USA > Kansas > Marshall County > History of Marshall County, Kansas : its people, industries, and institutions > Part 68
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To Christav Louis Pape and wife were born seven children, Mrs. Mary Braugh, of Marysville, Gustav C., Louis, Ernest W. and Carl, who reside
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near Home, Mrs. Emma Tucker, of Kansas City, Missouri, and one son, Otto, who died at the age of seven years. Besides his widow and these children, the deceased left two sisters and one brother, residing in Germany, and a sister, residing in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Gustav C. Pape was but an infant when his parents came to this country in 1876 and he grew to manhood on the home farm in Franklin township, receiving his schooling in the district school in that neighborhood. He remained at home until after his marriage in 1904, when he bought a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in section 4 of that same township and there has ever since made his home, he and his family being comfortably and pleasantly situated. Mr. Pape has made extensive improvements on his place and has one of the most attractive farms in that part of the county, in addition to a fine orchard having fifteen acres of natural timber on his farm. Mr. Pape is a Democrat and has ever given close attention to local political affairs. In 1908 he was elected trustee of Franklin town- ship: was re-elected in 1912 and is still holding that office.
In 1904 Gustav C. Pape was united in marriage to Matilda Neumann, who was born in Richland township, this county. December 15, 1880. daugh- ter of Herman and Emma ( Brauch ) Neumann, pioneers of Marshall county, the latter of whom died in 1903 and the former of whom is now making his home with Mr. and Mrs. Pape. Herman Neumann was born in West Prussia, Germany, May 25, 1852, and in 1870, when eighteen years of age, came to this country and located in Illinois, where he began working as a farm hand and where, in 1873, he married Emma Brauch, who was born in that state on January 3. 1856. In 1878 he and his family came to Kansas and settled in Marshall county, Mr. Neumann for a time renting a farm in Richland township. In 1882 he bought a quarter of a section of land and has since enlarged his holdings until now he is the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of land. His wife died on July 27. 1903, and in 1906 he retired from the active labors of the farm and has since made his home with Mr. and Mrs. Pape. Mr. Neumann for years took an active part in local affairs and has served as a member of the school board in his district for twenty-four years. To him and his wife six chil- dren were born, of whom Mrs. Pape was the fourth in order of birth, the others being as follows: Mrs. Charles Blocker, of Home: Frederick, a farmer, living in the neighborhood of Oketo: Mrs. Fred Blocker, of Home; Mrs. August Genschoreck, of Franklin township, and Gustav, deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Pape three children have been born, Arthur, Verda and Laura. Mr. and Mrs. Pape are members of the German Lutheran church and Mr.
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Pape is the treasurer of the local congregation. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Modern Woodmen of America and takes a warm interest in the affairs of these organizations.
CHARLES L. WILLEY.
Among the residents of Balderson township, Marshall county, who have won a prominent place in the affairs of the township and the county, it is well to mention Charles L. Willey, one of the successful farmers and stock- men of the district, who was born in Starke county, Indiana, on July 14, 1867, and is the son of Albert Burton and Anna ( Prettiman) Willey.
Albert Burton and Anna Willey were born in the state of Delaware, the former having been born on March II, 1832, and died at his home in Blue Rapids, Kansas, in 1897. Mrs. Willey was born on May 18, 1832, and is living with her children, since the death of her husband. They were edu- cated in the common schools of their native country and later were married and located in Kansas, where they became prominent in the social and the civic life of the community, where they were held in the highest regard and esteem by all.
Charles L. Willey received his primary education in the public schools of Indiana, where he lived until he was sixteen years of age, when he came with his parents to Kansas and with them located in Balderson township, Marshall county. Here he remained with his parents until 1886, when he rented a farm in the township and began the active operations of life for him- self. He engaged in general farming for a time and later rented a farm in Nebraska, where he remained until 1893, when he returned to Marshall county and purchased eighty acres of land in Balderson township, which is a part of his present farm. The tract at that time had no improvements whatever, not even a fence. Mr. Willey at once engaged in the task of developing and improving his new farm and was soon in a position to purchase more land. He added eighty acres to his original tract and in a short time was the owner of two hundred and forty acres of splendid land, all of which was placed under high cultivation and was well improved. He engaged in gen- eral farming with much success and kept high-grade stock, including Short- horn cattle and Poland China hogs. In 1916 he raised some one hundred acres of corn, which gave him a splendid average. In addition to his large interests on the farm, Mr. Willey is a holder of stock in the co-operative store
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at Oketo and is president of the company. He is a director of the elevator at Oketo, and has had much to do with its success.
In 1886 Charles L. Willey was united in marriage to Lucy Shores, who was born in North Carolina on May 13, 1868, and is the daughter of James and Sarah M. ( Manard) Shores. Her parents were natives of that state and there they received their education in the common schools, grew to maturity and were later married. After their marriage they continued to reside in North Carolina until 1883, at which time they decided to locate in Kansas. On their arrival in this state they established their home on a farm in Balderson township, Marshall county, where they resided up to the end of their lives.
To Charles L. and Lucy Willey have been born the following children : Charles R .. a resident of Nebraska ; Earl, one of the successful men of Balder- son township; Ruth, a graduate of the common and normal schools and now a successful teacher of the county; Fern, Floyd, Fay and Orval are at home and Jewell is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Willey are active in the affairs of the community and have long been prominent in the social and the religious life of the district. Mr. Willey is identified with the Republican party and was for eighteen years a member of the local school board and is now town- ship clerk. He and his family are regular attendants of the Baptist church. in which Mr. Willey is a deacon. He is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. He has for some years been a deputy fire marshal of his home township and is also recorder of the births and the deaths.
SAMUEL W. STEDMAN.
Samuel W. Stedman, one of the well-known and successful farmers and stockmen of Richland township. Marshall county, was born at Dowagiac, Michigan, when that country was all heavy timber, on August 16, 1858, and is the son of Zerah and Phoebe ( Ryder) Stedman.
Zerah and Phoebe Ryder Stedman were natives of the state of New York and Canada, respectively. Mr. Stedman was born on January 10, 1828, and died on April 8. 1905: Mrs. Stedman was born on August 7, 1835, and died on January 2, 1911. Their ancestors were of Irish descent. the grandfather of Samuel W. Stedman having been born and reared in Ireland. The Stedmans were early settlers in the state of Michigan, and William Ryder located there when the daughter Phoebe was a little girl. The state
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at that time, in the northern and central parts, was covered with a heavy growth of timber, and there were but few settlers, in the vicinity where those families settled. They were true pioneers and during their stay in the state, experienced many of the hardships and privations of the early settler. In 1870 the Stedmans moved to Kansas, where Zerah Stedman homesteaded a farm where the city of Summerfield is now located. This farm he developed and improved and here he engaged in general farming and stock raising until 1881, when he sold the place and for three and a half years made his home with his son, Samuel W. He then purchased the farm where the brother of Samuel W. Stedman now lives, and there he made his home `until two years before his death, when he moved to another farm that he owned.
Zerah and Phoebe ( Ryder) Stedman were the parents of two children. Samuel W. and Richard James. The latter is now a successful farmer and stockman of Richland township, and is the owner of a tract of land in that township. His farm is under a high state of cultivation and well improved, and he and his family are held in the highest regard and esteem.
Samuel W. Stedman received his education in the district schools of Marshall county, attending school in the winter time and working on the farm in the summer. In 1879 he purchased his farm in Richland township, but continued to live with his father until 1882, when he moved to his own place. On December 25, 1880, he was united in marriage to Lettie May Harvey, who was born on April 5, 1864. She was a native of the state of Indiana and the daughter of William L. and Permelia (Arnet) Harvey. Her parents were also natives of the Hoosier state, where they were educated in the public schools and there grew to maturity and were later married. After their marriage they continued to live in Indiana until 1878, when they came to Kansas and established their home on a farm in St. Bridget town- ship, where they engaged in general farming and stockraising for a number of years. Mr. Harvey was born on October 12, 1819, and died on March 9, 1888: Mrs. Harvey was born on December 25, 1825, and died on March 18, 1876. They were the parents of the following children: Jane, William, Milton, Franklin, Elizabeth, Alice, Lena, Fremont, Emma, Lettie May and Clara. Jane was born on May 15, 1842, and now makes her home with Samuel W. Stedman and wife; William, October 20, 1843, was a soldier in the Civil War, and gave his life in the defense of the Union; Milton, April 13, 1846, is now deceased: Franklin, September 5, 1848, and is now a resi- dent. of Indianapolis. Indiana : Elizabeth Dunn, January 30, 1850, and she and her husband now reside at Oklahoma; Alice, April 21, 1853, and died
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some years after her marriage to Mr. McMains; Lena Hayward, August 26, 1855, is now a resident of Oklahoma; Fremont, March 11, 1858, is now a resident of southeastern Kansas: Emma Lockhard, October 22, 1860, and lives at Marysville, and Clara Stedman, April 27, 1868.
To Samuel W. and Lettie May Stedman have been born the following children : Z., who was born on November 9, 1883, and is now a resident of California. He married Susie Huddell and to them have been born five chil- dren as follow: Ralph, Wayne, Margurete, Elsie and Z., Jr. Phoebe was born on February 5, 1886, and is the wife of Joseph Chase, a successful young farmer of Guittard township, and to them have been born two chil- dren, Francis Joseph and Sarah Rose; Sophronia. April 22, 1888, and is married to David Tucker, a well-known farmer of Richland township, and to this union the following children have been born: Clarence, May, Ella and Roy; Varena. January 12, 1891, and is the wife of Lloyd Wyckoff, a successful farmer of Richland township, and to them has been born one child, Austin Cecil; Clara, May 13, 1894, and is the wife of Lee Laramore and they are the parents of two children, Olynn and Irene; Irl. August 10, 1899; Anna, February 27, 1903, and Paul, June 16, 1907. The last three children are at home with their parents.
William and Lucinda Arnet, the maternal grandparents of Lettie May Stedman were born on September 16, 1801, and on April 9, 1808, respectively, and her paternal grandfather, William Harvey, was born in South Carolina on August 14, 1790, and the grandmother, Jane (Estes) Harvey, was born on June 6, 1793. They were early settlers in Indiana and engaged in farming.
When he first came to Kansas, Samuel W. Stedman lived in a sod house for three years, and experienced many of the trials of the pioneer. As a young man he soon devoted his abilities to farming and the raising of stock. He was not satisfied with the life of a renter and soon purchased land of his own. In 1882 he came to his present excellent farm of three hundred and twenty acres, which is today one of the best farms in the county. At the time he made the purchase it was all wild prairie and he paid but six dollars per acre for the tract. With much hard work the tough prairie sod was broken and prepared for planting of crops. He has placed all the buildings and has a splendid house and barn with other outbuildings, all of which he keeps in an excellent state of repair. He rents one hundred and sixty acres of his farm, but is actively engaged in the management of the other part of the place. Ten years ago he began the breeding of Shorthorn cattle on a small scale, and today he has a fine herd of these animals, twenty of them being
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registered. He is recognized as one of the most successful breeders in the township and his herd is one of the finest in the county.
Mr. and Mrs. Stedman are members of the Seventh-Day Adventist church and are prominent in the social and religious life of the community. Politically, Mr. Stedman is identified with the Republican party, and has always taken a keen interest in local affairs. He has served as clerk and as trustee of Richland township, and was in an early day the postmaster of WVest Ella.
TIMOTHY P. O'NEIL.
Timothy P. O'Neil, a well-known farmer and one who has met with much success in his chosen work as a general farmer and stockman in Rich- land township, Marshall county, and is now one of the efficient county com- missioners, representing the first district, was born in Guittard township, within one mile of where he now lives, on December 23, 1862, and is the son of Patrick and Mary (Connor) O'Neil.
Patrick and Mary (Connor) O'Neil were born in Ireland and there received their education in the public schools and grew to manhood and womanhood. Mr. O'Neil was born in 1829, and worked as a laborer in his native land, until he was nineteen years of age, when he decided to come to America. Mrs. O'Neil remained in her native land until she was eighteen years of age, when she came to this country with relatives. They both set- tled in the state of Virginia, where they lived for some time and were mar- ried. Soon after their marriage they set out for the Western territory, where they hoped to make a home for themselves. They established their home in St. Louis, where they remained for two years and where Mr. O'Neil worked as a laborer. They then moved to Leavenworth, Kansas, where they remained for seven years, when in 1862 they came to Marshall county. On their arrival in this county, Mr. O'Neil purchased a pre-emption in Guittard township and there established his home. He at once built a log cabin in which he and his family made their home for some years. This farm he later developed and improved and became one of the prosperous farmers of the township. He purchased more land and is now the owner of four hun- dred acres of excellent land. He engaged in general farming and stock rais- ing, with much success, until 1896, when he retired from the more active duties of life and moved to Beattie, where he now resides. Mr. and Mrs. O'Neil always took much interest in the services of the Catholic church in
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which they were reared and of which they ever remained earnest members. They are the parents of three children as follow: Dennis, a successful grain dealer of Axtell, Kansas: Mrs. Menehan, a widow who lives with her father at Beattie, and Timothy P.
Timothy P. O'Neil received his education in a log school house in his home township, but had the opportunity of attending school only during the winter months. He grew to manhood on the home farm, where he assisted his father with the farm work, until his marriage in 1885, when he removed to his present home on a farm, at that time consisting of eighty acres. His father had given him the place, which at that time was without improvements. Ile at once began the task of making permanent improvements and develop- ing the tract. He met with much success in his work as a general farmer and stockman, and was soon in a position to add to his farm, and is now the owner of four hundred and eighty-five acres of excellent land, two hundred and forty-five acres in the home tract in Richland township and two hundred and forty acres in the farm in Guittard township, near Beattie. On the home farm he now has two sets of substantial buildings and on the farm near Beattie he also has a fine set of buildings. His house on the home place is situated on a hillside, with a grove of trees to the front and presents a most pleasing view. His house is one of the best in the community and his barn is a substantial structure. His farm, with well-cultivated fields and pasture clotted here and there with herds of the finest of cattle and droves of hogs, gives one the idea of an ideal country home.
On October 6. 1885. Timothy P. O'Neil was united in marriage in Illinois to Mary McDonald, the daughter of James and Bridget (Finn) McDonald. Mr. and Mrs. McDonald were born in Ireland, where they grew to maturity and were married. In 1878 they and their family came to the United States and located on a farm in Marshall county, and later retired to Summerfieldl, where they now live. Mr. and Mrs. O'Neil are the parents of the following children : James, Nellie, Terence, Rose, Maurice and John. Nellie, the eldest of the family, is the wife of P. J. Hughes and lives just over the road from her parents, on a farm where her husband is actively engaged as a general farmer and stockman; James is the owner of a good farm, which his father assisted him in buying. as he did with all his boys, and is successfully engaged in the buying of horses; Terence married Myrtle Burr and is one of the well-known young farmers of the township, his farn being adjacent to that of his father; Rose, Maurice and John are now at home with their parents. Mr. and Mrs. O'Neil are active members of the Catholic church and have reared their children in that faith. They have
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long been prominent in the social life of the community and are held in the highest regard and esteem by all who know them.
Politically, Mr. O'Neil is associated with the Democratic party and has for many years been one of the active workers of that organization in the county. In 1909 he was elected to the position of township trustee of Rich- land township and served until 1911. In the fall of 1910 he was elected county commissioner, demonstrating his high worth in the community, as the county is normally a strong Republican county. His services were of such high class that he was re-elected in 1914 for another four years and is now serving in that important position. In his official life, he has devoted the same care to the work of the public that he has to his own. He is an active member of the Knights of Columbus and takes much interest in the order.
FREDERICK J. HEISERMAN.
Among the men of foreign birth who came to Marshall county in an early day, and experienced the hardships and privations of the people of those days, in their endeavor to make a home on the plains of the new country, and who had so much to do with the growth and development of the county and the state of Kansas, it is well to mention the late Frederick J. Heiserman, a farmer of Richland township, and a native of Germany, where he was born on January 25. 1834. the son of Jacob Heiserman and wife, who were also natives of that country. His parents were of the farm- ing class, and highly respected people, who spent their lives in the land of their nativity.
Frederick J. Heiserman received his education in the schools of Ger- many, and there he lived until he was twenty-one years of age, when he decided that he would seek a home in America. It was in 1855 that he bade farewell to his native land and came to this county where he was a stranger to the social conditions and the people. With the determination of his race he felt success would come to him, if he was true to the principles of industry and economy. On his arrival at the port of New York, after a long ocean voyage, he at once proceeded to Illinois, where he was engaged as a farm hand for a number of years. While living in that state he was married to Mary Hunt, who was born in 1847 and died in 1908. Soon after their mar- riage. they left the home that they had established in Illinois and came to Kansas in 1868, having made the trip with horses and wagon. Here they
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homesteaded eighty acres of the present farm in Richland township, Mar- shall county. The tract at that time was undeveloped and unimproved, but with much hard work and economy, they in time had the farm well under cultivation. Good and substantial buildings were in time erected and the place became an ideal country home, and was increased to two hundred and forty acres.
To Frederick J. and Mary Heiserman were born the following children : Henry, who lives at Liberty, Kansas; William, a resident of Oklahoma; Jacob, of Norton county, Kansas; George, a farmer of Balderson township, Marshall county: John, now living in Oklahoma; Fred, of Smith county, Kansas: Charles, of Richland township, Marshall county; Albert on the home farm: Edward, in Baklerson township; Walter, a farmer; Anna, the wife of Ed Ringen of Richland township: Rose, the wife of William Ringen, and Lillie, the wife of John Wagner, of Richland township. Mr. and Mrs. Heiserman were for many years members of the Lutheran church and always took much interest in church work and the social life of the community. Politically, Mr. Heiserman was associated with the Democratic party and for years was influential in the civic life of the township.
When Mr. Heiserman first came to the county, he broke one hundred acres of the wild prairie land with oxen and used them to help in cultivating the crops. He purchased his first land on time, as he had no money when he came to the state. Much of their meat at that time was dried buffalo quarters, and the necessary supplies for the house and the farm were obtained from Marysville, which was many miles away, with no roads, but trail over the prairie. During those early days he was much in need of one dollar and fifty cents with which to pay his taxes, which were due. In order to get the money he took a load of dry wood to Marysville, but was unable to sell it. .A friend then came to his assistance and took the wood and gave him the dollar and fifty cents. Those days were most trying ones to the new settlers, and it was only with the utmost determination that they were able to with- stand the hardships of pioneer days. To them as well as to others of their class, do the present generation owe much for the condition of the country. Today. on the well-built roads may be seen the latest type of automobile, where once trod the slow oxen, over the winding prairie trail. Today the beautiful homes and the well-cultivated farms are but evidences of the work done by the men and women of an earlier day, and to them is due all honor for the wonderful transformation that has been wrought.
Frederick J. Heiserman died at his home six miles southwest of Sum- merfield on Wednesday, November 22, 1916, and was buried on the follow-
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ing Saturday afternoon at the German Lutheran cemetery, following religious services at the home and at the Gernian Lutheran church. A local news- paper in its comments on the death of this honored pioneer citizen, con- cluded its warm appreciation as follows: "Mr. Heiserman was a good citizen, loyal to his country and to his family. He was honest, industrious and prosperous. He leaves not only his large family of good citizens, but also a very large circle of other friends to mourn his death."
JOHN SMITH.
John Smith, better known among his many friends in this county as "Jack," and one of the best-known and most substantial pioneer farmers of Marshall county, now living in comfort on his well-kept farm of one hun- dred and sixty acres in Murray township, is a native of Illinois, but has been a resident of Kansas since 1881. He was born in Peoria county, Illinois, August 12, 1842, son of Patrick and Rosa Smith, natives of Ireland.
In 188i John Smith came to Kansas with his family from Illinois and bought a farm in Murray township, the place where he still makes his home, and proceeded to develop the same. After he had made considerable and substantial improvements on the farm another claimant appeared on the scene, claiming prior rights, and Mr. Smith had to pay for his farm a second time, the place thuis costing him nineteen dollars an acre, together with interest on the sum claimed by the man who entered prior claim. This setback, together with poor crops during the early years of his farming, gave Mr. Smith a touch of hard times which he will never forget, but he pushed . along and presently began to prosper, in time having his farm well improved and profitably cultivated. In addition to his general farming he has always given considerable attention to the raising of live stock and has done very well. Mr. Smith is a Democrat and has ever given a good citizen's atten- tion to local civic affairs, but has never been a seeker after public office.
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