USA > Kansas > Marshall County > History of Marshall County, Kansas : its people, industries, and institutions > Part 98
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On April 18, 1906, William T. Buck was united in marriage to Carrie J. DuBois, who was born in the state of New Jersey, July 18, 1864, dangh- ter of Louis P. and Sarah J. (Jones) DuBois, natives of that same state, who are now living at Vliets, members of the household of Mr. and Mrs. Buck, both now being past eighty years of age. Louis P. DuBois came to Kansas in 1858, having been sent out here as a means of seeking restoration of his failing health, and entered upon the open, free life of the range, presently becoming engaged as a freighter between Atchison and Denver and was not long afterward appointed captain of the "bull-whackers." He later became engaged in mining in New Mexico, but after awhile returned to New Jersey, where he married and where he remained until after his first child, Mrs. Buck, was born, after which he returned to Kansas with his family and rented a small farm in Atchison county. Leaving his family there he returned to his mining property in New Mexico, but after some years disposed of his interests there and settled down in his home in Atchi- son county, where he remained until 1914, when he retired and moved to Vliets, where, as noted above, he and his wife are now living, he at the age
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of eighty-two and she at the age of eighty-one. Mr. and Mrs. Buck have a very pleasant home at Vliets and take a proper part in the general social activities of the village and of the community at large, helpful in promoting all movements having to do with the advancement of the common welfare hereabout.
HENRY W. KOENEKE.
Among the well-known and successful business men of Marshall county, is Henry W. Koeneke, the cashier of the Herkimer State Bank, since its organization on August 2, 1909. This banking institution was opened for business on January 25, 1910, with the following board of directors: W. H. Koeneke, George J. Hoerath, Henry W. Koeneke, Joseph Bluhm, J. G. Schmidler and E. R. Fulton. W. H. Koeneke was selected as president of the institution : George J. Hoerath, vice-president, and Henry W. Koeneke, cashier. The bank was capitalized with ten thousand dollars, and now has a surplus of two thousand dollars and deposits of over seventy-three thousand dollars. The management of the institution has been successful, and by their business-like methods they have won the confidence and respect of all. In May, 1913, on the death of W. H. Koeneke, the board elected George J. Hoe- rath, president, and Joseph Bluhm, vice-president, and E. W. Koeneke was selected as a member of the board of directors to fill the place of his father, and in January, 1916, he was selected as assistant cashier of the bank.
Henry W. Koeneke is the son of W. H. and Julia (Brockmeyer) Koeneke, and is a native of this county. The father was born in Cook county, Illinois, on a farm on July 15, 1852. He attended the common schools of that county for a time and at the age of eight years, came with his parents to Kansas. They located on a tract of wild land in Logan town- ship, Marshall county, and here, on the wild and unbroken prairie, they estab- lished their home, amid the most primitive conditions. There were but few settlers in the immediate vicinity at that time and the little family experienced many of the hardships of pioneer life. The farm was developed and some- what improved with primitive structures, and in time they were in a position to look forward to better days. The farm was enlarged, better and more modern buildings were erected, and their position became one of substantial progress. As a young man W. H. Koeneke, in addition to his interests on the farm, engaged in the lumber business, having associated himself with his brother-in-law, William Winters, with whom he remained until 1888, when
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Mr. Koeneke purchased the entire business, which he operated by himself. In addition to the lumber trade the men also engaged in the buying and sell- ing of grain, which Mr. Koeneke continued. In 1888 he erected a large ele- vator at Bremen and there did an extensive business in grain and lumber. In early life he foresaw the future possibilities of Kansas land and became owner of over fourteen hundred acres, which was in time placed under high cultivation and nicely improved.
W. H. Koeneke was a most progressive man and possessed of much business acumen. He was not at all satisfied with having a thing partially done, but he wanted it done right. He and his wife were prominent in the work of the German Lutheran church, and Mr. Koeneke was treasurer of the local society until his death on May 25, 1913. He was a member of the Republican party and took the greatest interest in the affairs of the town- ship and the county. For many years he was treasurer of the township, and served as a member of the school board. He was a strong advocate of the best schools and good roads, and through his influence both received much consideration.
W. H. Koeneke was united in marriage in May, 1878, to Julia Brock- meyer. the daughter of Frederick and Fredericka ( Martin) Brockmeyer, both of whom were natives of Germany and came to the United States in an early day, and for a time located in Connecticut, but later came to Kansas at a time when the country for the most part was one stretch of wild prairie. Here they established their home on a farm in Hanover, where the father engaged in general farming, until the time of his death. Julia (Brockmeyer) Koeneke, whose birth occurred on June 5. 1859, was the first child born to her parents after their arrival in Kansas. Here she grew to womanhood and received her education in the local pioneer schools. Her death occurred on May 17, 1910. Mr. and Mrs. Koeneke were the parents of eight children as follow : Sophia. E. W., Mary, Julia, Henry W., Martha and two that died in infancy. Sophia Kruse is a resident of Logan township, where Mr. Kruse is a successful farmer and stockman; E. W. is assistant cashier of the Herkimer State Bank and manager of the lumber yard at that place: Mary Geyer is a resident of Waterville, Kansas, where her husband is manager of the telephone system : Julia Harmann is a resident of Logan township, where Mr. Harmann is a well-known and successful farmer of the district and Martha is a student in the schools of Logan township.
E. W. Koeneke was born in Marshall county, on February 22, 1884, and was reared in the town of Herkimer and educated in the public schools, later attending college at Midland for one year, after which he took a course at a
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business college in St. Joe. After completing his education, at the age of twenty-one years, he engaged in the flour-mill business with his father, at Shady Bend, Kansas. After continuing in the business for three years he returned to Herkimer and for two years engaged in general farming and stock raising. He then purchased the elevator in Bremen, which he sold after six years. He then purchased the lumber yard at Herkimer, which he still manages in connection with his duties as assistant cashier of the bank.
E. W. Koeneke was united in marriage on September 14, 1910, to Sophia Scheibe. the daughter of John Henry and Minnie ( Breneke) Scheibe, both of whom were natives of Germany and there received their education in the public schools and there lived until 1864, when they came to the United States, and were married in Marshall county, in 1870. After coming to this country. Mr. Scheibe located for one year in Illinois, after which he resided in Marshall county, for six months, when for the next two and one- half years, he worked on a railroad near Salt Lake, Utah. He then returned to Marshall county, where he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land in Walnut township. This farm he developed and improved and here he engaged in general farming and stock raising, with much success until the time of his death on August 29, 1906. Minnie ( Breneke) Scheibe was born on March 18, 1852, and after coming to the United States located in Cook county, Illinois, where she lived until 1868, when she came to Marshall county and was married two years later. Mr. and Mrs. Scheibe were for many years active members of the German Lutheran church, and were among the organizers of the local church at Afton, Kansas, and Mr. Scheibe was the first to be buried in the cemetery there. They were the parents of the fol- lowing children: Anna Frohberg, of Afton, where her husband is a well- known farmer: the second child died in infancy; Christina Berger lives at Afton, where Mr. Berger is a farmer: Herman is also engaged in farming near Afton: Bertha Ludicke lives at Home City, where Mr. Ludicke is engaged in the lumber business : Lena Draver lives on a farm near Afton and her husband is engaged in general farming; Sophia is the wife of E. W. Koeneke : Albert is a farmer near Afton and Alfred is on the home place.
Sophia (Scheibe) Koeneke was born in Walnut township, Marshall county. on March 25, 1885, and received her education in the local schools and was reared on the home farm, where she lived until the time of her mar- riage. Mr. and Mrs. Koeneke are the parents of one child. Minnie Julia, who was born on August 16, 1913. They are active members of the Luth- eran church and are prominent in the social and religious life of the town.
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Henry W. Koeneke was born in Marshall county, on February 27, 1890, and was reared in Herkimer, where he received his elementary education in the public schools, having completed the common-school course at the age of fourteen years. He then attended Midland College for three years, after which he completed the course in the Gard Business College at St. Joe. For some time after completing his school work, he was engaged with his father on the farm. In September, 1909, he was employed by the First National Bank at Marysville, where he remained until 1910, when he assumed his duties as cashier of the Herkimer State Bank. He is a young man of sterling worth and held in the highest regard by all.
MORLEY P. ROBINSON.
Morley P. Robinson, one of the well-known and successful farmers and stockmen of Blue Rapids City township, Marshall county, and the owner of eight hundred acres of splendid land, was born in Peterborough, Canada, on January 30, 1869, and is the son of John and Elizabeth (Neely) Robinson.
The parents of Morley P. Robinson were natives of Yorkshire, Eng- land. and Ontario, Canada, respectively, the father having been born in the year 1812, and when two years of age, was brought by his parents to Can- ada, and it was there that the father and mother of our subject received their education in the common schools. They were reared on the home farms in their respective communities, and were later married. As a young man, John Robinson engaged in general farming and continued in the work until the time of his death in 1872. The widow and her children continued to live at their Canadian home until 1878, when they came to Marshall county, and established their home on a farm in Center township, where they had an undeveloped and unimproved farm of three hundred and sixty acres. The mother, with the elder children of the family erected a house. sixteen by twenty-four feet, and in this they lived for a number of years. The farm was improved and developed and here the mother died in 1896 at the age of sixty-six years. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson were highly respected people and held in high regard by all who knew them. Mrs. Robinson, in her prairie home, demonstrated her ability as a manager, and with her children met with success as farmers and raisers of stock. Their lives for the first few years were hard ones, and it required a strong determination for a woman, with a family of children. to settle on an undeveloped prairie farm among strangers.
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To her and her family much credit and praise are due for the magnificent work that they accomplished. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson were active members in the Methodist Episcopal church and were prominent in all religious work. They were the parents of nine children, only one of whom is now deceased.
At the age of seventeen years, Morley P. Robinson took charge of the home farm, and though but a lad, he met with success. He remained on the old home place until 1894, when he purchased a farm of his own, of one hundred and sixty acres in Franklin township. Here he engaged in general farming until 1901, when he sold the place and moved to Logan county, where he owned two thousand acres of ranch land, with a Mr. Suggett. Dur- ing the time Mr. Robinson was on his ranch in Logan county, his family remained at Carden. During the greater part of five years Mr. Robinson was employed on his ranch, when in 1908 he purchased his present farm. The place at that time was unimproved and undeveloped, but has since been transformed into one of the fine farms of the district. The house is a large and handsome residence and his barns, feeding sheds, silos and other build- ings are all arranged with a view to economy and comfort. Mr. Robinson is an extensive buyer and feeder of cattle for the markets, and twice a year he ships five hundred head of the finest animals. He also keeps many hogs and each year places many on the market, for which he receives the highest market prices. His reputation is known throughout the county, as a suc- cessful buyer and shipper of stock and as a salesman of automobiles. He and his brother. Neil, are much interested in the county fair association, being shareholders and are active in its management. In 1916 Mr. Robin- son exhibited a Shorthorn bull, on which he won first prize, and at the same time he won second prize on a young mule that he also had at the fair.
On November 20, 1894, Morley P. Robinson was united in marriage to Laura McKee, who was born at Peterborough, Canada, on April 16, 1870, and is the daughter of John F. and Sarah (Chalmers) McKee. When the daughter, Laura. was one year old, the family left their home in Canada and came to the United States and established their home in Center township, Marshall county. The mother died some years ago and the father is now living in Elm Creek township, and is known as one of the substantial men of the township, and one of the well-known farmers of the county.
To Morley P. and Laura (McKee) Robinson have been born three chil- dren : Harold M., John Victor and Ethel. Harold M., now twenty years of age, is now at home. He is a graduate of the Blue Rapids high school and has completed the sophomore year at the University of Kansas. John
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Victor, seventeen years of age, is also a graduate of the Blue Rapids high school and is at home. Ethel is fourteen years of age and is a student in the Blne Rapids schools.
Mr. and Mrs. Robinson are highly respected people and have many friends throughout the county, who hold them in the highest regard and esteem. They have long been active in the social life of the community. They are broadminded and progressive, and take much interest in the edu- cational and moral development of the county. Politically, Mr. Robinson is identified with the Republican party, and while he is not an office seeker, he takes an active interest in the civic life of the township and the county.
BURTON MARSHALL WINTER.
Burton Marshall Winter, one of the best-known and most successful stock-breeders in northern Kansas and the proprietor of a fine farm, the old Winter homestead. in Wells township, this county, is a native of the great Empire state, but has been a resident of Kansas ever since he was eight years of age and has therefore seen Marshall county develop from its pioneer state. He was born in the city of Buffalo, New York, August 22, 1864, son of John Marshall and Sarah Boyd (Goodman) Winter, both natives of that same state, who later came to Kansas and established themselves on a homestead farm in this county, where the former spent his last days and where the lat- ter is still living.
John Marshall Winter was born in Warren county, New York, May 21, 1832, a son of Moses Winter, a native of Massachusetts, of old Colonial stock, and on November 12. 1856, was united in marriage, in Warren county. to Sarah Boyd Goodman who was born in that same county, April 6. 1834, daughter of Samuel and Lovice (Tuttle) Goodman. also of old New Eng- land stock. tracing back to the "Mayflower" contingent, members of the family also having rendered service in the patriot army during the Revolu- tionary War. John M. Winter established his home in the city of Buffalo. where he lived until 1872, when, on account of the failing state of his wife's health. he came to Kansas with his family and settled in Marshall county. Upon his arrival here Mr. Winter bought a piece of land near Blue Rapids. but was not satisfied with that location and presently bought a homesteader's right to an "eighty" in Wells township, of which he took possession in March, 1872. and later bought an adjoining "eighty" of railroad land, still later buy-
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MR. AND MRS. JOHN M. WINTER.
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ing another adjoining tract of eighty acres, thus giving him a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres, which he developed and on which he for years gave much attention to the raising of registered live stock, with particular attention to Hereford cattle, and did very well. On that pioneer farm John M. Winter spent his last days, his death occurring on April 10. 1902. To him and his wife were born three children, of whom the subject of this sketch is now the only survivor, the others having been Nancy, who died in infancy, and Catlin Goodman, who died at the age of twenty-six years. Mr. and Mrs. Winter, in October, 1883, took into their home as an adopted daughter a four-year-old girl, Madge Fay Walrath, who subsequently as- sumed the name of Winter. On October 2, 1901, she was married to John A. Boyd, and lives in Irving, this county, where Mr. Boyd is a farmer and also rural route mail carrier.
Burton M. Winter was but eight years of age when his parents came to this county and his schooling, which had been begun in the schools of Buffalo, was completed in the school in district No. 7, in the neighborhood of his new home in this county. He grew to manhood on the home farm and has lived there ever since, with the exception of one year spent in Arizona, in 1904. he having gone there seeking betterment of health through a change of climate. After the death of his father in 1902, Mr. Winter assumed charge of the old home farm and is now proprietor of the same, a fine tract of land, with his home on the original homestead "eighty" in Wells township, the remaining quarter section lying over the line in Bigelow township. Follow- ing his father's example Mr. Winter has continued the breeding of registered Hereford cattle and has a fine herd, now numbering thirty-four head, the products of his cattle barns being disposed of to special buyers and to large breeders, the reputation of the Winter herd having been well established throughout this part of the country ever since John M. Winter founded the herd on his farm in November. 1875. the foundation of that herd having been a registered Hereford heifer he bought at the Woodward sale on Elm creek, the original stock having been brought into this state from Ohio about 1872. John M. Winter continued breeding and had a large herd at the time of his death, his sales over this part of the state having done much during the years of his activity toward improving the strain of cattle in this section. In 1904 Burton M. Winter disposed of his herd and went to Arizona, but upon his 'return from there a year later renewed the herd and has ever since given close attention to the same. For several years and at the time the original Winter herd was sold in 1904, the famous "Theodore" was the head
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of the herd and since renewing his herd in 1905, Mr. Winter has had several notable sires, the present leader of his herd being "Simoon. No. 102857"; dam. "Lakeview Queen VIII, No. 204372." Former heads of his herd were "Go On VI. No. 219256": "Albert, No. 368527", from the William Acker herd, and "Sir Simoon XLVII, No. 451694". Mr. Winter has a splendid herd of Herefords, gets good prices for his stock and makes a proper profit on his sales.
On March 21, 1900, Burton M. Winter was united in marriage to Effie A. Young, who was born in Ohio on April 20, 1868, daughter of Albert and Mary J. (Bird) Young, the former a native of the state of New York and the latter of Ohio, who moved from the latter state to Minnesota in 1874 and thence, in 1876, to Kansas, locating at Frankfort, where Mr. Young became engaged as a stationary engineer. Ile formerly had been engaged as a locomotive engineer on the Rock Island railroad. His wife, who was born in December, 1845. died at her home in Frankfort on February 20, 1896, and the next year. 1897, he went to Arkansas, where he since has made his home. He was born on May 31. 1845. Mr. and Mrs. Winter have an adopted son, Donald Marshall, who was born on January 22, 1909. They attend the Presbyterian church and take a proper interest in the general social activities of the community in which they live. Mr. Winter is a member of the Farmers Union, of the Anti-Horse-Thief Association and of the American Hereford Breeders Association, in the affairs of which organizations he takes a warm and active interest.
HENRY BOTTGER.
Henry Bottger, the oldest resident of Vliets, former postmaster of that village, former justice of the peace in and for Noble township, owner of the elevators at Vliets, of which village he has been a resident practically ever since it was established and which, as a contracting carpenter, he did much to build up, is a native of Germany, but has lived in this country since he was seventeen years of age and is an honored veteran of the Civil War. He was born at Flensburg. the most populous city in Sleswick-Holstein. September 11, 1834. son of Jacob and Dora Bottger, natives of that same country, the former of whom was a millwright and miller and who spent all their lives in their native land, and there he received an excellent education in his boyhood. When seventeen years of age he came to the United States,
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arriving at the port of New York on May 28. 1852, and for two years thereafter worked in the city of Schnectady, New York, going thence to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he began working at the carpenter trade and which city he presently left, going to St. Louis, seeking work as a journey- man carpenter. Later he went to Kansas City, where he was offered work on condition that he accept city lots in part payment of his service. Kansas City lots at that time did not seem as valuable as they now are and he (leclined that offer, going thence to St. Joseph, where he worked a short time and then came over into Kansas and began working at his trade in Doniphan county, where he remained three years, at the end of which time he went to Andrew county, Missouri. where he began working as a car- penter and where, in 1860, he was married. Mr. Bottger was living in Missouri when the Civil War broke out and in the spring of 1861 upon the President's call for volunteers, he enrolled his name for the Missouri state Union service. In the fall of 1864 he enlisted as a member of Com- pany E, Eighteenth Regiment, Missouri Volunteer Infantry, and served with that command until he was honorably discharged in Mt. Pleasant hos- pital at Washington, D. C., in June, 1865. on a physician's certificate of physical disability. During his military service Mr. Bottger was attached to the Seventeenth Army Corps and was in numerous important battles, the last one of which was the battle of Bentonville, in North Carolina. Shortly after that engagement he was taken seriously ill and was transferred to the hospital at Washington, where he presently received his discharge, as noted above.
Upon the completion of his military service Mr. Bottger returned to St. Joseph, where he rejoined his wife and baby, and presently went back up into Andrew county, north of there, where he again engaged in con- struction work and was thus engaged until 1882, when he came over into Kansas and bought a farm of one hundred and forty-two acres, northwest of Vliets, in this county. Mr. Bottger improved that farm and lived on the same until 1894, when he moved to Vliets, later selling his farm, and in the village again resumed his old vocation of carpenter and builder, em- ploying quite a force of men and building many of the buildings in that vil- lage, including the school house and the elevators, as well as a row of houses which he owns, and has done very well in his operations. Mr. Bottger is a Republican and for some time after moving to Vliets served as postmaster of that village. He also has served as justice of the peace.
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