USA > Kansas > Nemaha County > History of Nemaha County, Kansas > Part 53
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Mr. Reed was married in 1869 to Sarah E. Hon, who has borne him twelve children, as follows: Dr. George D., a practicing physician at Williamsburg, Franklin county, Kansas ; William W., a farmer in Texas; Omer, who is engaged in the hardware and lumber business at Casso- day, in Butler county, Kansas; Mrs. Emma L. Mulliken, a widow at Columbus, Kans., whose former husband was superintendent of the Cherokee county schools, and who won the gold medal in a State oratorical contest ; Frances A. Cordon, living on a farm in Reilly town- ship ; Josephus, in the hardware and lumber business at Cassoday, But- ler county, Kansas; Marguerite, a music teacher in California : Mrs. Nannie Rings, whose husband is an automobile man at Kansas City, Mo .; Wallace W., engaged in the hardware business in California; Thomas L., farming the home place, a graduate of the State Agricul- tural College at Manhattan (1913), and a successful farmer.
The mother of this large family of children was born in Kentucky August 19, 1850, and is a daughter of Daniel and Margaret (Coons) Hon, of Kentucky. Daniel Hon was born February 6, 1829, and died in his native State, September 3, 1894. He was an elder of the Christian church. Margaret, his wife, was born January 31, 1833, and still lives in Gallatin county, Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Hon were the parents of the following children: Sarah E., wife of the subject of this review; John, born April 29, 1853, a farmer in Kentucky ; Peter, born November 3. 1854, a farmer in Kentucky; Leila, deceased; Mrs. Lucetta Spencer, born September 7, 1859. living in Kentucky; Elijah, born July 8, 1864, a farmer in Kentucky; Joseph, born March 12, 1866, a member of the Butler Manufacturing Company, of Kansas City, Mo .; Mrs. Margaret Beall, born September 13, 1869, Kentucky ; Daniel, born April 26, 1873. and lives at Metcalf, Ill .; Mrs. Pearl Hendricks, born February 9, 1876, living on a farm in Kentucky.
ยท Mr. Reed is allied with the Democratic party and has held several township offices, among them being that of school director, which he has held for twenty-five years. He and Mrs. Reed are members of the Christian church and contribute of their means to the support of this denomination. He is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. He is a director of the State Bank of Soldier, Kans., and is a director of the Cassoday State Bank.
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HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY
Joseph Rettele .- Joseph Rettele, prosperous farmer and stockman, of Richmond township, was born March 22, 1856, at Manitowoc, Wis., and is a son of Louis and Mary Magdalena (Koelzer) Rettele. who were the parents of four children, as follows: William, deceased; Joseph, the subject of this review; Mrs. Mary M. Kongs, living with her children in Nemaha county ; Peter J., residing on a farm south of Kelly, Kans. Louis Rettele was born in Baden, Germany, August 26, 1826, and when eight years old immigrated with his parents to America, the family set- tling in Wisconsin. Louis Rettele was reared to young manhood in Wisconsin and worked out as a farm hand until 1867. He then mi- grated to Nemaha county with his wife and family and bought 240 acres of land in Richmond township. The family came by railroad to East Atchison, Mo., and were ferried across the Missouri river to Atchison, where they boarded a train which took them to Centralia, there being no steam railroad at that time through Seneca. The family walked from Centralia to Seneca. The lumber which was used in building of the new home was hauled from Centralia by wagon. In time Louis Rettele became well-to-do and added more land to his original farm. He died April 12, 1899. The mother of Joseph Rettele was born in the Rhine province, Germany, August 15, 1830, and. died in 1881.
Joseph Rettele was eight years of age when the family settled in Nemaha county. He remembers many of the incidents of those early days and recalls vividly the hardships which the Rettele family were compelled to endure.
As a sturdy boy he helped his father break up the prairie sod on his land and recalls that during their first year in Kansas they paid $100 for a wheat crop of twenty acres which yielded but twenty-five bushels of wheat, all told. The drought and "hoppers" took the crops. During the years of 1869 and 1870 the grasshoppers were so thick that the sun was clonded and obscured by the dense masses of the pests, and so dis- couraged was his father that if any one had come along and made him an offer for his land, he would have accepted it and left Kansas forever. However, the family money was all invested, locations were not easily found so suitable as the one they had, and they decided to "stick it out" and prosperity eventually smiled upon them. Joseph Rettele re- mained with his father and mother until their respective deaths, and he then became heir to 120 acres of land, which, added to 80 acres which had been previously deeded him, made a fine farm of 200 acres. He has spent several thousand dollars in making substantial and attractive im- provements and has always been a hard and diligent worker, never spending much money for pleasure and luxuries. Mr. Rettele's sole aim in life has been to provide a comfortable home and substance for his family-and in this he has succeeded.
Joseph Rettele was married in 1879 to Miss Mary A. Stein, born January 8, 1862, at St. Benedict's, Kans., and a daughter of Mathias and Elizabeth Stein, concerning whose lives the reader is referred to the
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sketch of Peter Stein, a brother of Mrs. Rettele. Nine children have been born to Joseph and Mary A. Rettele, as follows: Louis and William, farming land in Richmond township; Peter A., a farmer in Clear Creek township; Mrs. Elizabeth Haeffler, living near Paola, Kans .; Mrs. Anna Engelken, Mitchell township; Frank, deceased; Benedict, Kathrine, and Alphonse, at home with their parents.
Mr. Rettele is a Democrat but is inclined to be independent in his voting and does not wear the party yoke. He filled the post of clerk of his township. All of the Rettele family are loyal members of the Cath- olic church.
John Gress .- John Gress is one of those industrious and energetic citizens, who, though born under another flag, have since come to America and become loyal citizens and have taken their place among the substantial men of every community. He is one of the most suc- cessful farmers and stockmen in Richmond township and has been a man of good judgment in all his undertakings.
Mr. Gress was born in Bavaria, Germany, on September 1, 1860, and is a son of George and Marguerite (Saalmueller) Gress. The father was born January 2, 1809, in the province of Bavaria, where he lived until 1879, when he gave up struggling in his native land and set his eyes and hopes toward America. Arriving in this great land, he came to Wetmore, Kans., and lived with George Pfrang, a son-in- law, until John Gress, his son, rented a farm and cared for him and his mother until the father's death in 1889, which ended a long and industr- ious life. The mother was born October 22, 1822, and died in 1896, in Kansas City, after a short illness. She came to America the year after her husband came, as he had brought John and a daughter only with him on his journey. After reaching America and locating a home, George Gress sent for his wife. Ten children were born to this happy union, seven of whom are still living.
John Gress attended the primary schools of his native land where he familiarized himself with the rudiments of a practical education, then at an early age, he started out to work by the month. Though he was young and inexperienced, he was undaunted and his pluck and indus- triousness won him many friends. After four years of hard work as a farm hand, he rented farm land and made a home for his parents, who kept house for him. In 1895 he bought the eighty acre farm in Rich- mond township which he now tills and later bought additional land at various times until he now owns 287 acres of the best farming land in Nemaha county; Kansas. During his tenure, he has built a comfortable and substantial house on the place and has made all manner of improve- ments, including two barns which are well built. Mr. Gress takes espe- cial interest in stock and is a breeder of Poland China hogs which are of the highest breed. He pays much attention to his hogs and they bring him fancy prices which well repay him for his trouble.
He was united in marriage to Barbarba Martin on March 3. 1886.
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Mrs. Gress, a daughter of Valentine and Barbara Martin, was born June 3, 1865, in Bavaria, and left her native land in 1872, coming with her parents to Nemaha county, Kansas, where they farmed for many years. To this happy union nine children were born whose names are: Anna, Mt. St. Scholastica's-Sister Mercedes-O. S. B., Convent, Atchi- son ; Helen, now Mrs. Jos. B. Kramer, Nemaha county ; George, a farmer in Mitchell township, Nemaha county; Lawrence, Center township; Joseph, a farm hand; Leo, Aloysius, Wilfred, and John, living at home.
Mr. Gress is a devout member of the Catholic church. He is affil- iated with the Democratic party and takes an interest in political mat- ters, especially those of a local nature. He was at one time road over- seer of Richmond township and administered the functions of his office to the satisfaction of those who elected him. Mr. Gress has been a successful farmer and is a valuable member of his community.
Albert Swartz .- The career of Albert Swartz, pioneer settler, for- mer county official and extensive stockman of Reilly township, is an epi- tome of individual success which ranks far above the average of Kansas farmers. The large holdings of Mr. Swartz in Nemaha county will ex- ceed 1,400 acres of farm and grazing lands. The Swartz farming oper- ations are carried on, on an extensive scale and require the assistance of five hired farmhands to assist him in the management of the farm. The home farm of the family is well improved with a handsome nine-room residence fitted up with water and lighting systems and modern in every respect. An immense barn flanks the home and stands out on the land- scape. This barn is 60x80 feet in dimensions and required a total of 56,000 shingles for the roofing. It is also protected by five lightning rods. Two large silos are kept filled with green forage for winter feeding. The Swartz place also boasts a five-acre fruit orchard and is one of the best kept and finest equipped farming plants in Kansas. Mr. Swartz maintains a total of fifty head of horses, thirty-five of which are required to do the farm work. He is a breeder of Holstein cattle and keeps fifteen head of pure- breds on the farm. An itemizing of the livestock on the Swartz farm shows that there are sixty head of high-grade Durham cows, 300 head of Duroc Jersey hogs, and 160 head of prime steers fattening for the mar- kets. Forty acres of this farm are sown to alfalfa. The parents of Albert Swartz were Henry and Mary (Shumaker) Swartz, pioneer settlers of Nemaha county, whose biographies follow :
Henry Swartz, father of Albert, was born in Germany in 1831, and began making his own way in his native land when seventeen years old. When he became of age he immigrated to America, in 1854. For a short time he made a living in New York by woodchopping and went from that State to Indiana, where he followed railroad work until 1865. This was the date of his migration to Nemaha county, Kansas, where he invested in a quarter section of land, upon which he resided until his death in 1908. Henry Swartz was a forehanded and industrious man who worked hard
HENRY SWARTZ.
MRS. HENRY SWARTZ.
ALBERT SWARTZ.
MRS. ALBERT SWARTZ.
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HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY
all of his days and lived to sce each and every member of his family well provided for and prosperous. He bequeathed to his adopted country a fine family of sons and daughters and accumulated a fortune in land and money during the forty or more years which he spent in Nemaha county. He was an extensive cattle raiser and feeder who believed thoroughly in the business of raising cattle for market. He accumulated over 1,000 acres of land during his remarkable career in Kansas. He was a Demo- crat and a member of the Lutheran church. Mr. Swartz was accompanied on the voyage across the Atlantic by his intended wife, Mary Shumaker, whom he espoused in wedlock upon his arrival at New York City. Eight children were born to this marriage, as follows: Mrs. Anna Bremer, a widow, living at Colorado Springs, Col .; Mrs. Edith Smith, Soldier, Kans .; Albert, subject of this review; Henry, proprietor of the electric light plant at Valley Falls, Kans. ; William died at the age of thirty years ; Mrs. Minnie Lynn, Soldier, Kans., and two children who died in infancy. The mother of the foregoing children was born in 1830 and died April I, 1907.
Albert Swartz was born in Indiana, May 2, 1860, was reared to young manhood in Nemaha county, Kansas, and received his education in a pioneer log school house. He rented a half section of land from his father when he became of age and four years later he purchased 160 acres in Reilly township, which he farmed until his father's demise. He then bought the Swartz home place from the heirs and has improved it con- siderably. He has continued to buy land until he owns 1,430 acres in all, thirty acres of which is located in Florida. Mr. Swartz was married April 1, 1883 to Anna Cline, who has borne him children as follows : Mary, born April 19, 1884; Nora, born March 13, 1886, and living at St. Joseph, Mo .; Louis A., born in 1891, a farmer, living in Nemaha county ; Francis H., born June 28, 1898, and Lawrence L., born August 17, 1900. The mother of these children was born in Illinois, August 25, 1859, and is a daughter of Patrick and Bridget (Reilly) Cline, natives of Ireland. Pat- rick Cline was born in 1839 and immigrated to America in 1855. He settled on a farm in Illinois and resided there until 1865, at which time he came to Kansas and purchased a farm of 160 acres on Coal creek, in Nemaha county, where he lived until his death, in 1903. His wife, Bridget, was born in 1830 and bore him eight children, namely : Anna, wife of Al- bert Swartz; Mrs. Jennie McNeill. Corning, Kans .; William, a farmer, living at Seneca, Kans .; Mrs. Rosa McNally, Oklahoma ; Mrs. Josephine McDonald, Wyoming ; John E., a farmer, living on Coal creek, Kansas ; Mrs. Katie Girest, Los Angeles, Cal. Mr. and Mrs. Cline are devout Catholics.
Mr. Swartz has been a lifelong Democrat and is prominent in the affairs of his party in Nemaha county. He is treasurer of the local school board and has served several terms as township trustee. He has filled the post of county commissioner for two years and is a member of the Farmers' Union, of which he was one of the organizers.
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HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY
Frank F. Krapp .- In all parts of the United States are men who are prominent in their communities, who have reached their positions of eminence through long years of laborious effort, filled with stubborn ob- stacles which have been overcome by sheer grit. Numerous among this worthy class are those citizens who were born under another flag and who have come to America in the hope of finding free opportunity and an equal chance with all others. All of us know many such men, some more conspicuous than others, but all deserving of the highest honor and praise. One of these men is Frank F. Krapp, who for years has lived in Richmond township where he has been remarkably successful in his vocation as a farmer and stockman. He was born in Oldenburg, Germany, March 26, 1861, His parents were Arnold A. and Catharine (Boche) Krapp. The father was born in Germany in 1810 and farmed until the year of his death, 1867. The mother was born in 1820 and died in 1865. To this union eight children were born, five of whom are liv- ing.
Frank F. Krapp attended school in his native land and worked there until 1890, when he sailed for America and came directly to Nemaha county, Kansas. He brought one thousand dollars with him as capital, but as he was new in this country and was unfamiliar with conditions here, he wisely worked out as a farm hand for several months while he was acquainting himself with the prospects and the conditions in Nemaha county. At the end of eight months he had formulated his ideas about property values and was ready to consider buying a farm. After careful investigation he bought 240 acres in Richmond township, which proved to be an excellent investment. It rapidly increased in value and in 1902 he sold it at a higher figure than was paid for it orig- inally. He then bought the farm of four hundred acres which he now owns. It is located three-quarters of a mile east of Seneca, Kans., and is one of the most attractive places in the township. He built one of the finest modern houses in the county and it is equipped with all the modern conveniences which are regarded as so essential to comfort in the modern farmhouse. The house is painted yellow and is set in a spa- cious yard which is dotted with evergreen trees which give a most pleasing effect. The farm yard is extensive and is equipped with large barns, silo, and all other modern improvements. Mr. Krapp makes it his policy not to spare expense when labor-saving machinery or appli- ances can be installed. The watchword of his place is efficiency and he takes as much care to eliminate out-worn methods of doing things as the manager of a large business house does. In addition to his farming, Mr. Krapp is also an extensive stock raiser. He is a breeder of fine Shorthorn cattle and is now feeding 140 head of hogs. These activities are an important addition to the work of the farm and Mr. Krapp has installed modern equipment for the handling of this feeding.
In 1891 he was married to Lizzie Kramer, who was born July 23, 1872. in Oldenburg, Germany, but who left there in 1888 with her par-
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ents, John Henry and Bernardine (Arling) Kramer. Eight children have been born to this happy union: Mrs. Polly Boeding, Richmond township; Joseph, living at home; Theodora, Sister Alphonsina, in con- vent at Atchison, Kans .; Alphonso, student at St. Benedict's College, Atchison, Kans .; Lawrence, Mary, Rosa, and Aloysius, living with their parents.
Mr. Krapp is a believer in the Catholic faith and is highly respected in his neighborhood for his upright and honorable life. He is a Demo- cratic voter and takes an active part in the public life of Richmond township. He also belongs to the Farmers' Union, in which he is an influential member.
John Wempe .- John Wempe, of Seneca, Kans., is one of the most substantial business men and stock buyers of Nemaha county. He is active in all business affairs of Seneca and is a large dealer in horses and mules.
Mr. Wempe was born January 4, 1876, in Brown county, Kansas, and was the son of Clements and Agnes (Deiker) Wempe. For further details, the reader is referred to the history of Anton Wempe, an uncle of John, whose life story is written elsewhere in this volume.
John Wempe attended the district school in Brown county and later went to the public school at Seneca. In 1887 he matriculated in Campbell University, at Holton, where he took a commercial course. After the completion of his education, he returned to the farm until he was twenty-two years old when he engaged in business in Seneca, Kans. His first venture was into the coal and ice business and later he became a furniture dealer. In both of these lines he met with unusual success. However, he saw greater opportunities in stock dealing and accordingly went into that business, which later years have shown to be a wise selection. In 1911 he built the present barn at a cost of $3,000. This is a commodious affair, 66x58 feet in size and capable of holding 80 head of stock. This is fitted with the most modern conveniences and appliances. His residence is a very attractive one, made of stucco and was built in 1913. It is modern throughout and is artistically situated. Mr. Wempe owns about two hundred acres of land, all of which is of excellent quality. He also owns stock in the Fair Association of Nemaha county and is prominent in the business undertakings of the county.
In 1908 he was married to Ellen C. Mohan, who was born July 16, 1884, in Leavenworth county, Kansas. Her father was born in Ireland. but he and his wife died when Ellen was less than two years old and she was reared by an aunt, Mrs. Dr. F. C. Creeg, of Leavenworth county. Two children, Lawrence and Kenneth, have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wempe. Mr. Wempe is a member of the Roman Catholic Church and of the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association. He votes the Democratic ticket.
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HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY
George Calhoun .- One of the youngest veterans of the Civil war re- sides in Reilly township, and it was necessary for him to give his birth date at an earlier year than it was in reality in order to be accepted as a volunteer. In these days of national excitement over the predominating question of preparedness and the necessity of again arousing the patriot- ism of the American people to be ready to defend their country in time of need, it is refreshing, indeed, to chronicle the life story of this veteran of a great war, George Calhoun, of Reilly township. His earlier years were adventurous ones and included a period as freighter across the great plains, and his subsequent enlistment in the Union army. His later years in Nemaha county have been productive of much material good, and Mr. Calhoun has become owner of 440 acres of land and is president of the First National Bank of Goff, Kans.
George Calhoun was born in Holmes county, Ohio, February 29, 1848, and is a son of Milton and Mary (Kerr) Calhoun, natives of the old Buckeye State and members of an old American family. Milton Calhoun was born in 1797, reared on a farm and was well educated. He taught school for a number of years and migrated to Missouri in 1853. He farmed land in Platte county, Missouri, until his death in 1863. He was a Democrat and a member of the Seceders' church. His wife, Mary, was born in 1800 and reared a family of ten children as follows: Mrs. Helena Moore, who married a Mr. McClain after the death of her first husband, and was married the third time to a Mr. Foster, and is now deceased; Mrs. Eliza Jane McNees, deceased ; Mrs. Ruby Hancock, deceased ; Mrs. Mary Sharpton, deceased; Amanda, died at the age of eighteen years ; Mrs. Rebecca Hill, deceased ; John, died at the age of twenty-four years ; William Henry, died eight years old; George, subject of this review ; Mrs. Emeline Moore, deceased. The mother died in 1857.
George Calhoun was reared on the farm in Ohio and Missouri and when fourteen years old, set out across the plains as a freighter in com- pany with his brother, John M. Calhoun. They engaged in freighting for one year, and Mr. Calhoun then enlisted in the Fourth Missouri cav- alry regiment, Company A, and served until the close of the Civil war. In order to be accepted, it was necessary for him to give his birth date as 1846, so that he would be old enough for enlistment. He farmed in Mis- souri until 1869, after the close of his war service, and then came to Kan- sas. For the first ten years of his residence in this county, he rented land and worked out by the month and was enabled to make a purchase of eighty acres in Reilly township, which formed the nucleus of his present large holdings of 400 acres in Nemaha county. In addition to this land, he owns forty acres in Jackson county.
Mr. Calhoun is a Republican in politics and has never married. His place is well improved with good buildings; and he has three fruit or- chards on his land. He raises Poland China swine and Durham cattle successfully. Mr. Calhoun is one of the organizers of, and is president of, the First National Bank of Goff, Kans.
GEORGE CALHOUN.
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HISTORY OF NEMAHA COUNTY
Henry Rottinghaus .- Fine horses are the specialty in which Henry Rottinghaus, of Richmond township, takes pride. For years he has made a business of breeding fine horses and has taken a great many prizes at fairs and exhibits. He was born in Oldenburg, Germany, Jan- itary 6, 1858, and was a son of Barney and Agnes (Putthuf) Rotting- haus. Barney was born December 21, 1821, in Handorf, Germany, where he was a farmer. In 1878 he came to Nemaha county, Kansas, and located on the site where his son now lives, five miles north of Seneca. He farmed until his death on November 8, 1904. He was mar- ried in Germany to Agnes Putthuf, who was born April 26, 1826, in Deummerlohausen, Germany. She died April 4, 1908. Mr. and Mrs. Rottinghaus celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in America. Seven children were born to them: Agnes, wife of F. Tangeman, Nemaha township; Henry, of whom this historical account is written ; Mrs. Lizzie Nordhaus, Nemaha township; Mrs. Anna Willionbrink, Montrose, Mo .; Barney, Nemaha township farmer; Mrs. Dinah Oster- haus, Nemaha township ; one child, last born, died in infancy.
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