USA > Kansas > Marshall County > History of Marshall County, Kansas : its people, industries, and institutions > Part 89
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two dry years that followed that date may have some notion of the dis- couragement that must have attended Mr. Johnson's first attempt at Ameri- can farming. The succeeding two years, however, were better and at the end of that time he saw his way clear to the purchase of a small farm. It was then that he bought eighty acres of the farm on which he is now living, assuming in that transaction a couple of mortgages carrying twelve and one- half per cent. interest. During the first year of Mr. Johnson's ownership of that farm he raised excellent crops and he felt that he was "getting on his feet" in the new land. This emboldened him to build a house on the place and that structure, a building fourteen by twenty feet, left him, including the outstanding obligation on his land, seventeen hundred dollars in debt, but he continued to prosper and by the time of his marriage seven years later had the place all paid for and admirably improved. In 1903 Mr. John- son bought an additional "forty" and in 1905 bought another "eighty," which gave him an excellent farm of two hundred acres, on which he and his family were very pleasantly situated. The farm house, an admirably appointed dwelling of nine rooms, sets well up on an attractive knoll and is approached by a beautiful driveway bordered by maples and evergreens planted by Mr. and Mrs. Johnson. In addition to his general farming Mr. Johnson gave considerable attention to the raising of live stock and did very well, his Durham cattle and Duroc-Jersey hogs being a source of a good bit of extra revenue.
On February 21, 1900, Alfred Johnson was united in marriage to Netta Lew, who also was born in the kingdom of Sweden, November 1, 1867, daughter of Jons Assarsson, who was born on October 29, 1816, and died on April 4, 1898. Mrs. Johnson traces her genealogy back in an unbroken line to the year 1500 and the family, beginning with Bengt, have lived on the same farm in Sweden for three hundred and twenty-two years. Jons Assarsson married Ingrid Johanna Palsdatter, who was born on September 6. 1828, and who died on December 18, 1890. and had the following chil- dren : Anna Brita, Per, Petronella, Karl Ludwig, Neta, John and Nils. In May, 1888, Mrs. Johnson came to America in company with her brother, Johan, their destination being the Swedish settlement in this county, where they had kinsfolk living. After a few weeks spent there she went to Kansas City, whence she presently returned to Sweden and there resumed her place as a teacher ; but later returned to the United States and at Cambridge and Boston, Massachusetts, was engaged as a teacher in an evening school. From there she went to Rock Island, Illinois, and there entered Augustana College and after a course in that institution returned to Kansas and was engaged
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as a teacher in the parochial school in the Swedish settlement in this county, and was thus engaged for two years, at the end of which time she went to Kansas City and there taught school for a year. She then returned to Mar- shall county, where she married Mr. Johnson. Mrs. Johnson has had a fine carcer as a teacher and a student and has written considerable poetry which has been published and which occupies a well-defined place in the "History of the Swedish Settlement of Marshall County."
To Alfred and Netta Johnson five children were born, namely: John Arthur, born on December 10, 1900; Walton Alfred, July 3, 1902; Reuben Milton, March 6, 1904; Ruth Signe, October 21, 1905, and Herbert Theo- dore, February 15, 1907. Mr. Johnson was a member of the Swedish Lutheran church and of which he was a member of the deaconate and sec- retary of the local congregation. For twelve years he was treasurer of the church, with which he had been connected since 1888. Mrs. Johnson is sec- retary and treasurer of the Ladies' Aid Society of the church and gives her earnest attention to the various beneficences of the church, as well as to all local good works; helpful in promoting all movements having to do with the advancement of the general welfare of the community in which she lives. Mr. Johnson was a Republican, as is Mrs. Johnson, and was a member of the school board. He took an active interest in local political affairs and was an earnest exponent of good government.
Mr. Johnson died on May 7. 1917, and was buried at the Swedish cemetery on May 9, 1917.
ARTHUR D. MORSE.
Arthur D. Morse, a well-known and substantial farmer and stockman of Wells township, this county, is a native son of that township, born on a pioneer farm within half a mile of his present home, and has lived in that vicinity all his life. He was born on June 22, 1869, son of George N. and Louisa (Osborn) Morse, the former a native of the state of New York and the latter of Illinois, who became pioneers of Marshall county and active and influential residents of the settlement in which they made their home in Wells township.
George N. Morse, an honored veteran of the Civil War, is still living in this county, of which he has been a resident since 1867. He was born in New York state in May, 1843, son of John Morse and wife, and when a boy moved with his parents to Illinois, where he grew to manhood and
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where he was living when the Civil War broke out. He enlisted in the service of the Union and served with an Illinois regiment until the close of the war. Upon the completion of his military service he returned to Illinois and remained there until 1867, when he came to Kansas and home- steaded a tract of land in section 24 of Wells township, this county, where he built a frame house, one of the first frame houses in that part of the county, and there established his home, remaining there until his retire- ment from the farm and removal to Frankfort, where, of late years, he has maintained a home. He is an active member of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic and has ever taken a warm interest in the affairs of that patriotic organization, though of late years he has been practically an invalid and unable to attend the meetings of the post. His wife is a native of Illinois, born in Knox county, that state, a daughter of Robert and Betsy (Rountree) Osborn, natives, respectively, of Illinois and Kentucky, the former of whom was a son of Stephen Osborn, an Illinois pioneer. In 1866 the Osborns moved from Illinois to Kansas and settled about a mile north of the Barrett settlement in this county, Robert Osborn home- steading a tract of land in that community, thus becoming early settlers in Marshall county. To George N. Morse and wife four children were born, of whom the subject of this sketch was the third in order of birth, the others being Mrs. Hattie Feldhausen, of Vermillion township, this county ; Fred, of Junction City, Kansas, and Mrs. Ida Leach, deceased.
Arthur D. Moore was reared on the homestead farm in Wells town- ship and received his schooling in the district school in that neighborhood, the old Osborn school. From boyhood he was a valued aid to his father in the labors of developing and improving the home place and remained at home until he was twenty-two years of age, when he bought his present home place of eighty acres in the immediate vicinity of his old home place and after his marriage shortly afterward established his home there and has ever made that his place of residence. Mr. Morse formerly owned an- other tract of eighty acres in Wells township, but sold that place to invest in cattle for a range of two hundred and forty acres he bought in Pottawatomie county in 1909 and which latter place he still owns. He has made extensive and up-to-date improvements on his home place and he and his family are very comfortably situated there. Mr. Morse is a Republican and ever since 1896 has served as treasurer of his home township.
On December 28, 1892, Arthur D. Morse was united in marriage to Emma L. Lefler, who was born in Brown county, this state, not far from the village of Severance, March 13, 1872, daughter of Henry and Anne
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(Evans) Lefler, natives, respectively, of the state of Ohio and of the prin- cipality of Wales, who became pioneers of Kansas. Henry Lefler, who was born at Toledo, Ohio, in 1840, was living in the state of Iowa when the Civil War broke out and in 1861 he enlisted for service in the Union Army as a member of Company H. Thirteenth Regiment. Iowa Volunteer Infan- try, with which command he served for three years, being mustered out in 1864. In 1866 he came to Kansas and entered a soldier's claim to a home- stead tract in Brown county. While living there he married AAnne Evans. who was born in Wales in 1849 and who was but a small child when her parents came to this country in 1853 and settled in the vicinity of St. Joseph. Missouri, where she grew to womanhood. In the spring of 1873 Henry Lefler disposed of his interests in Brown county, this state, and moved to Smith county, where he homesteaded another tract and where he made his home until 1882, when he came to Marshall county and located on a farm in Wells township, where he lived until his retirement in old age and removed to Frankfort. where he died in 1897. His widow survived him for four- teen years, her death occurring in 1911. They were the parents of three children, those besides Mrs. Morse, the second in order of birth, being Frank- lin, who died in infancy, and Mrs. Lydia Isabelle Wilson, a widow. of Frankfort, who makes her home much of the time with her sister. Mrs. Morse. Mr. and Mrs. Morse are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and take a proper interest in the general beneficences of the same, as well as in the general good works of the community in which they live. Mrs. Morse is a member of Henderson Corps No. 9. Woman's Relief Corps, at Frankfort, and has been secretary of that patriotic organization since 1907.
SAMUEL WESLEY TILLEY.
Samuel Wesley Tilley, proprietor of beautiful "Long View Stock Farm." in Wells township, and one of the best-known breeders of pure- bred Hereford cattle and Poland China hogs in Kansas, is a native of the Dominion of Canada, but has been a resident of Marshall county since his childhood, his parents having come here in the summer of 1869, and is there- fore familiar with the development of this county since pioneer days. He was born in Canada on October 2, 1865, son of James and Margaret (Watt) Tilley, natives of the Dominion, who became pioneers of this county. the former spending his last days here and the latter still living in this county.
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James Tilley was born in 1832 and was reared in the province of Toronto, where he married and where he continued to make his home until 1869, when he came to Kansas with his family, settling in Marshall county in June of that year. Upon coming to this county Mr. Tilley homesteaded a tract of eighty acres in Wells township, the place now owned by the sub- ject of this sketch, and there established his home. He was an energetic and progressive farmer and it was not long until he began enlarging his holdings, graślually acquiring large tracts of land, which he later distributed among his sons as they began to branch out for themselves. Mr. Tilley also was one of the pioneer breeders of pure-bred live stock and became very success- ful. He was a Republican and from the time he secured his citizenship took an active and an influential part in local political affairs. For five years he filled the important office of "pathmaster," or highway commissioner. He and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church and ever took an earnest part in local good works. James Tilley died in October, 1901, and his widow, who was born in 1834, is still living at her old home in this county. They were the parents of four sons, the subject of this sketch hav- ing three brothers, Richard Henry Tilley, of Rock township, this county ; John James Tilley, of that same township, and William Edward Tilley, who lives on a farm in section 10 of Wells township, north of "Long View Stock Farm.'
As noted above, Samuel W. Tilley was not yet four years of age when his parents came to Marshall county and he grew to manhood on the old homestead in Wells township, a valuable aid in the labors of developing and improving the same and in extending his father's successful operations, par- ticularly in connection with the latter's early operations in stock breeding. His schooling was obtained in district No. 45 and he remained at home until his marriage in 1893, when he built his present house on "Long View Stock Farm," where he since has resided and where he and his family are very pleasantly situated. Mr. Tilley is the owner of four hundred and eighty acres in his home place and of another tract, a farm of two hundred acres, northeast of there, on the Vermillion river. As early as 1881 Mr. Tilley became interested in the breeding of pure-bred Hereford cattle, operating along that line in connection with his father, and has ever since given his close attention to the improvement of the strain of cattle throughout this section of Kansas. He now has a herd of more than one hundred and forty registered Herefords. the present leader of the herd being "Letham Fairfax, 414471," purchased for four thousand one hundred dollars at the world- , record sale held at the Warren T. McCray stock farm at Kentland, Indiana,
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May 17, 1916, when seventy-one head of cattle were sold at an average price of two thousand one hundred and eighty dollars. Another prized bull in Mr. Tilley's herd is "Kelsey, 415690," purchased as a calf from the herd of the Drennen brothers, Mr. Tilley thus having two of the finest bulls in Kansas. He also owns a half-sister of "Letham Fairfax." "Celia Fairfax. 317650," worth two thousand dollars. Mr. Tilley has admirably-equipped feeding and housing facilities for his herd and his farm plant is provided with all the modern accessories for the successful prosecution of agricultural and breeding operations. He has a number of imported cows and at the 1916 exhibit of the Marshall County Fair Association at Blue Rapids was awarded first prizes in everything in the class of his exhibits, and he also won first and sweepstakes at the Washington county fair. Among his cows are gets from such famous bulls as "Weston Stamp. 86091," "Majestic Baron, 190860," "Majestic Prince, 59182," and "Onward XVIII. 151572," a prize winner. Mr. Tilley also has been engaged in the breeding of pure- bred Poland China hogs for the past thirty-five years and for the past fifteen years has kept a record of his pens, having done much in the way of improv- ing the strain of swine throughout this part of the state. Mr. Tilley is a member of the American Hereford Breeders' Association and of the Amer- ican Poland China Breeders' Association and in the affairs of these two asso- ciations takes an active interest, being widely known among breeders through- out the country. In his political views Mr. Tilley is an independent Repub- lican and he has served for four terms as clerk of his home township.
In 1893 Samuel W. Tilley was united in marriage to Mary Catherine Walmer, who was born in Pennsylvania, daughter of John Thomas and Rachel Elizabeth (Love) Walmer, also natives of Pennsylvania, the former of whom died in that state and the latter of whom came to Kansas in the fall of 1903 and has since made her home with Mr. and Mrs. Tilley. To Mr. and Mrs. Tilley seven children have been born, namely: John Wesley. who is assisting his father in the operations of "Long View Stock Farm;" Elverina, deceased : Victor Thomas, now a student in high school at Frank- fort : James Laverne, Marion Walmer, Earl Blair (deceased) and Margaret · Elizabeth. Mr. and Mrs. Tilley are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in the various beneficences of which they take a proper part, as well as in the general social activities of the community in which they live. help- ful in promoting all movements having to do with the advancement of the common welfare thereabout. Mr. Tilley is a member of the local branch of the Anti-Horsethief Association and has taken an interested part in the activities of that energetic organization.
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CHARLES ERICKSON.
Charles Erickson, a well-known farmer of Lincoln township and the proprietor of a fine farm of three hundred and twenty acres in section 24 of that township, may properly be regarded as one of the pioneers of Mar- shall county, for he has lived here since 1870, having been but a boy when his parents settled in this county, among the very first settlers of the consid- erable Swedish settlement that later sprang up in the eastern part of the county. Mr. Erickson is a native of Sweden, born on January 13. 1857, son of John and Mary Erickson, both natives of that same country, the former born in 1814 and the latter in 1825, who became pioneers of Marshall county and here spent their last days.
In the spring of 1870 John Erickson and his family came to the United States and came on out to Kansas, settling in this county, which at that time was beginning to attract settlers in considerable numbers. Upon his arrival here John Erickson homesteaded a "forty" in section 24 of what later came to be subdivided as Lincoln township, but which then was included in Noble township, and there established his home, one of the first Swedish settlers in that part of the county. He built a small frame house, a mere "shack" in comparison with the residences of that section today, but which even at that was a better dwelling than most of his neighbors, who were living in sod shanties or dug-outs. The Ericksons endured all the hardships and priva- tions of pioneering on the plains, but stuck to the farm even in the face of early discouragements and eventually hecame well established. John Erick- son was a man of strong physique and a good farmer and he and his sons worked together to such advantage that they presently were able to enlarge their land holdings and became the owners of a fine farm of a half section of land. John Erickson lived to the age of eighty-six years, his death occur- ring in 1900. His widow survived him nine years, her death occurring in 1909. They were the parents of two children, sons both, the subject of this sketch having had a brother, August, who died at the age of thirty- two years.
Charles Erickson was but thirteen years of age when he came here with his parents in 1870 and he grew to manhood thoroughly familiar with pioneer conditions hereabout. In the absence of any properly organized schools in that section at that time, he pursued the studies that had been interrupted when he left his native land by careful home reading. From the very be- ginning of his residence here he was a valued aid to his father in the labors of developing and improving the home farm and is now the owner of the
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half section his father acquired there, one of the best-improved farms in that neighborhood. Mr. Erickson is living in the old house, one of the first houses erected in Lincoln township, and is surrounded there by an excellent farm plant. In 1914 he erected a set of buildings on his north quarter, where his son, Ivan, and family now make their home. For eight years Mr. Erickson was engaged in Hereford breeding and had a fine herd of thorough- breds, which he sold in 1913. preceding a trip with his wife to Colorado, Mrs. Erickson's state of health at that time requiring a change of climate. Mr. Erickson is a Republican and upon the organization of Lincoln township as a separate civic entity was elected treasurer of the same and served in that capacity for two terms.
In 1882 Charles Erickson was united in marriage to Justina Johnson. who was born in Sweden on June 16. 1861, and who had come to this coun- try in 1881. Mrs. Erickson died on February 10, 1916. To that union three children were born, Ellen, who died at the age of twenty-one years ; Ivan, farming on the home place, who married Anna Fromm and has one child, a daughter, Ellen, and Clarence, who is at home with his father. help- ing to farm the home place. Mr. Erickson is a member of Vermillion Lodge No. 30. Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and takes a warm interest in Masonic affairs.
ANDREW KJELLBERG.
Andrew Kjellberg, trustee of Lincoln township and for nearly fifteen years a member of his local school board. proprietor of a well-improved farm in section 22 of his home township and for years actively identified with the development of that part of the county, has been a resident of Marshall county since 1881, having come here with his parents when but a boy. He was born at Rockford, Illinois. November 4. 1867, son of Andrew and Johanna Kjellberg, natives of the kingdom of Sweden, the former born in January, 1833, and the latter, September 9. 1831, who came to the United States in 1866. locating at Rockford. Illinois, where they remained until 1881, when they came to Kansas and settled in this county, where Mr. Kjell- berg spent his last days and where his widow is still living.
The senior Andrew Kjellberg was a carpenter in his native land and upon coming to this country and locating at Rockford. he followed his trade in that city and became a stockholder in a furniture factory there. In that city he made his home until 1881, when he came to Kansas with his family
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and settled in Rock township, this county, establishing his home on a farm in section II of that township, presently becoming owner of that entire sec- tion. Mr. Kjellberg was a good farmer and with the assistance of his sons developed a fine farm, on which he made his home until 1893, when he sold his place and moved to Vliets, where he spent his last days, his death occur- ring on July 24, 1897. To him and his wife six children were born, of whom the subject of this sketch was the fifth in order of birth, the others being as follow: Mrs. Anna L. Long, of Collinsville, Oklahoma: John, of Rock Island, Illinois; Levine, deceased: Emma, who makes her home with her brother Andrew and family, and Charles, a farmer two miles north of Vliets.
The junior Andrew Kjellberg was not yet fourteen years of age when his parents came to this county from Illinois and he grew to manhood on the home farm in Rock township, completing his elementary studies in the schools of that neighborhood and supplementing the same by a course in Bethany College at Lindsborg. In 1890 he began farming for himself on a part of his father's section of land and in 1892 he and his brothers assumed entire management of the big farm and directed its operations. After the farm was sold in 1893 Andrew Kjellberg engaged in farming a quarter of a section at Vliets with his father and in 1896 was married there. In 1900 he bought the farm on which he is now living, in section 22 of Lincoln town- ship, established his home there and has ever since made that his place of residence, he and his family being very comfortably situated. Mr. Kjellberg owns two hundred and fifty-six acres, which he has improved in excellent shape, having a good house, ample farm buildings, a capacious silo and other equipment for an up-to-date farm plant. He raises about a carload of Duroc- Jersey hogs each year and is doing well in his farming operations. Mr. Kjellberg is a Republican and has long given close attention to local political affairs. Since 1900 he has been a member of the school board and in November, 1916, was elected trustee of Lincoln township, a position of responsibility and trust which he is now filling very acceptably.
On February 20, 1896, at Vliets, Andrew Kjellberg was united in mar- riage to Ellen A. Peterson, who was born in Morris county, this state, March 14. 1876, daughter of John A. Peterson and wife, the former of whom is still living, a resident of Marshall county since 1882. John A. Peterson was born in Sweden on December 24, 1844, and came to the United States in September, 1871, locating at Chicago, where he worked in a machine shop and foundry for three years, or until 1874, when he came to Kansas and homesteaded a farm in Morris county. There he made his home until 1882,
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when he disposed of his interests in that county and came to Marshall county. Mr. Peterson owns a farm adjoining that of his son-in-law. Mr. Kjellberg, and makes his home with the latter. In 1873 John A. Peterson was mar- ried to Mrs. Anna Brumquist, a widow, who was born in Sweden and who died in 1879, leaving two children. Mrs. Kjellberg having a brother, Arvid Leonard, who is now living in Iowa. By a former marriage Mrs. Peterson had a son. Oscar W., now living in Minnesota.
To Mr. and Mrs. Kjellberg have been born seven children, Arthur. Elton, Cora. Judith, Clifford. Marshall and Gladys. The Kjellbergs are members of the Swedish Lutheran church and take an active part in church affairs, Mr. Kjellberg being treasurer of the local congregation.
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