USA > Kansas > Nemaha County > History of Nemaha County, Kansas > Part 35
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91
George A. Shaul was born June 23, 1861, in Leland, La Salle county, Illinois, and is a son of Aaron and Olive (Near) Shaul, the former a native of New York, and the latter a native of Pennsylvania. Aaron Shaul was born in 1822, and died in February of 1895. He was a son of Mathias Shaul, a soldier of the War of 1812, and who received a land warrant from the government in recognition of his services in behalf of his country. His warrant called for a tract of land in La Salle county, Illinois, and he removed thither at a very early day. When Aaron Shaul was eight years of age he served as a "mule driver" on the Erie canal in New York State, and worked his way upward to the position of boat
GEORGE A. SHAUL.
349
HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY
captain. He immigrated to Illinois, and in 1874, he came west to Ne- maha county, Kansas, where he made a permanent settlement on a farm near Seneca. The first year of the residence of the Shaul family in Kansas was the famous "grasshopper year." George A. Shaul was thirteen years of age at this time, and he recalls this trying time very vividly. He was sent out to herd cattle for S. B. Leatherbury on the Nebraska line range. He was watching his herds out on the hills when the grasshoppers came with the wind driving them with such force and deafening noise south and west as to stampede the cattle and fright- ened the boy. Four sons and three daughters were born to Aaron Shaul and wife, namely: Frances, who died in infancy ; William, died at the age of five years ; John went to California in 1871. and has never been heard from since his departure; George A., the subject of this review; Mrs. Hattie Miller. Los Angeles, Cal .: Mrs. Henrietta Moores, Omaha, Neb .; Mrs. Ida L. Richardson, Lafayette, Ind. Mrs. Olive (Near) Shaul was born in 1827, and died in September, 1895. Her mother was a Miss Lee, of the famous Lee family, of Virginia. It is a matter of history that the oak from which the good ship "Constitution" was built was cut from the farm of Mrs. Shaul's grandfather Lee and hauled by ox team to Boston, ready for shaping into seaworthy timbers.
George A. Shaul assisted his father in tilling his Kansas farm until he was twenty-one years of age, and then crossed the continent to Cali- fornia, where he learned the trade of bricklayer and plasterer. Upon his return to Kansas he began contracting in a small way during this first year and gradually worked up to a large business. In the course of years Mr. Shaul became an extensive contractor, whose operations extended in all parts of the West. Becoming dissatisfied with the manner in which general contracting was carried on and the methods employed by some of his fellow contractors becoming decidedly distasteful to him, he made up his mind to abandon his contract work for the general pub- lic and devote his attention to government building.
This radical departure was not taken until he had given consider- able thought to the matter of making a change and weighed the con- sequences. He finally decided that government work offered the best and most satisfactory field in which to exercise his talents and genius as a builder, and he made the plunge. During the past four years in which he has been engaged in erecting government buildings, Mr. Shaul has never found occasion to regret the change, and has received better and fairer treatment from his employers and has earned more money than ever before. His first government job was the erection of the postoffice building at Abilene, Kans., in 1912, and he is now erecting buildings at Garden City, Kans., Webb City, Mo., and Long View, Texas. He has erected the following government buildings, which are notable: Abilene, at a cost of $65,000; Garden City, Kans., $60,000; Webb City, Mo., $65,000 ; Long view, Texas, $45.000. Others completed are the government buildings at Clarksville, Texas, costing $45,000;
350
HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY
Marshall, Texas, $65,000, and he has built county court houses at Dodge City, Kans., and Broken Bow and Minden, Neb. Mr. Shaul has erected ten large public buildings in Nebraska, the annex to the Lincoln hotel, Lincoln, Neb .; remodeled the old city hall and postoffice at Lincoln, Neb .; erected the Carnegie Library at Lawrence, Kans., and has erected many school buildings throughout Kansas and Nebraska.
Mr. Shaul was married in 1900 to Miss Fannie Bennett, of Seneca. Mrs. Shaul was born in Illinois and taught school in Nemaha county, Kansas, for a number of years previous to her marriage with Mr. Shaul. They have no children.
The Republican party claimed the allegiance of Mr. Shaul for a number of years, and his father before him was one of the original Lin- coln men. Of late years Mr. Shaul has become a great student and reader and become an independent thinker on public questions ; likewise he has become an independent voter and is an admirer and supporter of Woodrow Wilson. He and Mrs. Shaul are members of the Universalist church. He is fraternally allied with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and is a Knight Templar, and belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. George A. Shaul is a courteous and able gentleman of the old school, whom time has matured and whose mind and breadth of vision have been greatly broadened by his nation-wide contact with his fellow men. He is a decided asset to the citizenship of Seneca and is proud of the fact that he is a Kansas pioneer and has grown up with this great State.
Edward R. Murphy .- The life story of Edward R. Murphy, retired pioneer and wealthy citizen of Nemaha county, is well worth recording in the annals of this county. A resident of Kansas since 1868, he has accomplished more in the last fifty years than the average man-and has risen to a high place in the esteem and respect of his fellow men. Kan- sas spelled "opportunity" for this patriarch in his younger days, and the wonderfully rich soil of the Sunflower State became the medium through which Mr. Murphy realized his dream of wealth and substance in the West. Besides the accumulation of a fortune from tilling the soil of his adopted State, he has bequeathed to his country a fine family of children.
Edward R. Murphy, farmer and banker, Seneca, Kans .. was born in the province of Ontario, Canada, November II, 1840, and is a son of Michael (born in 1815 and died in 1885) and Ellen (Tobin) Murphy (born in 1823 and died in 1880), both of whom were natives of Ireland. Michael Murphy emigrated from the Emerald Isle with his parents in 1823, when he was eight years old, and grew up to become a tiller of the soil. He married Ellen Tobin in Canada and resided in his adopted land until 1853. then moved to Iowa, where he lived until 1868, at which time he came to Kansas and lived one year in Nemaha county, and then moved to Richardson county, Nebraska, where he died. Michael and Ellen Murphy were the parents of the following children: Edward R .. the
351
HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY
subject of this review; Mary Jane, died at Falls City, Neb .; Thomas, died at Falls City, Neb .; James, Oklahoma ; Ellen, wife of John Draney, Seneca, Kans .; John, Oklahoma; Patrick, Falls City, Neb .: Robert, Falls City, Neb .; Elizabeth, wife of Jeremiah Kanaly, Falls City, Neb. ; Mrs. Margaret Kanaly, Oklahoma; Michael, Oklahoma City, Okla .; William, died at Falls City, Neb.
Edward R. Murphy left his Canadian home and migrated to Iowa in 1853, first locating at Davenport, where he was employed until the spring of 1854, and he then removed to a farm in Clinton county, Iowa, which he cultivated with success until 1868.
"Commodore" Murphy, as he is affectionately called by all of his friends and acquaintances, has a notable war record to hand down to his children and grandchildren. Mr. Murphy enlisted in the United States navy in July, 1863, and served on the United States steamer "Peosta," which crusied on the Mississippi, Ohio, Cumberland and Tennessee rivers until the close of the Civil war.
After the war, Mr. Murphy returned to his home in Clinton county, Iowa, and was there married in 1866. Two years later he re- moved to Nemaha county, Kansas, and settled on a farm, one and one- half miles west of Seneca. This farm was partly broken up, and Mr. Murphy lived upon it for one year and then resided four years on the adjoining farm, at that time the county farm. In 1873, he was enabled to purchase 160 acres of land southeast of Seneca. His prosperity began with the purchase of this tract, and this fine old pioneer eventually became a large land owner and one of the wealthiest citizens of Nemaha county and northern Kansas. He added to his acreage until he owned 1,400 acres of land, from which he has sold 280 acres, but still owns 120 acres of the original home farm. He is the owner of 200 acres of land in Pottawatomie county, Kansas, and formerly owned more land, upon which he settled two of his sons and gave them a start in life. Mr. Murphy attributes his great success in farming to the fact that he never sold any grain raised on his land, but fed and handled large numbers of cattle and hogs. He would buy calves from other farmers and raise and fatten them for market. He was also an extensive breeder of horses and . mnles and used high grade sires in this department of animal husbandry. His favorite breed of cattle was the famous Shorthorn variety, and his horses were generally the standard Percherons. Mr. Murphy retired from active farm work in 1903 and lives comfortably in his beautiful residence in Seneca, cared for by his daughter, Ella Marion.
Mr. Murphy was married in 1866 to Catharine Kelly, who bore him the following children: Roger, born November 11, 1868, living in To- peka, Kans .: Ella Marion, born February 16, 1870; Elizabeth, born Oc- tober 4, 1871, wife of A. E. Levick, Seneca, Kans .; Thomas, born Feb- ruary 13, 1875, living at Wamego, Kans,; Ralph J., born September 9. 1877, living in Oklahoma; Therese, born May 18, 1879, and wife of John R. Sheahan, Kansas City, Kans .; Edward R., born March 9, 1883. Mr.
352
HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY
Murphy has fifteen grandchildren. His son, Roger, has the following children: Edward Alvin, member of Company K, Eighth infantry, United States army, and stationed in the Philippines; Paul, Roger, Helen, Agnes, Eva; Mrs. Levick has four children, namely: Edward, Harry, John and Caroline; Thomas Murphy has three children, Ralph, Herbert and Harry; Ralph has one son, Thomas; Edward has a daugh- ter named Mary Bernice. The mother of these children was born in Jennings county, Indiana, near Vernon, December 25, 1843, and died Sep- tember 8, 1895.
The Democratic party has always had the allegiance of Mr. Murphy, but he has been content to be a voter in the ranks during his long life. He is a member of Sts. Peter and Paul's Catholic Church, and is affili- ated with the Knights of Columbus. Mr. Murphy is the colonel com- manding or post commander of George Graham Post, Grand Army of the Republic. No. 92, and is a prominent figure in Grand Army of the Republic circle of the State of Kansas. In addition to his large land holdings, Mr. Murphy is a charter member of the stockholders and a director of the National Bank of Seneca.
L. D. Allen .- Successful banking calls for qualifications somewhat different from those required in other pursuits or professions. It calls for a keen mind, decisive action, ability to accurately judge the merits or demerits of a proposition, the power to judge and gauge human nature and determine upon the honesty and sincerity of those with whom the banker is constantly doing business. L. D. Allen, vice-president and manager of the First National Bank of Seneca, possesses the qualifica- tions of a successful banker to a considerable degree. He is one of the rising financiers of Kansas, and his prestige in financial circles is con- siderable. He is one of those broad minded individuals who keep abreast of progress and have the faculty of adapting their capabilities to the advanced needs of this modern era. Although a comparatively young man, as years measure a man's age, his experience in banking has been such as to eminently fit him for the important position which he holds.
Liphe D. Allen was born on a farm in Pottawatomie county, Kan- sas, August 3. 1871, and is a son of John U. and Martha J. (Rollins) Allen, who were the parents of the following children: Rowland and Mattie died in infancy ; William W. died at Havensville, Kans .; Charles H., living at Havensville, Kans .; Mrs. Mary A. Dennan, Seneca, Kans. John U. Allen was born at Boston, Mass., August 16, 1833, and was a son of William W. and Mary B. (Ulmar) Allen. He is descended from the Allen family of New England, and William W. Allen was a relative of Ethan Allen, of Vermont, who commanded the "Green Mountain Boys" at the battles and capture of Ticonderoga and Crown Point dur- ing the American Revolution. Mary B. (Ulmar) Allen was a daughter of Jacob Ulmar, born in Holland, and who fought in defense of the Netherlands against the Spanish conquerers, and was taken prisoner.
353
HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY
His wife, Mary (Blass) Ulmar, sent the money for his later ransom from this country. Mary (Blass) Ulmar, a lady of Welsh descent, was a member of the party of patriotic women who burned the bridge at Mar- blehead, Mass., in order to prevent the British from making a landing during the Revolution. John U. Allen's father, William W. Allen, con- ducted a boot and shoe store in Boston, Mass., and John U. became a leather dresser in his native city. William Allen served as an alderman on the Boston town council. After his marriage, March 22, 1855. John U. Allen lived in Boston for a time, and then located at Jamaica Plains. In 1862, he enlisted in the Ninth Massachusetts artillery, and served for nearly one year, receiving his discharge just previous to the battle of Gettysburg on account of disability incurred during his service in defense of the city of Washington, D. C. In March of 1870, he re- moved to Kansas and for a time was located at Topeka. Not long af- terward he located on a tract of land near Havensville, Pottawatomie county, which he developed into a fine farm. He resided on his farm until he became afflicted with blindness, in 1901, and in November of that year he retired to a residence at Havensville, where his demise occurred on January 2, 1913. John U. Allen was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and was a Mason.
Mrs. Martha J. (Rollins) Allen now resides with her daughter, Mrs. Dennan, in Seneca, Kans. She was born March 23, 1838, and is a daugh- ter of William S. and Abigail (Wheeler) Rollins, of English descent. The Rollins (originally Rawlins) is a very old American family, and the name "Rawlins" traces back to the year of our Lord 1363. Cornwall, England, is the ancient home of the family in Europe, and the emigra- tion of the members of this family begins with the year 1630; during the period between 1630 and 1680, ten members of the family made set- tlements in America ; some settled in the northern colonies and others setled in the south. During the next decade at least ten more members of this family came to America, and their descendants are many in this country. The members of the family who settled in the north changed the name to "Rollins" at the time of the Revolution, and it has remained "Rollins" to this day. Tracing the genealogy of L. D. Allen on the ma- ternal side in a direct line we find that: (I) James Rawlins came from England and settled at Ipswich, Mass., in 1632. Later, in 1844, he re- ceived a grant of land at Dover. N. H., settled thereon and died in 1691. His son (II) Thomas, born in 1641, married Rachel Cox, and was a member of the rebelling assembly which protested the acts of an oppres- sive governor and was dissolved; was the father of ten children, of whom (III) Moses, born in 1672, at Strathan, N. H., married Esther. and died in 1717, and had nine children; (IV) Thomas (his son), born February 17. 1717, at Strathan, N. H., settled at Epping, N. H., and married Sarah, daughter of Capt. Jonathan and Elizabeth (Sherbun) Sanborn, who bore him six children, of whom (\') Moses, born March IO, 1744, at Epping, N. H., married Anna Drew, of Madbury, N. H., (23)
354
HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY
and was a soldier in the Continenal army, fought in the Third New York regiment under General Sullivan at Ticonderoga in 1776, and in Gen. George Breeds' regiment in 1777; removed to Hallowell, Me., and died in 1824; had eleven children, of whom (VI) Jonathan, born October 1786, at Loudon, N. H., and died January 1, 1819, at Hallowell, Me .; moved from Loudon to Barnstad and married Clarissa, daughter of John Langley, of Barrington, N. H .; had two children, of whom (VII) William Stillson, born at Strafford, N. H., April 12, 1813, located at Rutland, N. H .; married Abigail B. Wheeler, of Rutland; removed to Charlestown, Mass .; had three children, as follows: Martha Jane (Allen), Mary Ann (Gilman), and Charles Henry.
L. D. Allen was reared to young manhood on the Kansas farm, and was educated in the Havensville, Kans., public schools. When he was twenty years of age he clerked in a hardware store for one year. His banking career was then begun, when he entered the Havensville bank as clerk and rose to the position of assistant cashier. In 1897, he re- moved to Goff, Kans., and became cashier of the State Bank of that city. He later organized the First National Bank of Goff, and served as president of that institution until 1906. Disposing of his banking interests in Goff, he removed to Seneca, where he became associated with J. E. Stillwell in conducting a loan and abstract business. In 1912, he and Mr. Stillwell purchased the holdings of the late J. H. Cohen in the First National Bank of Seneca and the Seneca State Savings Bank. Mr. Allen is serving as vice-president and manager of the First National Bank, and is cashier of the State Savings Bank, quartered in the First National Bank building.
In addition to his banking interests, Mr. Allen is an extensive owner of Kansas farm lands, all of his farms being located in Nemaha county.
Mr. Allen was married in 1895 to Miss Rosina Goodrich, who has borne him five children, as follows; Paul J., Mary, Ulmar, Charles L. D. and John H. Mrs. Allen was born at Farmington, Atchison county, Kansas, and is a daughter of Judson and Amelia Goodrich, early pioneer settlers of Atchison county. She is a well educated lady and received a classical and musical education at Holton University. For some years previous to her marriage, Mrs. Allen was a teacher of vocal music, and is endowed with exceptional musical talents. The Goodrich family now resides at Holton.
Mr. Allen is a progressive Republican, who maintains his allegiance to the party of Abraham Lincoln while working for the advancement and success of progressive principles within the ranks of his political party. He is interested in civic affairs, and assists materially in fur- thering the cause of education by serving as a member and chairman of the Seneca Board of Education. He and Mrs. Allen are members of the Christian church, and Mr. Allen is affiliated with the Knights and Ladies of Security.
As a business man and financier, Mr. Allen has made his mark in
355
.
HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY
the world of finance, and while still young in years and strength, he has won his way to a place of honor and prestige mainly through his own efforts. It is safe to predict further advancement for this native born Kansan, who has literally grown up with Kansas. One of the in- cidents of Mr. Allen's early life which impressed itself upon his memory for all time to come was his view of the first steam railway train to arrive at Corning, Kans., and which brought his grandmother from her faraway home in Boston, Mass. He has had the unique experience of riding in a "prairie schooner," lived on a pioneer farm, and was reared amid the most primitive surroundings.
Leo J. Scheier .- Among men in Seneca's financial circles, Leo J. Scheier ranks well and is second assistant cashier of the National Bank of Seneca. He stands high in business circles, and is known every- where as a conservative and capable banking man.
Mr. Scheier was born March 17, 1886, in Seneca, Kans. He is a son of Peter W. and Catharine ( Etringer) Scheier, to whom three children were born: Edward, of Chicago; Mary, living at home, and Leo J., wlic is the subject of this narrative. The father of Leo. J. Scheier was born February 22, 1850, of German immigrants, who settled in Illinois. His parents were Mathias and Louise Scheier. Catherine Scheier was born June 6, 1850, and died in 1902. She was the daughter of natives of Alsace-Lorraine, the provinces of which have played so great a part in the European war. She came to America with her parents and settled in Illinois, where she was married to Peter Scheier.
Leo J. Scheier's parents came to Nemaha county, Kansas, in the early seventies and settled on a farm one mile west of town. They brought their parents with them and Mathias bought the farm on which his son, M. F. Scheier, an uncle of Leo J., now resides. After a year or two on the farm, Peter moved to Seneca and lived in town while farm- ing nearby land. He is now retired.
Leo J. Scheier was educated in the parochial school of Seneca. Kans., and later attended St. Benedict's College at Atchison, Kans., where he took classical work. Poor health forced him to take a com- plete rest in 1905 and after a year's recuperation, he entered the Seneca State Savings Bank as cashier, where he remained four and one-half years. In January, 1912, he was called to the National Bank of Seneca, Kans., to become its second assistant cashier, and has since been acting in that capacity.
In politics, Mr. Scheier is an independent Democratic voter, who 'is not to be stampeded into voting an unfit man into office because he wears the party label Mr. Scheier is a thinking man and in political matters prefers to do his own thinking. He belongs to the Sts. Peter and Paul's Church and to the Knights of Columbus order. He is also affiliated with the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association and the Knights and Ladies of Security. He is chancellor of the Knights of Columbus, Seneca Council, No. 1769.
3,56
HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY
Mathias Schneider, president of the Seneca Savings Bank, is one man whose natural handicaps were not strong enough to overpower his strong ambition, and the fact that he was born in a foreign land and of poor parents has not prevented him from occupying one of the most re- sponsible places in the business affairs of Nemaha county.
Mathias Schneider was born August 21, 1839, in Prussia, German Empire, and was a son of Peter and Anna Maria (Meier) Schneider. The father, Peter Schneider, was born in Prussia, in 1799, and grew up to follow the occupation of farming. Leaving his native land in 1845, he sailed for America, and upon his arrival here, came to Milwaukee, Wis. He bought a farm near that place, in Waukesha county, and con- ducted it until his death in 1903. The mother of Mathias Schneider was born in Prussia, in 1799, and died in 1907. Both were members of the Catholic church. They were the parents of five children: Adolph, deceased : Anton, deceased; Mrs. Margaret Wright, deceased ; Anna Maria (Wright), deceased, and Mathias.
Mathias Schneider left Germany with parents, and after coming to America, he remained with them until he was twenty-nine years of age. He then went to Salem, Neb., where he bought 340 acres of fine farming land. He sold this land in 1880, and bought eighty acres near St. Benedict, Richmond township, Nemaha county, Kansas. In 1892, he sold this land in order to buy the place which he now owns, which comprises 640 acres of the best land in the township, east of Seneca. Mr. Schneider has been an excellent manager, and from the successful operation of his farm he has accumulated a considerable fortune. His general reputation for shrewd and conservative business methods led to his election as president of the Seneca Savings Bank when it was or- ganized. ' His career was so conspicuously successful as to make him the most available man for the place, and consequently he was chosen as the first president of the organization, whose duty it was to start the bank out on its career. He is also a shareholder in the corporation and invested a considerable sum in the project. The success of this in- stitution is testimony to the ability of Mr. Schneider and justifies the confidence which his fellow citizens placed in him.
He was married in 1865 to Elizabeth Birkhauser, who was born May 23, 1842, in Germany, and left there with her parents and came to Wisconsin while she was a young girl. She died in 1879, having been the mother of eight children, whose names are: Peter A., Mitchell township; Anna A., married Henry Stallbaumer, now a widow living with her children; Jennie, wife of Henry Koelzer, living in Missouri ; Elizabeth, now Mrs. Peter Joseph Koelzer, whose husband is a lumber- man, of Seneca, Kans .; Gertrude, wife of Peter Smith, Seneca, Kans .; Karl M., Richmond township, farmer.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.