USA > Kansas > Marshall County > History of Marshall County, Kansas : its people, industries, and institutions > Part 76
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To George and Anna (Deckert) Schaaf were born five children, three sons and two daughters, of whom Mrs. Cain was the second in order of birth, the others being as follow: George J., who died on November 6, 1892, at the age of twenty-nine years; Frank E., who married Gertrude McDunn and now resides at Lincoln, Nebraska, where he is engaged in the real-estate business ; Anna G., who married August Bauermeister and resides at McLean, Saskatchewan, Canada, and Albert J., who married Rose Vanderheiden and resides at Columbus, Nebraska. Mrs. Anna Schaaf, the mother of these children, survived her husband more than five years and her last days were spent in the home of her daughter, Mrs. Bauermeister, at McLean, Saskatche- wan, where her death occurred on May 22, 191I, at the ripe old age of seventy-five years. Mrs. Schaaf was of genial disposition and was devoted to her home and family. She was a woman of tact and good judgment and rendered valuable assistance to her husband in his business affairs. She lived to see her grandchildren to the number of fourteen.
To Patrick W. and Mary A. (Schaaf) Cain seven children have been born, three sons and four daughters, namely: Anna Eveline, one of Mar- shall county's successful school teachers; Daniel O'Connell, who was gradu- ated from the Beattie high school and is now ably assisting his father in the
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management of the farm, giving particular attention to the live stock ; Eleanor Marie, Gertrude Rose and Thomas Jefferson, who are afflicted with defective hearing and are attending the Ephpheta School for the Deaf in Chicago; Genevieve, who died in infancy and Vincent LaFayette, who died in his eleventh year. Mrs. Cain is a splendid type of the home-loving woman and she and her husband have worked hard that their children might receive a good education and enjoy some of the advantages of life in this generation. Yet, things have not always come their way. True, there were good days- days when fate seemed very kind, when, in a measure, "love's young dream" came true, but there were dark days, too; notably, July 23, 1913-a day never to be forgotten-when their son, Vincent LaFayette Cain, a bright and most lovable child of ten years, died of diphtheria.
In politics, Mr. Cain is a Democrat and, while never seeking political honors, is a close student of political questions. He holds that every Amer- ican carries the grave responsibility of doing his own thinking and that the citizen can best serve his country politically by heeding Washington's solemn warning with respect to the baneful effects of the spirit of party. Mr. Cain has a fine library and is enthusiastic on the subject of intellectual growth. He believes that every American should read and think and grow with the years. He also believes that there is no better way of improving the odds and ends of time than by reading good books, and considers it a rare treat to commune with the world's great minds. Mr. Cain believes that fraternal organizations are among the necessities of modern economic society and he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of Amercia, of the Knights of Colum- bus and of the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association, in the affairs of all of which orders he takes a warm interest.
JOSEPH KRASNY.
One of the well-known residents and successful farmers and stockmen of Cottage Hill township, also proprietor of the "Willow Springs Jersey Farm," is Joseph Krasny, who was born in Bohemia, on March 4, 1872, being the son of Frick and Frances Krasny, both of whom were natives of that country, the former of whom died in his native land. After the death of the husband and father, the mother with her three sons, Joseph, Emil and Gabriel and a daughter, Mary, left Bohemia and came to the United States. On
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their arrival in this country they located in the city of Omaha, and there Joseph Krasny, the subject of this sketch, lived for sixteen years.
During his life in the city of Omaha, Mr. Krasny was engaged as a baker, and was for a time engaged in the large hotels of Omaha and Sioux City. He was then with Fred Harvey. in the hotel business and spent two years in Los Vegas, New Mexico, after which he spent some time in Cali- fornia. Some time later he went to Nebraska and then returned to Sioux City. He did much traveling and was over much of the western territory of the United States. After having spent much of his early life in. roaming about, Mr. Krasny decided that he would engage in general farming and stock raising.
Joseph Krasny was united in marriage to Rosa Nemechek on October 17. 1899. at Humbolt, Nebraska. Mrs. Krasny was born in Richardson county, Nebraska, in 1884, and is the daughter of Frank and Kate Nemechek, both of whom were natives of Bohemia. The parents were educated in the land of their nativity and there they grew to maturity. On coming to the United States they located in Nebraska, where the father engaged in general farming and stock raising with much success. His death occurred in 1915 and the mother is now living on the home place at the age of sixty-six years.
To Joseph and Rosa Krasny have been born the following children : Joseph E., Jr., Minnie, Lillian, Elsie, Rudolph, Jessie and Edwin. The children are all at home and Lillian and Elsie are twins. Mr. and Mrs. Krasny are highly respected people in the community and are prominent in the social life of the district. Mr. Krasny is a strong advocate of the principles of the Socialist party.
In 1902 Mr. Krasny purchased his present farm in Cottage Hill town- ship, and is now the owner of two hundred and eighty acres of splendid land, all of which is under a high state of cultivation and nicely improved. His large dairy barn is one of the best in the township and in 1911 he built his silo, sixteen by thirty-four feet, and in 1914 he Built the second silo. sixteen by twenty-eight feet. He now has a fine herd of sixty-two registered Jersey cattle. He has now been in the breeding and dairy business for three years and has met with much success. The herd that he purchased from Chester Thomas is one of the finest in the county, and his herd leader, "Fern's Lad's Lost Time No. 95562." is a fine specimen of this breed of cattle. Mr. Krasny is a member of the Southwestern Jersey Breeders Asso- ciation and of the American Jersey Cattle Club. He lately exhibited his animals at the Blue Rapids County Stock Show and carried away sweepstakes and thirty dollars in premiums. Since that time his reputation as a breeder
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and raiser of fine stock has become known throughout the district. He sells many animals to those who are good judges of the better class of cattle, and the products of his dairy are shipped to Concordia, where they are always recognized as standard. During the year 1915 he sold over twelve hundred dollars worth of cream, in addition to over five hundred dollars worth of male Jerseys. The feed for this magnificent herd is all raised on the farm, with the exception of the cotton seed meal.
Mrs. Krasny is a great fancier of White Leghorn chickens and has some of the finest in the state, and during the past year she sold over seven hundred and fifty dollars worth of eggs and chickens.
ANDREW HIRT.
.Andrew Hirt, one of the well-known and successful farmers of Cottage Hill township, Marshall county, was born in the state of Pennsylvania on .April 3, 1856. being the son of Joseph and Isabelle ( Turnbaugh) Hirt, natives of Germany and Pennsylvania, respectively.
Joseph Hirt was born in 1826 and was educated in the public schools of Germany and grew to manhood. In 1840, in order to escape military service, he came to the United States and located in Pennsylvania, and later did good service in the Civil War. Mrs. Hirt was born in 1834 and spent her life in the state of her birth, where she died in 1916; her husband died in 1904. They were the parents of ten children, nine of whom are now living.
Andrew Hirt was the only one of the family to come to Kansas; he located here on a farm in February, 1886. On July 30, 1882, he was united in marriage to .Annie Laura Rice, who was born on December 19, 1862. in Pennsylvania. and is the daughter of George I. and Kate Rice, both of whom are natives of Pennsylvania and were members of old established families, who had located in the state five generations before their birth. The first member of the Rice family to locate in the state was Zachariah, who came from Germany early in the eighteenth century. He was the father of twenty-one children and had one hundred and fifty-six grand- children. Members of the family took an active part in the Revolutionary War, as well as the War of 1812 and the Civil War. George I. and Kate Rice were the parents of nine children, three of whom came to Kansas, as follow: Anna Hirt, of Cottage Hill township, Marshall county; Alberta
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Arganbright and Milo M. Rice, both of whom are also living in Cottage Hill township.
To Andrew and Annie Hirt have been born the following children : Minnie Alice, who was born on January 29, 1884, and is the wife of LeRoy Rodocker and is the mother of two children, Leila and Dorotha; George Joseph was born on December 15, 1889, and died on February 14, 1894, and Charles Everett, who was born on January 26, 1895, and is now at home. Mr. and Mrs. Hirt are active members of the Lutheran church and are prom- inent members of the community.
When Mr. and Mrs. Hirt first came to Kansas they located in Cottage Hill township, Marshall county, and there rented land of Jackson Thomas, for seven years. They then purchased eighty acres of land two miles east of Cottage Hill. This farm they developed and improved and there they made their home for eight years, when Mr. Hirt traded the farm on his present home place of one hundred and sixty acres. This place he has devel- oped and improved with splendid buildings and today has one of the best farms in the township.
J. M. MODEN.
Of the native-born Swedes who came to America and engaged in gen- eral farming and stock-raising with much success, in Cottage Hill township, Marshall county, was J. M. Moden, now deceased, who was born on Octo- ber 4, 1857, and died on December 29, 1915. Mr. Moden spent his early life in the land of his birth and when twelve years of age came with his par- ents. John and Anna Moden, to this country. On their arrival in the United States the family located at Laporte, Indiana, where they remained for three years, after which they came to Kansas and here established their home on a farm southeast of Waterville. Here J. M. Moden grew to manhood on the home farm, and there his parents died some years ago.
On February 28, 1883, J. M. Moden was united in marriage to Amanda Nelson, who was born in Sweden on October 15. 1861, being the daughter of Daniel and Gustave Nelson. Her parents were also natives of that country and there they resided until 1868, at which time the father came to America and located in Riley county, Kansas, while the mother and the chil- dren did not join him in the new land until 1880. The parents then lived on the home farm until the time of their deaths, the father dying in 1895 and the mother in 1900. Mr. and Mrs. Moden were the parents of the following
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children : Frank, Clarence, Lillie and Melinda, all of whom are at home, and Laura Anderson, now a resident of Riley county.
At the time J. M. and AAmanda Moden were married they moved to their present farm, which at that time consisted of one hundred and sixty acres of wild prairie, with not a tree or a shrub growing on it. This original farm was later developed and at the time of the death of the husband and father, they were the owners of four hundred and forty acres of prime land, which had been placed under the highest state of cultivation and improved with the best buildings. The house, a beautiful structure, is a model and modern home : the barns and other outbuildings are among the substantial structures of the township. It was only by hard work and economy that Mr. and Mrs. Moden made their work a success, for when they began their married life they were without funds and had no one to assist them. Not alone did they work for themselves, but for the growth and betterment of the community in which they lived and where they were ever held in the highest regard. Mrs. Moden now has the old home, just across the line in Riley county, and one hundred and sixty acres of the estate. She and Mr. Moden were reared in the faith of the Swedish Lutheran church: they were active in all church work and were prominent members of the community. Mr. Moden was not an office seeker, but took the greatest interest in the affairs of the town- ship and the county.
FRANK THOMSON.
Irving, Marshall county, and one of the beautiful and progressive little cities of the state, has some splendid stores and business industries, among the number being the one owned and operated by Frank Thomson, who was born in Brooklyn, New York, on October 10, 1861, and is the son of John and Margaret Thomson.
John and Margaret Thomson were natives of Edinburgh. Scotland, and were educated in the schools of that country. John Thomson became a soldier in the British army and was stationed in the fort at Quebec, Canada. He later came to the United States and located at Brooklyn, New York. where he worked at his trade as a printer. In 1870 he and his family came to Kansas and established a home in Irving. He established the Irving Gasette, which he published for five years; he died in the year 1880. His wife, who was born in 1831. is now living with her son. John and Margaret Thomson were the parents of ten children, eight of whom grew to maturity :
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RESIDENCE OF FRANK THOMSON.
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John, Bessie, Frank, Hugh, Margaret, Jean, Grace and Alice. John is a resident of San Antonio, Texas; Bessie is the wife of Thomas J. Moxley, of Blue Rapids, Kansas, now deceased; Hugh is a merchant of Irving; Mar- garet Filley is also a resident of Irving: Jean Moyer is now deceased and Alice Lhotak is also deceased.
Margaret Thomson, the mother, is truly a pioneer, having come to Canada almost eighty years ago, when that county was a wilderness and later coming to Kansas, when every cow path was a road and one could travel anywhere and everywhere without let or hindrance. She has voyaged across the Atlantic ocean three times and in her seventy-seventh year made a trip to California alone. Now in her eighty-sixth year, in full possession of all her faculties, she is enjoying the fruits of a well-spent life, surrounded by her children and grandchildren, who pay her homage.
Frank Thomson received his education in the schools of Irving and as a lad began work in the store of E. Peterson, a well-known merchant of that city. He remained in that store until 1892, when he began business for him- self, and is today one of the successful and substantial merchants of the town. He is most progressive and. by business-like and honest methods, he has won the confidence of the people of his community, where he is held in high regard.
In 1889 Frank Thomson was united in marriage to Minnie E. Wood- man, of Oketo, Kansas, and the daughter of W. D. Woodman and wife, who now reside at Vermillion. To Mr. and Mrs. Thomson have been born three children, John W .. Reginald G. and Mildred E. John W. is a graduate of the home schools and of the University of Kansas and is now the efficient principal of the high school at Kensington, Smith county, Kansas : Reginald G. is a student in Baker University and will complete the course of study in the class of 1917 and Mildred E. will graduate from the Battle Creek, Michigan. Normal School of Physical Education in 1917. Mrs. Thomson and the children are members of the Presbyterian church, and Mr. Thomson is a regular attendant and a liberal supporter of the local church. The family have long been active in the social and educational life of the city, where they are so well known and where they are held in much esteem. Mr. and Mrs. Thomson, who have lived in the county for so many years, have seen many changes in all lines of development. In 1870 when Mr. Thomson came to Irving with his parents, there was then little that would indicate a prospect of the present progressive and thriving little city. The wild prairies and the wcoded tracts that surrounded the little town, have been transformed into well-cultivated fields and farms, improved with splendid and modern
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buildings, that would suggest an era of great prosperity. The territory was then, and for many years later, being settled by an excellent class of citizens, whose ideals were of the highest and whose intentions were to make this section of Kansas one of the most productive and progressive. In all this great development Mr. Thomson has had his part, and in the management of an up-to-date mercantile establishment, he has builded wiser perhaps, than he thought.
Politically, Mr. Thomson is a Republican, and while not an office seeker, he has taken an active interest in the civic life of the city. He is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Knights of Pythias, the Mod- ern Woodmen of America and the Knights and Ladies of Security.
WILLIAM T. GOSSIN.
Among the well-known and prominent farmers of St. Bridget township. Marshall county, is William T. Gossin, who was born on the farm where he now lives on November 4. 1867, and is the son of John C. and Catherine ( Confrey) Gossin.
John C. Gossin was born at Utica. New York, on March 3, 1829, and died on February 26. 1915. His wife was born in Ireland, near the town of Longford, on June 24. 1830, and died on January II, 1912. John C. Gossin was the son of Patrick and Catherine Gossin, both of whom were born in Ireland, where they received their education in the public schools and grew to manhood and womanhood. They later came to the United States and located at Utica, New York, where they lived many years before their deaths.
John C. Gossin received his education in the schools of his native state and there he was married to Catherine Confrey in 1854, at Utica. They established their home on a farm near that city, where they lived until 1857, when they came to Kansas and located at Leavenworth, and until 1861 Mr. Gossin was engaged as a steamboat employee. That year he came to St. Bridget township and here he homesteaded land. He and his family made the journey from Leavenworth to their new home in Marshall county with an ox team. He later used the oxen to break his land and put it under cultivation. The lumber with which he built his house was hauled from Atchison, that being his nearest market point for that material. Those days were most trying ones for the little family, but the father and mother devoted
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their best efforts in developing and improving their farm, and in time, Mr. Gossin became one of the substantial and successful men of the township. During his early life on the homestead, he did much work for John Frees, in the flour mill, near Dubois, Nebraska, where he acted as fireman. At this work he engaged during the winter months, in order to get money with which to keep his family and make needed repairs and improvements on the place. He and his wife were most industrious and hard-working people and devoted their lives to their family, and were much interested in the moral and the educational growth of the community where they lived and where they were held in the highest regard. They were charter members of the St. Bridget's Catholic church, and ever lived true Christian lives. They were active in the building of the first church in the township, Mr. Gossin being a member of the building committee.
In addition to his original farm, Mr. Gossin became the owner of other land in various parts of the township. There is in the estate eight hundred and forty acres of the best land, most of which is under a high state of cultivation and well improved. He was a man who believed in the thorough cultivation of the soil and the keeping of high-grade stock. Being a man of exceptional ability and good judgment, he was often consulted relative to the civic affairs of the township, and while he was not an office seeker, he always took great interest in all local affairs.
To John C. and Catherine Gossin were born the following children : Sarah, Mary, John R., Margaret, Katie, Frank, Anna, William, Amelia and Theresa. Sarah Gleason is now a resident of Shawnee, Oklahoma; Mary Curtin resides at Kansas City, Kansas; John R. died in the year 1908; Margaret Gray lives at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Katie Busick lives at Hayward, Oklahoma ; Frank died on March 25, 1897; Anna Mitchell died on September 17, 1913; Amelia Mitchell is a resident of Nemaha county, Kansas, and Theresa died at the age of four years.
William T. Gossin received his education in the district schools of St. Bridget township and grew to manhood on the home farm, where he assisted his father with the farm work and the developing of the place. He remained at home and at the age of nineteen years he took charge of the home place, which he managed with much ability. . In 1893 he rented the farm and went to Oklahoma, where in September of that year, he made the race for a tract of land in the Cherokee Strip, that was then opened for settlement. He made the race from the south line of the strip and secured the second homestead of one hundred and sixty acres. He remained in the territory until 1896, when he returned to Kansas, where he has been successfully
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engaged in general farming and stockraising. In 1905 he was the secretary and promoter of the Axtell Development Company, and that year they drilled for oil, south of Axtell. Mr. Gossin invested seven hundred dollars in the enterprise, and while no definite results were obtained, many good indications of oil was discovered. He has always taken a keen interest in all enterprises that would tend to promote the welfare of the community in which he has lived for so many years, and where he is held in the highest regard.
Mr. Gossin is identified with the Democratic party and is one of the leading men of the organization in the county. He served his township for six years as trustee and was township clerk for four years, always giving the affairs of the township the same care and attention that he gave to his own business. He has served as delegate to the various conventions of his party and has rendered excellent service. He is a member of the Farmers Union and served as county president for two terms. He and his wife are devout members of the Catholic church and are prominent in the social activities of their home community. They are a most hospitable people and have made many friends throughout the county.
On April 9. 1896, William T. Gossin was imited in marriage to Delia Shaughnessy, who was born in St. Bridget township on May 16. 1868, and is the daughter of Michael and Ellen ( Ryan) Shaughnessy. Her parents were natives of Ireland, where they were educated and spent their early lives. The father was born in 1824 and died on June 13. 1906, and the mother was born in 1829 and died in February, 1885. When young they came to America and located at Madison, Indiana, where they were married in 1849. There they established their first home and lived until 1860, when they came to Kansas and joined the little band of early settlers in St. Bridget township. Marshall county. They located on a farm and in time became successful farmers and prominent people of the community. They remained on their original farm in the township until 1882, when they purchased the farm now owned by the son. James. As he prospered, Mr. Shaughnessy purchased more land and at the time of his death he was the owner of over one thousand acres of excellent Kansas land. Mr. and Mrs. Shaughnessy were devout members of the Catholic church and were prominent in the social life of the community, where they were held in the highest regard. They were the parents of the following children : Thomas, Edward. Michael, Ellen, the wife of Patrick Loot, of Axtell: Mary, the wife of B. Myers, of St. Bridget: Delia, the wife of Mr. Gossin, and Anna.
William and Delia Gossin are the parents of the following children :
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Gilbert, Edward, Mary, Valentine, and Joseph. Gilbert was born on Janu- ary 27, 1897, and is on his father's farm; Edward, on June 12, 1899: Mary, February, 21 1903; Valentine, February 14, 1905, and Joseph, March 25, 1901, and died in infancy.
Mr. Gossin is one of the hustling and intelligent men of Marshall county and has met with much success in his work. He devotes himself to his business and is a most careful and prudent business man. He is a man of broad and generous views, well read and informed on the current events of the day. He is most progressive and a firm believer in permanent and substantial public improvements. Good roads and good schools are to him an index of the future progress of the county and the state. He and Mrs. Gossin have a fine family and their home life is an ideal one.
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