USA > Kansas > Marshall County > History of Marshall County, Kansas : its people, industries, and institutions > Part 73
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JOHN F. McKEE.
John F. McKee, one of the prominent and well-known and successful farmers of Elm Creek township. Marshall county, where he owns one hun- dred and sixty acres of splendid land, and is successfully engaged in general farming and stock-raising, was born in the Dominion of Canada, on Febru- ary 24, 1843, and is the son of William and Mary McKee.
William and Mary McKee were also natives of Canada and there they received their education in the public schools and were later married. They were of Scotch-Irish descent, their forefathers having come from the north of Ireland to Canada in an early day. The family were members of the Baptist church and were always most active in the religious life of the com- munity. William and Mary McKee, after their marriage, established their home in the land of their nativity, where they continued to reside until 1869. when they decided to come to the United States. On their arrival in this country they located in Kansas, where they homesteaded a farm in Center township. Marshall county, which they developed and improved and there they continued to live, until the time of their deaths. They were held in the highest regard in the community in which they lived. and where they had much to do with the moral and the social life of the township. They were the parents of the following children: Robert. Anna, Margaret, John F., Samuel J., William George. Frank and Harry. Robert, Anna. and Frank are now deceased. Margaret Fitzgerald is a resident of Beatrice, Nebraska. where her husband is one of the well-known men of the district : Samuel J. and Harry are successful farmers of Center township, Marshall county, and William George is one of the prominent men of Marysville.
John F. McKee received his education in the schools of Canada, there grew to manhood and engaged in general farming. In 1867 he was united in marriage to Sarah Jannes Chalmers, who was born and reared in Canada. Mr. and Mrs. McKee, after their marriage, established their home in the land where they were born and there they continued to live, until 1871. when
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they came to Kansas, where they homesteaded eighty acres of land and pur- chased three hundred and twenty acres in Center township. Here Mr. McKee made many valuable improvements and engaged in general farming and stock raising until 1881, when he returned to the old home in Canada, on account of the health of his wife. Much of his land in Marshall county he purchased at six dollars and fifty cents per acre and sold for eight-fifty per acre. He traded one of his farms for a farm in Canada, on which he and his wife lived after their return to the land of their nativity. The health of Mrs. McKee did not improve to any great extent, after her removal to her native land, and her death occurred in 1886. She and Mr. McKee were the parents of two children, Laura and Hattie. Laura is the wife of Morley P. Robinson and Hattie is the wife of Frank Newson, well-known and suc- cessful farmers and stockmen of Blue Rapids township. Mrs. McKee was a woman universally beloved by the entire community in which she lived, and where she was held in the highest regard.
After the death of his wife, Mr. McKee continued to live on his farm in Canada, until 1892, when he returned to Kansas and again established his home in Marshall county. He purchased the farm in Elm Creek township, which he now owns, which is one of the most excellent farms of the county, on which is located the "Big Spring," which is the head of Elm Creek. This farm he has developed and improved and here he is known as one of the successful and substantial farmers of the township.
In 1888, before his return to Kansas, Mr. McKee was united in mar- riage to Rose Stanton, who was born in Canada in 1860, and is the daughter of James and Mary Stanton, who are natives of England. Her parents were educated in their native country and there they grew to manhood and wom- anhood and were married. They later came to Canada, where they became prosperous and well-known residents of the district in which they located.
To John F. and Rose (Stanton) McKee has been born one child, Frank. who died at the age of two years. Mr. and Mrs. McKee are active members of the Baptist church and have long been active in all church work. They are prominent in the social and the religious life of the community in which they live and where they are held in such high regard and esteem. They have ever taken an active interest in all the affairs of the district, that would tend to the betterment of the educational and social conditions. They are people of high ideals and their influence is greatly felt in the development of the home district. Their personal qualities have won for them many friends throughout the county.
Politically, Mr. McKee is identified with the Republican party and has
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for many years been interested in the civic life of the township and the county. He has served for many years as a justice of the peace and has rendered valuable service to the community. He has in no sense been a seeker after office, but has rendered valuable service as an adviser in public matters. He and his wife are prominent members of the Knights and Ladies of Security.
BENJAMIN E. SCHLAX.
Benjamin E. Schlax, one of Franklin township's well-known and sub- stantial young farmers and the proprietor of a well-kept farm of one hun- dred and sixty acres in section 24 of that township, is a native son of Mar- shall county and has lived here all his life. He was born in Marysville, the county seat. August 17, 1883. son of John and Mary (Scherer ) Schlax, the former a native of Germany and the latter of the state of Wisconsin, who were among the early and influential settlers of Marshall county and the latter of whom is still living at Marysville, an honored and respected pioneer. They were the parents of thirteen children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the tenth in order of birth and all of whom are living save three.
John Schlax was born in Germany on March 28, 1830, and was early trained to the trade of wagon-maker, in which he became very proficient. As a young man he came to this country and was married in Wisconsin. In 1867 he came to Kansas and settled at Marysville, there opening the first wagon-making shop in that city and for years was engaged there in making wagons. The superior quality of the product of the Schlax shops is attested by the fact that quite a number of the wagons Mr. Schlax made are still in use in this and adjoining counties and are still doing excellent service. The Schłax shop was situated on the site now occupied by the city hall at Marys- ville and for years was one of the leading industries of the county seat. In 1872 John Schlax homesteaded a tract of eighty acres in Center township, machine-made wagons by that time having reduced the demand for the pro- duct of his shop to the point that it no longer was profitable to operate the same, and presently established his home on that farm, gradually increasing his land hollings to two hundred and forty acres, and there he spent the rest of his life, his death occurring in 1915. His widow, who was born in Wis- consin on November 29. 1840, is now living in Marysville, the growth of which town she has witnessed from the days of its hamlet period of exist- ence, when it was but little more than a stage stop on the old overland trail.
RESIDENCE OF BENJAMIN E. SCHLAX.
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Benjamin E. Schlax was reared on the homestead farm in Center town- ship and received his schooling in the district in the neighborhood of his home. He remained at home until he had attained his majority, when he rented a tract of land from William McKee and began farming on his own account, making his home on that farm, after his marriage in 1906, until 1910, when he bought the quarter section of land in section 24 of Franklin township; on which he now lives, and where he ever since has made his home, he and his wife now being very comfortably situated there. Since taking possession of that farm Mr. Schlax has built a new house and barn and now has a very attractive place. He has set out an acre of orchard to supplement luis grove and has brought his farm up to a high state of productivity.
In 1906 Benjamin E. Schlax was united in marriage to Regina Peter- son, who was born in Sweden on August 8, 1881, and was but an infant when her parents, Nels and Regina Peterson, came to this country in that same year and settled in Center township, this county. Nels Peterson is now liv- ing in Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Schlax have a very pleasant home and take a proper part in the general social activities of the community. In his political views Mr. Schlax is "independent."
ALVAH HEDGE.
Alvah Hedge, one of the pioneers of Marshall county and the pro- prietor of a well-kept and profitably cultivated farm of a quarter of a sec- tion in section 10 of Center township, is a native of the old Hoosier state, but has been a resident of Kansas since 1878 and of the place on which he now lives since 1884, having settled there the year following his marriage in 1883. having bought the place in 1880. He was born on a farm in Black- ford county, in the eastern part of Indiana, August 21, 1854, a son of Abner and Charlotte (Castelline ) Hedge, natives of the state of New York, whose last days were spent in this county, where they had settled in pioneer days.
In February, 1878, the Hedge family came to Kansas from Indiana and settled in Marshall county, locating in Center township. In 1883 Abner Hedge bought half of section 10 in that township and about the same time rented the farm at the county infirmary and was working the latter at the time of his death not long afterward, in March. 1884. He was born in 1827 and was thus fifty-seven years of age at the time of his death. The family then moved to the Charles Keller place in Center township and devel-
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oped the same. Mrs. Hedge, whose death occurred in November, 1901, was born in 1831 and was thus seventy years of age at the time of her death. Abner Hedge and wife were the parents of four children, those besides the subject of this sketch being Morgan, who is in the lumber business at Oketo; Ira, who is now living at Grass Range, Montana, and Mrs. Mary Warren. of Joplin, Missouri.
Alvah Hedge was twenty-three years of age when he came from Indiana to Marshall county with his parents in the early spring of 1878 and he early took his part in the pioneer life of this then sparsely settled region. In 1880 he bought a quarter of a section of land in section 10 of Center township, and in 1884, the year after his marriage, established his home there and has ever since lived there, with the exception of about ten months spent at Oketo. Upon establishing himself on his private farm Mr. Hedge built a house eighteen by thirty-five, one and one-half stories, containing three rooms on the first floor and two on the upper floor. He now has a comfortable home of nine rooms and his farm buildings are in keeping with the same, the farm plant being up-to-date and well kept. In addition to his general farming Mr. Hedge has given considerable attention to the raising of live stock and has done very well. He is a Democrat and has served as clerk of Center township.
On April 8, 1883. Alvah Hedge was united in marriage to Ida Nelm. who was born in New York state on March 27. 1862, daughter of Edwin and Margaret ( Meredith ) Nehm, natives of England, who came to this country in 1857. after their marriage, and settled in New York state, where they made their home until 1864, when they moved to Illinois and there resided until 1869. in which year they came to Kansas and settled in Marshall county, Mr. Nelm homesteading a tract of land one mile south of the Hedge place in Center township. There Edwin Nelm spent his last days, one of Marshall county's substantial pioneer farmers, his death occurring in 1902. He was born in 1825. His widow, who was born on February 5, 1834. is still living, making her home now with her children. These children, besides Mrs. Hedge, are as follow: Mrs. Emma Helverin, of Beattie: Mrs. Sarah Wise, also of Beattie : Mrs. Addie Hedge, of Hoxie; George, of Center town- ship; Mrs. Lizzie Hedge, of Grass Range, Montana: Reuben, of Center township: Fred. of Wells township. and Mrs. Maggie Huf. of Home. Mr. and Mrs. Hedge have two children. Edith, who married Dane Dexter, of Center township, and has one child. AArwayne, and Mabel, at home. The Hedges are members of the Winifred Baptist church and ever have taken a
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proper part in church work and in the other good works of the community in which they live. Mr. Hedge is a member of the local lodge of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and Mrs. Hedge is a member of the Degree of Honor.
HENRY WEAVER.
The late Henry Weaver, for years one of the best-known and most progressive farmers and stockmen of Guittard township, the proprietor of a fine farm in the Beattie neighborhood and one of the real pioneers of Mar- shall county, was a native of the great Empire state, but had been a resident of Marshall county since he was ten years of age and had thus witnessed the development of this county from pioneer days. He was born on a farm near Batavia, in Genesee county, New York, October 6, 1859, son of Nich- olas and Susan (Toney) Weaver, the former a native of Switzerland and the latter of France, who became pioneers of this county and both of whom are now deceased.
Nicholas Weaver was born at Roupeswell, in the Canton of Berne, Switzerland, October 18, 1818, and in 1852 came to the United States, set- tling near Batavia, New York, where he lived until 1867, when he moved West and settled on a farm in DeKalb county, Illinois, where he lived until May 27, 1869, when he started with his family for Kansas, arriving in due time in Marshall county, where he established his home and where he spent the remainder of his active life, one of the most active and influential pioneer citizens of this county. Some time before his death Nicholas Weaver retired from the active labors of the farm and moved to Waterloo, Oregon, where his last days were spent. his death occurring there on May 31, 1907. His widow survived him for seven years, her death occurring near Batavia, New York, on January 31, 1914, she then being ninety years of age. She was born at Melden, France, in 1825. To Nicholas Weaver and wife six children were born, three of whom are still living, namely : Thomas Weaver, of Lebanon, Oregon ; Mrs. Alice Hotchkiss, of Apalachin, Tioga county, New York, and Charles Weaver, of Princeton, Idaho.
Upon coming to this county Nicholas Weaver and family drove through from Illinois in company with the families of John Balderson and John Kelly, and for a time after their arrival here lived in their covered wagon, until they could get settled and erect a small house. A year or two later their house was destroyed by fire, together with their clothes, household
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goods, three hundred dollars in currency and their family records, a very serious loss to the pioneer family. The farm that Nicholas Weaver home- stead in what afterward came to be known as Balderson township was presently developed in excellent shape and Mr. Weaver came to be recog- nized as one of the substantial and influential farmers of that part of the county.
As noted above. Henry Weaver was about ten years of age when he came to this county with his parents and he grew to manhood on the home- stead farm in Balderson township, completing his schooling in the pioneer schools of that district. As a boy he herded cattle on the open range, over the very land that he afterward came to own, and he witnessed the begin- ning of the town of Beattie, in the neighborhood of his home, which town sprang up following the coming of the railroad. He carried the mail from Beattie to Guittard postoffice, four miles north, and from boyhood his life was marked by habits of industry and thrift. After his marriage in 1885 he established his home on the farm in Guittard township, where he spent the rest of his life, and in time came to be the owner of two hundred and sixty-six acres of land, all of which was highly developed and profitably cul- tivated. Mr. Weaver built a modern house on his place and he and his family were very comfortably situated. In addition to his general farming he had for years paid considerable attention to the raising of a good grade of live stock and had done very well in his operations. He was a Republi- can and ever took an earnest interest in local civic affairs and for eighteen years served as treasurer of the local school board in district No. 112. Though reared in the Lutheran faith, at the age of forty-five years Mr. Weaver affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal church and was a member of that church at the time of his death. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and in the affairs of both these organizations took a warm interest. Henry Weaver died at his home in Guittard township on August 22, 1916, and his death was widely mourned throughout the Beattie neighborhood. for he had earned and had long enjoyed the respect and esteem of a large circle of friends. His interest in the development of local industrial conditions was displayed on all proper occasions and he was a valued shareholder in the Farmers' Union Elevator Company at Beattie and in the Farmers' Mutual Telephone Company, in the affairs of both of which concerns he took an active interest. Following the death of Mr. Weaver a local newspaper had the following comment regard- ing his personal character: "He was industrious, a capable manager, a
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a thoroughly good citizen in every way, a kind and indulgent husband and father, and his death brings deep sorrow and regret to his family and friends."
On February 4, 1885, at Beattie, Henry Weaver was united in marriage to Cora E. G. Totten, who was born on a pioneer farm near Beattie on December 25, 1869, daughter of Joseph and Susan (Postin) Totten, who were among the earliest settlers of Guittard township, and to this union four children were born, namely: Joseph Nicholas, on November 7, 1886, who died January 1, 1887; Roland S., who was born in Balderson township on March 10, 1891, was graduated from the Beattie high school and is an undergraduate of the .Kansas State University at Lawrence, married Clara Scholtz and has one child, a daughter, Gwendolyne Joy, born on October 17, 1915; Wallace Henry, who was born at Kendrick, Idaho, June 1,, 1893, during the period of one year in which the Weavers made their home at that place, was graduated from the township schools and had one year at the Beattie high school, and Gladys V., who was born on the home place near Beattie on December 10, 1897, and graduated from the Beattie high school in 1916.
Mrs. Cora Weaver is the last-born of the twelve children born to her parents, Joseph and Susan (Postin) Totten, the others being Elizabeth Thorn, Emeroy Jones, John L., Florence Sharp, Henry T., Eliza Newton, Frank H .. Nora Pauley, William J., and Charles Joseph and Sarah Madora, both deceased. Joseph Totten was born at Blanford, Massachusetts, March 22, 1825. His father was born in Rhode Island in March, 1795, and spent most of his early life in his native state, where he married Miriam Carpen- penter, who was born on January 4. 1804, later moving to Massachusetts, whence, in 1828, Joseph Totten then being but three years of age, they moved to Albany, New York, where they lived for eight years, at the end which time they moved to New Orleans, Louisiana, but at the end of a year spent there returned North and settled in Rock Island county, Illinois, where Joseph Totten grew to manhood. The elder Totten later moved to Iowa, where he died in 1864. His widow later came to this country, where her last days were spent, her death occurring at the home of her son, H. T. Totten, in 1878, she then being seventy-seven years of age.
Joseph Totten completed his schooling in the schools of Rock Island county, Illinois, and there engaged in farming, later moving to Iowa, in which state, on November 17. 1844, he married Susan Postin, who was born in Ohio on February 6, 1830, and who, when quite young, had moved with
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her parents to Scott county, Iowa, where she married Mr. Totten, the two shortly afterward settling in Minnesota. In the spring of 1858 Joseph Totten and his family left Minnesota and came to Kansas, arriving in Mar- shall county on June 8 of that year, and settled in what is now Guittard township. being among the very earliest arrivals in that part of the county, there being only four or five families in that township at that time. Mr. Totten had a full experience of pioneer life and on the virgin prairie opened up a farm that is now in the possession of his son. Frank H. Totten. At the time the Tottens settled in this county Indians still were numerous here- about and wild game was plentiful. The white neighbors were few and far between and the outlook for the first few years was not very encouraging, but Mr. Totten possessed a sturdy courage and a resoluteness of will essen- tial to the demands of the occasion and had prepared himself for every emergency. He presently prospered in his undertakings and not only became recognized as one of the most substantial farmers of that part of the county, but as one of the leading and most public-spirited citizens. For four years he served as township trustee and for twenty years was a member of the school board of district No. 19. which he helped to organize, and also helped to put up the first school building in that and other neighboring districts. Mr. Totten was a Republican and was warmly devoted to the interests of his party, ever a firm supporter of its principles. For some years after his settlement in this county Joseph Totten was obliged to journey to St. Joseph for the family provisions and necessary household articles, among the latter being a number of cats, for which he paid one dollar each, the cats being necessary to destroy the mice which infested the premises. In those days farm products were transported to the same point. a long and difficult haul. Mr. Totten watched the development of Marshall county with a warm inter- est and by redeeming a portion of its soil from its primitive state, contrib- uted his quota toward the upbuikling of this part of Kansas. Joseph Totten died at his home in this county on May 20. 1892, and his widow survived until June 2. 1903.
Joseph Totten's grandfather. Levi Totten, was born in England and came to this country in the days of his young manhood. He is supposed to have served as a soldier of the patriot army during the Revolutionary War and also to have served as a soldier during the War of 1812 His son, Henry Morris Totten, grandfather of Mrs. Weaver, was born on March 17, 1795. and died, as above noted, in Iowa, in 1864. His widow, as noted above, sur- vived him for some years, her last days being spent in this county. They were the parents of four sons. those besides Joseph, the first-born, being
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Edwin, Charles and Henry, the two foriner of whom served as soldiers of the Union army during the Civil War and the latter of whom was a member of General Custer's command in 1876, and was killed in the Indian massacre which wiped out that gallant command. When Joseph Totten came to Mar- shall county there was very little "hard cash" in circulation hereabout and the conveniences of modern life were wholly lacking. The nearest mill was located on the Missouri river and sometimes the settlers were obliged to go farther to mill, even to Iowa Point. In the summer of 1863 Joseph Totten started out to explore the farther West, his objective point being Denver, and he made the journey in seven months. He put up the first hotel in Marys- ville and was engaged in the erection of the first three houses in Frankfort, during that year working one hundred and five days as a carpenter, for which labor he received three hundred and fifteen dollars. In that same year he also served as assessor and thus made the money necessary to the early development of his homestead. Had Mr. Totten preserved in detail the story of his pioneer life and of his experiences on the frontier, there would have been given to posterity an extensive and readable volume.
CHARLES W. KOEPP.
Charles W. Koepp, an energetic and substantial young farmer of Center township, this county, proprietor of a fine farm in section 7 of that town- ship, was born on that farm and has lived there all his life. He was born on February 4, 1884, son of Christ and Justina (Dreger) Koepp, natives of Germany and early settlers in Marshall county, the latter of whom is now living in the village of Home.
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