USA > Kansas > Nemaha County > History of Nemaha County, Kansas > Part 87
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Jesse Jones, owner of 323.8 acres of good farm land in Red Ver- million township, was born and reared in his home county, and is a son of one of the very earliest pioneer settlers of the Corning neighborhood. His father is Albert Jones, born in Sweden in 1839, and emigrated from his native country to America when a young man. He was one of the original homesteaders who located on eighty acres, near Corning, in Nemaha county, and lived thereon until he suffered a paralytic stroke in 1914. Since this time, he has made his home among his children, who are caring for him. He began with practically nothing when he homesteaded in this county and, in the course of time, he accumulated a total of 663 acres which he divided among his children, retaining, however, the original preemption tract for himself. During the early days when Atchison, Kans., was the nearest trading point, Mr. Jones hauled a load of corn to Atchison, and received in return a calico dress for his wife and a first reader for one of his children. When there was a failure of the corn crop in Kansas, he husked corn in Nebraska, and hauled it the entire distance to his home in Nemaha county with a team of oxen. Few young persons, living now-a-days in comfortable homes, have any realization of the hardships undergone by the early settlers who developed Nemaha county, yet withal, they were happy, far happier and more contented with their lot than a great many folks at the pres- ent time. All were alike; one was as rich as his neighbor; everybody was hospitable and kind and neighborly. Albert Jones was trustee of his township for some years, and took an active and influential part in township affairs. His wife, Nancy, was born in Ohio in 1843, and was mother of twelve children, as follows: Mrs. Melvina Booth, Wallace county, Kansas ; William, a farmer near Corning; Charles, a farmer near Soldier Kans .; Frank, a carpenter in Oregon; Mrs. Ella McKee, living near Havensville, Kans .; Jesse, subject of this review; Edward, a farmer near Corning : Mrs. Addie Gerlt, on a farm near Corning ; Mrs. Myrtle Morgan, living near Corning ; three children are deceased.
Jesse Jones was born on February 3, 1876, and received a district school education. When he was twenty-one years old, he began renting land which he farmed until 1910 and then bought 160 acres in Red Ver- million township. He lived on this tract until 1916, and then traded for
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his present farm of 323.8 acres. He raises Duroc Jersey hogs, and keeps from thirty to forty head of cattle on the place.
Mr. Jones was married in 1897 to Miss Margaret McKee, who was born near Havensville, Kans., March 4, 1880, and is a daughter of Bar- tholomew and Matilda (Darst) McKee, the former of whom was born in Indiana in, 1853 and came to Kansas when a young man. He has been a successful farmer, and owns 290 acres in Pottawatomie county, upon which he makes his home. His wife, Matilda, was born in Ohio in 1853. Mr. and Mrs. McKee have eight children, as follows: Perry, a farmer ; Mrs. Addie Massey, on a farm near Corning; Frank, at home ; Maggie, wife of Jesse Jones, subject of this sketch; John, a farmer near Onaga, Kans .; Mrs. May Wesley, on a farm near Soldier; Mrs. Rose Holliday living on a farm near Havensville, Kans .; Henry, at home. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have four children, namely: Percy Floyd, born March 20, 1898; twins died in infancy ; Inez Marie, born September 8, 1900; Edith Myrtle, born October 17, 1908; Albert Lloyd, born August 18, 19II.
Mr. Jones is a Republican in his political affiliations, and usually supports the Republican candidate. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and is also a member of the Farmers' Union.
John Stoldt, owner of a fine farm in Red Vermillion township, is a native born citizen of Nemaha county, and is a son of Henry and Mary (Holtz) Stoldt, natives of Germany. His father, Henry Stoldt, was born in 1841, and emigrated from the fatherland in 1866. He lo- cated in Illinois, and did farm labor for two years. He then came to Kansas, and bought school land in Nemaha county. He rented this tract to his own father, and rented another piece of land on his own account for two years, when he moved to his own place, and lived thereon for seventeen years. He then rented his home farm to one of his sons, and bought 120 acres near Sabetha, where he lived for two years, after which he bought eighty acres near Kelly, after renting his 120 acre farm to another son. A year later he sold 120 acres, and bought a quarter section adjoining his "eighty," and rented the tract to his son. He is now making his home on the farm near Kelly. When Henry Stoldt came to this county, his only possession was a twenty dollar gold piece. His sister died, and he spent this money to give her a decent burial. This was a discouraging beginning. in a new and strange country but he eventually triumphed over all difficulties, and later became owner of over 700 acres of good Kansas land, nearly all of which he has given to his children. To become a wealthy land owner in this country such as Henry Stoldt became, is a long cry from a yearly wage of $32, such as he received in Germany. His wife, Mary, was born in Germany, and accompanied her husband to America, shortly after their marriage in 1866.
Henry and Mary Stoldt have reared a family of children, as fol- lows: Frank, at home with his father; Frederick, dead; John, subject
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of this review; the fourth child died in infancy; Mrs. Etta Hunt, living on a farm in Missouri; three children died in infancy; Mrs. Mary Te- garden, on a farm near Kelly.
John Stoldt was born April 28, 1872, near Sabetha, and attended district school until he was eighteen years of age. He then worked for his father for fourteen years, and was given an eighty acre farm as a reward for being a dutiful and industrious son. In exchange for this kindness he gave his parents $50 a year as a gratuity for three years, the gift being refused by them at the end of the fourth year. He then sold his "eighty" and bought 159 acres in Red Vermillion town- ship for $11,000 in cash. He has made this tract his home since this purchase, and has added many substantial improvements in the way of a large barn and residence, and is erecting a cattle barn at the present time. Mr. Stoldt has fifteen acres of nice, growing alfalfa and raises high grade Durham cattle of which he has twenty-nine head, besides having twenty-three head of Jersey swine on the place.
Mr. Stoldt was married, in 1893, to Miss Ella Ford, a daughter of Nathan and Carrie (Lawrence) Ford. Nathan Ford, her father, was born in Illinois in 1836. He followed farming and came to Kansas in 1860, and located near Kelly, in Nemaha county. He later conducted a general merchandise store for three years prior to his death. He then sold out his store and made his home with his daughter until his death. He served as superintendent of the county farm for four years, and was a Democrat in politics. His wife, Carrie, was born in Kentucky in 1839, and bore him ten children, as follows: Mrs. Sarah Shubert, living near Kelly; John, dead; Mrs. Nancy Morrow, a widow living near Kelly ; Mrs. Mollie Dennis, wife of William Dennis the mayor of Sen- eca, Kans .; Thomas, a blacksmith of Kansas City, Mo .; Mrs. Jane Ridgway, living near Oneida ; Margaret and Alfred, dead; Ella, wife of the subject of this review ; Charles, a farmer in Wallace county, Kansas. Mrs. Ella Stoldt was born on the family farm near Kelly on April 6, 1875.
To Mr. and Mrs. John Stoldt have been born nine children, as fol- lows: Jesse, born October 25, 1896, and died five months later ; Lydia, born January 22, 1898; Ruby, born September 29, 1901 ; Vera, born July 19, 1905, and died July 10, 1907 ; Galen, born January 22, 1906 at home ; Lloyd, born April 21, 1907; Lee and Cleo (twins) born January 7, 1911, and died at the age of eleven months; Veda, born July 19, 1913.
Mr. Stoldt is a Republican in politics, but has no time to devote to political matters outside of doing his duty at he polls and voting for the candidates of his choice. Mrs. Stoldt is a member of the Methodist church. Mr. and Mrs. Stoldt are industrious, honest, and ambitious citizens who stand well in their home community and have many warm friends, who esteem them very highly for their many good qualities.
Claude Grigsby, owner of 320 acres of farm land in Red Vermillion township, was born in Holt county, Missouri, August 10, 1872, and is
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a son of J. L. and Amelia (Moore) Grigsby. His father, J. L. Grigsby, was born on a farm in Illinois, in 1845, and received a good school and college education in his younger days. When nineteen years of age, he located near Burr Oak, Mo., and farmed with his uncle for thirty-five years. He then came to Red Vermillion township, Nemaha county, Kansas, and bought 160 acres of land on which he resided until his demise in 1907. He prospered in this county, and was a large land owner. He was a Democrat and a Free Mason. His wife, Amelia, was born in Illinois in 1850, and died March 11, 1900. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Four children were born to J. L. and Amelia Grigsby, as follows: Edward, died at the age of nine years ; Claude, subject of this review; John L., a commission man in Kansas City, Mo .; Mrs. Edna McKaig, living at Centralia.
Claude Grigsby was reared on his father's farm and received a dis- trict school education. He remained with his parents until thirty years old, and began for himself by renting his father's home place. When his father died, he received 160 acres of land as his share of the estate, and was also given a one-third interest in a quarter section, adjoining the home place, which he purchased in its entirety from the other heirs. He has twelve acres of alfalfa, and raises wheat, corn, and oats.
Mr. Grigsby was married on February 11, 1903, to Mabel M. Whistler, who has borne him children, as follows: Lambert, born Octo- ber 28, 1904; Dorothy, born August 28, 1906; Claude, born August 21, 1910, and departed this life on October, 1911; Elizabeth and Edward, (twins), born January 8, 1914, and died same day; Kenneth and Keith, (twins), born October 1I, 1915. Mrs. Mabel Grigsby was born at Corning, Kans., August 22, 1873, and is a daughter of Henry C. and Adda (Danley) Whistler, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania in 1830, and followed railroad work when he became old enough to do a man's work, until 1878. He then began farming in Kansas, and bought a quarter section near America City, to which he later added another "eighty." He lived on his Nemaha county farm until his death in 1906. He was a member of the Methodist church, and was affiliated with the Odd Fellows and the Free Masons and was a Democrat in politics. His wife, Adda, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1840, and bore him eight children, as follows: Mrs. May Lederer, Havensville, Kans .; Mabel, wife of Claude Grigsby, subject of this review ; Meta and Nellie, died in infancy ; Adda and Henry, (twins), of whom Adda died in in- fancy, and Harry is employed in the serum department of Armour & Company at Kansas City, Kans .; Mrs. Elizabeth Brack, on a farm near America City; John, a farmer of America City, also postmaster and merchant.
Mr. Grigsby is a Democrat and the leader of his party in Red Ver- million township, where he is serving as central committeeman. He is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and belongs to the Farmers' Union and the Grangers. Mrs. Grigsby is a member of the Methodist church.
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Roland A. Bonjour .- One of the very earliest pioneer settlements in Nemaha county was that made by Swiss and French emigrants in Neuchatel township, nearly sixty years ago. These brave and hardy people crossed the seas to America in search of a home in the western country, and found it amid the trackless and unpeopled prairie lands of Kansas. The hardships they endured were similar to those of other Nemaha county pioneers, but they eventually made homes in the waste places, and their crops replaced the waving prairie grasses as the years passed. These people were idealists in a way and formed a close colony which existed for a time, and was eventually replaced by the individual- istic plan which has always been successful in this country where the efforts of the individual are generally rewarded. Roland A. Bonjour, trustee of Neuchatel township, is a son of one of these sturdy Swiss emigrants who settled in this township in 1857. Mr. Bonjour's father was J. A. Bonjour, a native of Switzerland.
J. A. Bonjour was born in 1830, and immigrated to this county as early as 1855. Two years later, he made a location in Neuchatel town- ship, Nemaha county, Kansas, and bought a preemption from the orig- inal homesteader. He resided on his farm until his death in 1878. He was a member of the Presbyterian church. His wife, Sophia, was born in Switzerland in 1826, and died in 1895. They were the parents of six children, as follows: Julia, died at the age of nine years ; Mary, died in infancy : Charles, a farmer in Washington State; J. A., a farmer in Neu- chatel township; Roland A., subject of this review; Arnold, died at the age of one year.
Roland A. Bonjour was born in Neuchatel township, January I, 1863, and was reared on the pioneer farm. His schooling was necessar- ily limited, and he began making his own living when sixteen years old. For five years, he rented a part of the home farm from his mother, and when his mother died in 1895, he bought the place from the lieirs. The first home of the Bonjour family was a log cabin erected when Mr. Bon- jour, the elder, first settled in Kansas. This was replaced by a five room frame house when Roland A. was five years old. At that time the residence was the best in the neighborhood, but this old home was again replaced by a more pretentious and larger structure erected by the subject in 1912. This is a beautiful home and in keeping with the standing and prosperity of its owner, who has succeeded better than the average Kansas farmer in accumulating land and substance during the many years, in which he has been tilling the Kansas soil. Mr Bon- jour owns 400 acres of well tilled and well improved land in Neuchatel township.
He was married on June 3, 1884, to Nan Burdette, a daughter of William and Sarah (Toothman) Burdette, natives of West Virginia. William Burdette, her father, was born in Putnam county, West Vir- ginia, on April 7, 1839, and farmed in his native State until his removal to Ohio in 1908. His death occurred in 1916. He was a member of
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the Baptist church, and espoused the cause of the Confederacy during the Civil war. Sarah, his wife, was born in Greenbrier county, West Virginia, on January 10, 1839. William and Sarah Burdette were mar- ried in 1865, and were parents of five children, as follows: Nan, wife of Roland A. Bonjour; John, a fruit farmer in Oregon; Charles, died in 1914, at the age of forty-four years; Mrs. Esther Cordts, Wamego, Kans .; the fifth child died in infancy. Mrs. Nan Bonjour was born in Monroe county, West Virginia, on April 3, 1866. Mr. and Mrs. Bonjour are parents of two children, namely : Mrs. Effie Tally, born April 19, 1885, living on a farm near the Bonjour home place ; Walter, born June 9, 1890, farming near his father's home.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Bonjour know what real hardships were during their younger days, and are deserving of their later success inasmuch as they have accomplished much by the exercise of hard work and econ- omy. They are well content to look back over their early struggles, and consider, with thankfulness, that Providence has been kind to them and theirs. Mrs. Bonjour worked out as domestic when a girl and re- ceived the small sum of fifty cents per week for her labor. On one occasion which she recalls, she broke a sugar bowl, and was charged a week's wages as a fine.
Mr. Bonjour is a member of the Modern Woodmen lodge. Mrs. Bonjour is affiliated religiously with the Congregational church. The Republican party has generally had the allegience of Mr. Bonjour, and he is one of the county leaders of his party. He served his township as treasurer for two years, and is serving his fourth year as township trustee.
Ralph A. Hybskmann .- Many youths are ambitious to learn a trade, but very few young men have any further ambition after they have become a journeyman. They settle down to a humdrum existence with no future in store except a long life as a wage earner. Ralph A. Hybsk- mann is above the average type of journeyman, and has moved his ideal higher and become a business man. When he learned the plumber's and tinner's trades, it was only natural that he should later become a master plumber and employ journeymen in his shop.
Ralph Hybskmann was born December 29, 1876, at Marysville, Kans. To his parents, August and Marguerite (Nelson) Hybskmann, ten children were born, nine of whom are living. Ralph was the fifth child.
Mr. Hybskmann comes of Danish stock, his father having been born in Denmark in 1837. When about thirty years of age, he left Den- mark, where he worked as a miller, and came to America, settling in Galesburg, Ill. He came to Nemaha county, Kansas, in 1870, and worked in the Seneca flour mills. Afterward he ran a mill at Marys- ville, and bought and operated a mill at Centralia until he retired in 1909. He died March 26, 1916, at Centralia, Kans. He always took an active interest in politics, and was an ardent Democrat. He was a
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member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Ancient Order of United Workmen. The mother of Ralph Hybskmann was born in Denmark in 1847, and lives in Centralia, Kans.
Ralph Hybskmann, of whom this sketch is written, attended school at Centralia, Kans., and at the age of twenty, apprenticed himself to the tinner's trade working for A. B. Clippinger & Company. After working there six months, he came to Seneca, where he worked at his trade until 1901. In that year, he launched into busines for himself, in partnership with T. E. Bateman. He proved a successful business man and after a year and a half of the partnership, Mr. Hybskmann pur- chased the entire business, and later moved the shop to Axtell, where he combined his plumbing business with furniture in a partnership with J. W. Hybskmann, his brother. Six years later, he bought his brother's interest and conducted the business until 1912, when he returned to Seneca, and established a plumbing business. Since coming to Seneca, he has doubled his stock and now carries a complete line of hot air furnaces and plumbing fixtures of all kinds. Besides his local business, he contracts for work in all parts of Nemaha and Marshall counties. He has contracted for work for the United States Government in dif- ferent parts of the country. The success of Mr. Hybskmann is all the more remarkable when it is known that he started with no capital. Such instances of the rise of men are not as common as they should be, and it is very much to the credit of Mr. Hybskmann that he should have made a striking success.
He was married, in 1903, to Hilma J. Olston, and to this union three children were born, namely: Ralph O .; Lloyd A., and Lavon A. His wife was born in Iowa, July 14. 1877. She is the daughter of J. F. Olston, who later was a farmer and business man of Axtell, Kans.
Mr. Hybskmann is an independent Democrat, and always takes an interest in governmental affairs. He naturally inclines toward the Democratic party, but before casting his ballot, he looks to the man, and will vote for a good man regardless of his party label. Though he is not a church member, he attends the Methodist church, and contributes to its support. He is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
James P. Mooney .- The late James P. Mooney of Centralia, Kans .. was a man of good parts, industrious and reliable, who was well re- spected by all who knew him during his residence in Centralia. Mr. Mooney was born on a farm near Georgetown, Brown county, Ohio, June 7, 1826. He followed the occupation of farmer and stockman in his native State until 1875, and then moved to Illinois where he resided for eight years. In 1883, he migrated to Centralia, Kans., and engaged in the meat market and mercantile business until failing health com- pelled him to cease his work. He died September 15, 1906, from the effects of a fall.
He was first married in Illinois to America Prague, who died, leav- ing one child. In 1888, he was married to Mrs. Emaline Pettibone.
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The children surviving Mr. Mooney are as follows: Jonas A., Cen- tralia, Kans .; Mrs. Mary A. Devore, Ripley, Ohio; J. Wilson of Onaga, Kans. : William, living at Manson, Mont .; Mrs. Nellie Durland, living at LaGrande, Ore. Mrs. Emaline Mooney, his widow, was born in Indiana, September 15, 1833 and is a daughter of Leonard H. and Eliza (Denny) Scott who were natives of Virginia and Indiana respectively. Emaline Scott was first married to Henry Pettibone. The children of Henry Pettibone are as follows: Mrs. Alice Swan, Centralia, Kans .; Mrs. Emma Cunningham, deceased at Centralia, Kans .; Eliza, Jose- phine, and Loren, deceased. Mrs. Mooney is owner of 320 acres of farm land in section 35 of Home township, and also owns property in Centralia.
James P. Mooney united with the Presbyterian church at an early age, but became affiliated with the Congregational Church of Centralia, and was an earnest worker of that denomination.
Frank Melcher, of Richmond township, was born on the farm which he now owns, November 8, 1883. He is a son of Fred W. and Bernedina (Cathman) Melcher, who were the parents of the following children: Josephine, wife of A. Henry of Kempler. Kans .; Fred J., living in Ne- maha county, and Frank, of whom this review treats. Fred W. Mel- cher, his father, was born in Oldenberg, Germany, May 9, 1844, and left his native land in 1882 to immigrate to the United States. He located in Nemaha county, Kansas, and purchased 120 acres of land in section 16 of Richmond township at a cost of $3,000. Mr. Melcher prospered in Nemaha county, and at the time of his death on March 19, 1904, he was owner of 320 acres. His wife, Bernedina, was born December 4, 1838, and died April 30, 1909.
Frank Melcher grew up on his father's farm and attended public school, and also attended the parochial school at St. Benedict's. When his father died, he became owner of a quarter section of land, which he improved in 1912 with a splendid farm residence. The Melcher resi- dence consists of eight rooms and is two stories in height, and was erected at a cost of $4,000. Many other substantial improvements have been added to his farm by Mr. Melcher.
Mr. Melcher was married, in 1908, to Magdalena L. Bergmann, who was born on a farm in Clear Creek township, March 5, 1886, and is a daughter of Bernard Bergmann, whose biography is recorded in this volume. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Melcher, as follows: Vernis, born April 14, 1911; Melita, born December 3, 1913; three children died in infancy ; the youngest child is Francis A., born March 7, 1916.
Mr. Melcher takes an active interest in the public affairs of his township, and is an independent in politics, generally voting his convic- tions regardless of party lines. He is a member of the Catholic church, and is affiliated with the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association.
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Daniel J. Firstenberger, clothing merchant, Seneca, Kans., was born in Germany, September 30, 1845, and was a son of Christopher and Barbara Firstenberger, who immigrated to the United States in 1847, and settled at Galion, Ohio. Mr. Firstenberger was educated in the public schools of Galion, and was apprenticed to the trade of shoemaker when a boy. Some time later, he secured a position in a dry goods store, and developed into a splendid salesman. In line with his ambi- tion to own a business of his own, he mastered the intricacies of buying and selling goods, and when he was twenty-eight years old, he was ready to engage in business for himself. He came to Seneca, Kans., in the spring of 1873, and purchased the interest of A. Wells in the firm of Murphy & Wells. This interest included a part ownership in the store building as well as the stock of goods. For a period of six weeks after making his investment, Mr. Firstenberger was very ill. Upon recovering from his illness, he became active in the firm. A few years later, Henry C. Buchanan bought Mr. Murphy's interest, and this partnership continued until W. S. Tucker purchased Buchanan's interest. The firm was operated under the name of Firstenberger & Tucker for a few years until Mr. Firstenberger purchased Mr. Tucker's interest, and became sole owner of the store, which he is now con- ducting.
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