USA > Kansas > Marshall County > History of Marshall County, Kansas : its people, industries, and institutions > Part 80
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J. S. Parthemer was born at Middleton, Pennsylvania, September 23. 1818. son of Jacob S. Parthemer, and in 1839 moved with his father to Union county, Ohio, whence, in the middle fifties, he moved to Iowa, where he remained but a few years, however, coming to Kansas in 1859 and pre- empting a tract of land one mile east of the Barrett settlement, where he built a log cabin and established his home, one of the very earliest settlers in Marshall county. He later moved from the farm to Barrett, where he opened a grocery store, and in 1861 was appointed postmaster of that vil- lage, his commission being signed by Abraham Lincoln, a position he held for years and during which time he also was an active business man. influ- ential in the labors of bringing about a proper social order in the early days
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of the settlement. J. S. Parthemer also took an active part in the civic affairs of the new settlement and was the first justice of the peace in Barrett. He also served for some time as township clerk and as township treasurer and in other ways did his part in the public service, while he and his wife were ever active in church and other good works. J. S. Parthemer was twice married. In 1841 he married Maria S. Amerine, who died, leaving one son and four daughters, and in April, 1852, he married Maria T. Clayton, who was born in Union county, Ohio, October 9, 1831, and to that union was born one child, a son, Jonathan C., the subject of this sketch. J. S. Parthenier died at his home in Barrett on December 1, 1898, and his widow survived him for more than ten years, her death occurring on March 3. 1910.
Jonathan C. Parthemer was but an infant when his parents moved from Ohio to Iowa and was about five years of age when they moved from the latter state to Kansas. He grew up at Barrett, receiving his schooling in the first school house built in Marshall county. old district No. I, at Barrett. the same having been conducted by Mrs. Mary A. Stagg. His first job when a boy was herding sheep on the plains, later becoming a cattle drover. help- ing to drive herds across the plains to Atchison and St. Joseph. Mr. Parth- emer was the first person in Marshall county to use horses in the task of breaking the prairie soil and was told by old settlers that he was foolish for making the attempt, they holding that only oxen could be used in such work, but young Parthemer went ahead with his team of horses and was successful. By the time he was sixteen years of age he had saved money enough to buy an "eighty," a part of his present home place, and early began the improvement and development of the same. At fourteen years of age he secured the contract for carrying the mail on the star route from Barrett to Seneca, making a trip once a week, on Saturdays, and in other ways found outlet for his active energies, during the days of his boyhood. After his marriage in 1874 Mr. Parthemer settled down on the tract he had bought in Wells township and there lived until 1885, when he bought a half section of land over in Norton county, on the extreme western edge of that county, and made his home there for five years, or until 1890, when he sold the place. upon the coming of the railroad, as a site for the present town of Clayton. Upon disposing of his holdings in Norton county Mr. Parthemer returned to his Marshall county home and has since resided there, having one of the best-kept places in that part of the county. He now owns one hundred and forty acres in the home place and a quarter section in section 33 of Bigelow township, and has long been regarded as one of the substan- tial residents of that section of the county. In addition to his general farm-
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ing. Mr. Parthemer has for years given his attention to the raising of cattle, is also an extensive breeder of Duroc-Jersey hogs, and has done very well in his operations. Mr. Parthemer holds the original patent to his home place, the same bearing the signature of .A. Lincoln.
On October 4, 1874, Jonathan C. Parthemer was united in marriage to Harriet Mosher, who was born in Knox county, Illinois, April 22, 1854. daughter of Reuben and Mary ( McCombs) Mosher, natives of New York state, who came to Kansas in 1858 and settled in Nemaha county, where they spent the remainder of their lives, the former dying in September, 1885, and the latter, in March, 1902. To Mr. and Mrs. Parthemer four children have been born, namely Mrs. Maude Wolfe, of Vermillion town- ship, this county; Mrs. Daisy Stauffer, of Los Angeles, California; Mrs. Pearl Whiting, of Blue Rapids, this county, and Jacob, born on December 22, 1893, who is at home, a valued assistant to his father in the manage- ment of the latter's agricultural interests. Mr. Parthemer is a Republican and has ever given his close attention to local political affairs, but has not been a seeker after public office. He is a member of the local lodge of the Modern Woodmen of America and takes a warm interest in the affairs of that organization.
ROBERT WULLSCHLEGER.
Robert Wullschleger, who for years was one of Marshall county's best known and most successful building contractors, operating in part- nership in that line with his brother, Jacob Wullschleger, but who since 1907 has been farming in Center township, where he has made a decisive success of his farming operations. is a native of the republic of Switzerland, but has been a resident of this country since 1882. He was born in the canton AAargau, November 3. 1863, son of Isaac and Anna Wullschleger. both natives of that country, who spent their lives there and who were the parents of nine children, all of whom save the first-born, who died in Switzerland, came to this county and further reference to whom is made in a biographical sketch relating to. Jacob Wullschleger, elder brother of the subject of this sketch, presented elsewhere in this volume, to which the attention of the reader is respectfully invited for additional informa- tion in this connection.
Reared in his native Switzerland. Robert Wullschleger was carly trained to the trade of a carpenter, that having been his father's vocation,
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as was his elder brother, Jacob Wullschleger, and in the fall of 1882 the two brothers came to this country and located in Livingston county, Illi- nois, expecting to engage there in building contracting. Not finding con- ditions there to their liking, they came to Kansas and worked in and about Wichita for a year, at the end of which time, in 1884. they came to Marshall county and located at Marysville, where they found an excel- lent field for their activities as building contractors and where they remained in business for twenty-eight years, during which period they built many of the best buildings, not only at the county seat, but in other parts of the county, including nearly all the buildings at Home. In 1907 the brothers retired from the contracting business and invested in farm lands in Center township, where both are now living and where they are prospering. Rob- ert Wullschleger first bought a quarter of a section, the place on which he now lives, and as he prospered there bought a quarter section adjoining on the west and is now farming the half section. In addition to his general farming he is giving considerable attention to the raising of high-grade live stock and is doing very well. His residence and farm buildings are of an excellent type, designed throughout for comfort and convenience. His residence is built of stone and is reached by a paved driveway. The farm buildings are in keeping with the same, the farm plant being one of the best and most substantial in that part of the county. Mr. Wullschleger is a Republican and has given his earnest attention to local political affairs since becoming a resident of Marshall county, but has not been a seeker after office. He and his family are members of the Evangelical church and take a proper interest in church work and other good works of the community in which they live.
Robert Wullschleger has been twice married. It was in 1886, two years after he located at Marysville, that he was united in marriage to Louise Brandenburger, who died on February 5, 1892, leaving four chil- dren. Robert and Richard, who are farming one of their father's farms; Freda, who is keeping house for her brothers, and Emma, who is at home. On December 2, 1895, Mr. Wullschleger married, secondly, Elsie Keller, also a native of the republic of Switzerland, who was born in the canton Bern on October 15, 1871, a daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Luders) Keller, who later became residents of this county and here spent their last days. Mrs. Wullschleger has been a resident of this country since 1889. when she and her brother, Amiel, came to Kansas and located in Marshall county. A year later their father and their brother, Samuel, joined them here and in 1891 the mother and Amelia, Albert and Fred came over and
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joined the family. Mrs. Wullschleger's eldest sister, Bertha, lives in her native land and she had another brother, Gottfried, who died there. Samuel Keller and his wife both died in 1909.
To Robert and Elsie (Keller) Wullschleger six children have been born, namely: Louise, who was graduated from the Marysville high school and is now teaching school; William, born on June 21, 1900; Albert, February 24. 1902; Emil, May 20, 1905; John, July 7, 1907, and Margaret, · January 4, 1909.
HANS P. LARSON.
The late Hans P. Larson, a substantial farmer and landowner of Rock township, this county, who died at his home in that township in the summer of 1915, was a native of the far-away kingdom of Sweden, but has been a resident of this country ever since he was twenty-one years of age. He was born at Hallen, in Sweden, December 3. 1857, son of Lars and Mary Hanson, natives of that same country, who came to America in 1880, pro- ceeding on out to Kansas and settling in Marshall county, where two or three of their children had preceded them some years before. and here they spent their last days.
Upon attaining his majority. Hans P. Larson determined to try his fortunes in the new land beyond the sea and in 1879 came to the United States, proceeding to Kansas and joining his sister, Mrs. P. Johnson, in Marshall county. For a year after coming here he was engaged in railway construction work at Vermillion and then went to Kansas City, where he secured employment in the roundhouse and shops of the Missouri Pacific Railroad Company, where he gave such a good account of himself that he presently was promoted to the position of locomotive engineer, a position he held for twenty years, running for the Union Pacific Railroad Company. In 1906 Mr. Larson retired from the railway service and returned to Mar- shall county. Here he bought a fine farm of a quarter section in Rock township, established his home there, improved the place until it became one of the best-kept farms in that part of the county, and there spent the remainder of his life. his death occurring on June 21, 1915. Mr. Larson was a Republican in his political faith and by religious persuasion was a Lutheran, ever giving his earnest attention both to civic affairs and to church work, a good citizen in all that term implies, and his widow and children are members of the Lutheran church.
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In 1883, three or four years after coming to this country, Hans P. Larson was united in marriage to Eva Betty Benson, who also was born in Sweden, March 20, 1865, daughter of B. and Celia (Nelson) Benson, natives of that same country, the former born on April 5. 1829, and the latter, February II, 1837, who came to this country in 1892 and located at Kansas City, where their daughter then was living, and where they remained until 1908, when they came to Marshall county to make their home with Mr. and Mrs. Larson.
To Hans P. and Eva Betty (Benson) Larson five children were born, namely: Louis Barnhart Larson, now foreman in Rand's iron works at Detroit, Michigan; Mrs. Clara Marie Gunderson, of Colome, South Dakota ; Mrs. Esther Eldere Nord, living near Winifred, this county; Peter Herman Larson, born on October 1, 1899, who is operating the home farm for his mother, and Edna Adena, born on January 15, 1901. The Larsons have a very pleasant home and take a proper part in the general social activities of the community in which they live.
GOTTFRIED KELLER.
Gottfried Keller, a substantial farmer of Center township, proprietor of a fine farm of a half section of land in that township, is a native of the republic of Switzerland, but has been a resident of Marshall county for more than thirty years. He was born on a farm in the canton of Bern, Switzerland, September 30, 1860, son of Nicholas and Anna Keller. natives of that same country, who came to the United States in 1885 and came on out to Kansas, settling in Franklin township, this county, where the former died five years later, in 1890, he then being fifty-six years of age, and where his widow died in 1900, she then being sixty-eight years of age. They were the parents of four sons, of whom the subject of this sketch was the second in order of birth, the others being Charles, of Center township, this county: John, of Franklin township, and Fred, who is now living in Oregon.
Reared in his native Switzerland. Gottfried Keller came to this country in 1885, with his parents. After a year spent on the farm with his parents, in Franklin township he rented a farm in Guittard township for one year ; and rented a part of the county farm, and after a year he began farming in Richland township, where he remained a year, at the end of which time
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he began farming in Logan township and was there thus employed until 1893, when he moved back to Franklin township and established his home in that township and there made his home for ten years. In 1901 he bought his present farm of three hundred and twenty acres in Center township and in the spring of 1903 moved onto the same and has 'since made his home there. After taking possession of that place Mr. Keller erected all the buildings now there. with the exception of some minor buildings, and has otherwise improved the place in up-to-date fashion, now having an excellent farm plant. His farm is right at the edge of the village of Winifred and is a very attractive place of residence. Mr. Keller takes an active interest in the general affairs of the community and is a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator Company at Winifred. He is a Democrat and for four years served as township treasurer and was then re-elected for two years. He is a member of the local lodge of the Modern Woodmen of America and he and his family are members of the German Lutheran church.
In 1883 Gottfried Keller was united in marriage to Rosa Kohler, who also was born in Switzerland. daughter of Samuel Kohler and wife, and to this union twelve children have been born, three of whom died in infancy, the others being: Robert, a farmer in Franklin township: Fred. a farmer, of Center township: Edward and Ernest. assistants to their father on the home farm: Mrs. Anna Bruensbach, of Balderson township, and Emma, Ida. Rosa and Edith. The Kellers have a very pleasant home and take a proper interest in the general social activities of their home community.
JAMES SHAUGHNESSY.
James Shaughnessy, one of the well-known and prominent farmers and stock breeders of St. Bridget township, Marshall county, was born in the township on November 1, 1870. and is the son of Michael and Ellen ( Ryan) Shaughnessy.
Michael and Ellen Shaughnessy were natives of Ireland and there received their education in the public schools and spent their early life in the Emerald Isle. The former was born in 1824 and died on June 13. 1906, and the latter was born in 1829 and died in February, 1885. As a young man Michael Shaughnessy came to America and located in the state of Indiana. where he was married at Madison in 1849. There he and his wife established their
JAMES SHAUGHNESSY AND FAMILY.
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home and lived until 1860, when they came to Kansas, where they joined the colony of early settlers in St. Bridget township, Marshall county. They obtained a farm and soon became prominent in the community and had much to do with the development of the district. They remained on the original farm until 1882, when they purchased the farm now owned by the son, James. Here Mr. Shaughnessy engaged in general farming and stock raising in which he was most successful. As he prospered he purchased more land and at the time of his death was the owner of one thousand acres of the best land. He was a man of strong personal qualities and was possessed of much business acumen. He was a firm believer in the highest class of farming and the keeping of the best of stock. He was known throughout the county as one of the most successful breeders and raisers of high-grade stock in the district. He and his wife were devout members of the Catholic church, Mr. Shaughnessy being one of the founders of the parish in St. Bridget town- ship and one of the builders of the church. He was identified with the Democratic party, taking much interest in local affairs and had much to do with the growth and development of the township and county.
To Michael and Ellen Shaughnessy were born the following children : Thomas, Edward, Michael, Ellen, Mary, Anna, Delia, James. Edward and Thomas are now deceased: Michael lives at Kansas City; Ellen is the wife of Patrick Loot. of Axtell; Mary is the wife of B. Myers and is a resident of St. Bridget township and Delia is the wife of William Gossin, of St. Bridget township.
James Shaughnessy received his education in the common schools of St. Bridget township and at Axtell and was reared on the home farm. As a boy he put in much of his time herding cattle on the range and while thus engaged he came to know the habits and characteristics of these animals, which has been of much value to him as a stockman. He now has six hun- dred acres of the best land and is engaged in general farming and stock rais- ing. In 1911 he began the breeding of thoroughbred Hereford cattle and his herd today is one of the finest in this section of the state. The present leader of the herd is "Beam Ultin No. 366158," bred by Gudgell and Simp- son of Independence, Missouri, and was later owned by the University of Missouri and purchased by Mr. Shaughnessy in 1916. He now has some forty cows and he sells many of his cattle in all parts of the country for breeding purposes, as well as for the range. He is a member of the Amer- ican Hereford Breeders Association and is well posted on the care and atten- tion that should be given to all breeding animals. He has a splendid barn,
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thirty-four by thirty-six feet, with a shed twenty by one hundred feet. all of which is modern in every respect and especially adapted for the feeding and care of his stock. In addition to the care of his stock he had last year one hundred and fifty acres of corn and seventy acres of other grain. His beauti- ful house, one of the best in the township, is situated almost in the center of his large tract of land, making it convenient for him to reach every part of the place with as little trouble as possible.
On April 28, 1896. James Shaughnessy was united in marriage to Laura Brolyer, who was born on August 27, 1872, in Miami county, Indiana, and is the daughter of Henry and Nancy J. ( Hubbard) Brolyer, the former having been born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, on February 11, 1836, and died on January 23, 1902, and the latter was born in Fayette county, Indiana, on December 25, 1841, and was the daughter of Samuel and Nancy (Glidwell) Hubbard. Mr. and Mrs. Brolyer were married at Wabash, Indiana, on October 27, 1861, and remained residents of the state of Indiana until 1884. when they came to Kansas and located in St. Bridget township. Marshall county, where they became prosperous farmers, and are held in high regard by all. They are the parents of the following children: Luella C. Bryan and Charles now deceased: Mrs. John Carney of Murray township: Mrs. Laura Shaughnessy : Mrs. Rose Kabriel, of near Mina ; Oliver, of Nebraska : Edward, of Marysville, this county, and Emil, of Geary county, Kansas.
To James and Laura Shaughnessy the following children have been born : Leebert. a graduate of the Axtell high school and now attending the St. Joe Commercial College : Vincent has completed the public school course. graduating June, 1915: Rose, in the eighth grade of the public schools ; Agatha, in the fifth grade and Fern and Charles. also in school. Mr. and Mrs. Shaughnessy are devout members of the Catholic church and are prom- inent in the social life of the community, where they are held in the highest regard and esteem by all who know them.
JOHN V. SMITH.
John V. Smith, deceased, was for many years one of the well-known and successful farmers and stockmen of Richland township. Marshall county. He was born in County Galway, Ireland, on March 14, 1838, and was the son of Thomas Smith and wife. He received his education in the schools of his native land, where he lived until 1867. At that time he and his brother.
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Michael, decided to come to America, and they set sail for the new land, where they hoped to make a home. On their arrival in this country, they proceeded to St. Louis, where they worked as laborers for six years. In 1873 they came to Marshall county, where they purchased one hundred and sixty acres, which they later divided. When they came to the county, the brothers had twenty-five hundred dollars, which they had saved from their work in St. Louis. They paid nine hundred dollars for the quarter section of land, which today is worth some eighteen thousand dollars. On that farm John V. Smith devoted many years of his life to general farming and stock rais- ing and met with much success. He added to his land holdings and at the time of his death was the owner of eight hundred acres of excellent land. He moved to the present home place in 1896. This he developed and improved with the best of buildings. The house is a most attractive one, painted white, its location among the stately evergreen trees, presents a most pleasing effect. The barns and outbuildings are substantial and are in keeping with the most excellent upkeep of the farm.
On July 10, 1876, John V. Smith was united in marriage to Catherine Lynch, who was born in Ireland on January 16, 1854, and was the daughter of Edward and Mary Lynch. The father died when Catherine was eight years of age, and thus bereft of a father, her early educational advantages were neglected. She grew to womanhood in her native land; and in 1873 she and her brother, Peter, came to America, and here joined their uncle, Peter Lynch, in St. Bridget township, Marshall county. Mr. Lynch had been agent for new settlers in the county since 1857 and was a man of much influence and force of character. Here Catherine Lynch and her brother established their home and here she lived until the time of her marriage, three years later.
To John V. and Catherine Smith were born the following children : Thomas, Edward, John L., Robert, George, William, Mary, Agnes and Katie. Thomas, Edward and John L. are all successful farmers in the township. Three of these children, Thomas, Mary and Agnes, each taught school for about four years in Marshall county. The family belong to the Catholic church at Summerfield. The mother and daughters are members of the altar society. Robert and William are engaged in farm work at home; George is a senior in the high school at Summerfield; Agnes Gallagher lives at Summerfield where she is the postmaster; Mary is at home and Katie is assistant postmaster at Summerfield and married Vincent Mulharn, of Rich- land township. John L. Smith is the father of two children, Regina and Helen, and Mr. and Mrs. Gallagher have two children, Edward and Howard.
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THOMAS HARRY.
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Thomas Harry, one of Marshall county's best-known and most sub- stantial pioneer farmers, for many years one of the leading citizens of Guittard township. a shareholder in the Farmers Elevator Company at Beattie and one of the county's large landowners, is a native of England. but has been a resident of Kansas since 1881 and has consequently seen this section of the state develop from its original prairie state to its present highly- developed condition. He was born in Herefordshire, England. March 9. 1860, son of John and Elizabeth (Thomas) Harry, who spent all their lives in their native land and who were the parents of four children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the third in order of birth.
Reared on a farm, Thomas Harry received his schooling in his native land and remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age, when, in 1881, in company with William Price, a stonemason, he came to this country and proceeded on out to Kansas, settling near Beattie. in this county, where he began working as a farm hand. In 1884 he bought a tract of eighty acres in section 7 of Guittard township and began develop- ing the same. The pioneers along the timber belts advised him against investing in prairie land, but he had a wider vision than they and he pres- ently was able to prove to the doubters the wisdom of his judgment. As he prospered in his operations he bought another "eighty" and by the time of his marriage in 1890 was a well-established and successful farmer. In 1904 Mr. Harry bought his present farm and is now the owner of six hundred acres of excellent land, the most of which is well improved and highly cultivated. In addition to his general farming Mr. Harry has long given considerable attention to the raising of Shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs and has done very well. for years having been regarded as one of the leading farmers and stockmen in that part of the county. Mr. Ilarry is a Republican and for thirteen years, or until about four years ago. served as a member of the school board in district No. 124 and in other ways lent of his time and his energies to the promotion of the best interests of his home community.
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