Dever were born the following chil-
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dren : Richard, Thomas, Mary, Augustus, Alice, Mattie, John and one that died in infancy. Richard is now a retired farmer and is one of the well- respected residents of his home community; Mary C. Wise is a resident of Keokuk, Iowa : Augustus lives near St. Louis, Missouri ; Alice is now deceased ; Mattie died some years ago, and John lives at Adrian, Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Dever were prominent people in their home district, where they were held in the highest regard. They took much interest in the development of the county and were particularly interested in the schools and the moral development of the community.
Thomas Dever received his education in the common schools of Ohio and was reared on the home farm. He remained at home until he was twenty-seven years of age, when he rented land and worked for himself in the state of Illinois. He later purchased eighty acres of land in that state, which he farmed for three years; he then sold the tract and in 1884 came to Kansas, and purchased one hundred and twenty-six acres of land in section 14, Oketo township, Marshall county. At the time he made the purchase there were no improvements on the place, with the exceptions of a house and a well. Soon after establishing himself on the farm, he began the task of making improvements, and soon had one of the well-developed farms in the town- ship. He spent over three thousand dollars on the farm, in order to make it one of the ideal places in the county. As he prospered in his work as a general farmer and stockman, he purchased more land and is now the owner of two hundred and thirty acres and one hundred and sixty aeres in Howard county, Texas, and is today known as one of the substantial and successful men of the district.
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