USA > Kansas > Nemaha County > History of Nemaha County, Kansas > Part 90
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Mr. Butts is allied with the Republican party, and is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.
William H. Smith .- Much early Kansas history of an interesting character is contained in the chronicles of the Smith family of Nemala county, Kansas. The father of William H. Smith, the gentleman con- cerning whom this review is written, was one of the earliest of the pioneers of the county, and figures prominently in the archives of the constructive period when the city of Seneca was in the building. William H. Smith has risen to become one of the wealthy land owners of Kansas, and his fifty years and more of residence in Nemaha county have been profitable ones from many standpoints.
John E. Smith, father of William H., was born at Saugus, Mass., October 27, 1829, and was a son of Stephen and Angeline (Cummings) Smith, both of whom were born and reared in Massachusetts, and whose ancestors were English born and among the earliest of the American colonists. Stephen Smith was a sawmill operator, and his trade was
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transmitted to his sons. John E. Smith very naturally became a ma- chinist and an expert sawmill man. Later he became a locomotive engi- neer, and was an engine driver in the early days of steam transportation. He spent some time in Mississippi, but left that State on account of an epidemic of yellow fever. In 1857, he met a Mr. Lappin, who had planned to set up a sawmill at the new town of Seneca, Kans. This gen- tleman engaged him to come west and erect the mill for him and place it in operation. Mr. Smith agreed to go into partnership with Lappin, and told him he knew of a mill in Massachusetts which they could obtain. He went after this mill, and had it shipped to Atchison, Kans., in the spring of 1858, and then hauled it by ox team to Seneca. He operated the sawmill in Seneca until after the war and sawed practically all the lumber which went into the construction of the frame buildings erected in the town. In the meantime, Mr. Smith sent for his family, who were accompanied by George W. Williams, at that time a boy. Mr .Smith sawed the lumber, built the first frame house and operated the first tavern in Seneca. It might be well to add here that Mr Lappin, who was John E. Smith's partner in the milling business, was one of the orig- inal townsite promoters of Seneca, and that Mr. Smith brought his fam- ily to Seneca in 1858. The Smith Hotel, or "Tavern," became famous as the stopping place for all of the overland traffic, which took this route to the great West, and was a stage station where eight relay horses were kept at all times. The overland stage from Atchison to San Francisco passed on this route daily, and the drivers would stop at the Smith tavern, change horses or mules, and allow the travelers an opportunity to refresh themselves. The Smith Hotel had a country wide reputation for the excellent meals and the hospitality and good cheer afforded the weary travelers who were generally wealthy people, because of the great cost of transportation, the expense of a trip to the Pacific coast being in the neighborhood of $400. Many notable people stopped at the Smith place during those early days before the advent of the steam railway. The "Smith Tavern" was erected in the winter of 1858, and served the purpose of a hotel, court room, church, and housed the first school ever held in Seneca. John E. Smith and his capable wife operated the tavern until as late as 1875 and then sold out. The tavern still stands on the main street of Seneca, although it has since been remodeled and now serves as a rooming house. After disposing of his hotel, John E. Smith turned his attention to farming, and became the owner of a half section of land which he improved. In 1881, he went to Canada, and became interested in a phosphorous mine, remained there eight years, and then settled permanently on his farm near Seneca. He died in 1912. This Kansas pioneer was married in his native State to Miss Agnes Williams, an aunt of George W. Williams, of Seneca, and the marriage was blessed with the following children : William H. Smith, with whom this revview is directly concerned; Frank, deceased; two children died in infancy. The mother of William H. Smith was born in Vermont in 1831, and was a daughter of William and Mary Williams, who were descended from Scotch-Irish ancestry. She died July 23, 1894.
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William H. Smith was reared in Seneca and attended the first school ever held in the city, taught by Miss Addie M. Smith, his father's sister. It is worthy of note that Miss Smith was the first lady to climb Pike's Peak in later years. He also attended the college at Jacksonville, Ill., for two years, and then devoted his attention to cultivating his father's farm. He farmed in partnership with his father from 1879 to 1892, at which time Mr. Smith bought his present home place of 360 acres. At first he lived in a small house on the place, which was superseded in 1898 by a pretentious farm residence erected at a cost of $4,500. He also built a fine barn 48x38 feet in dimension at a cost for material of $800. Mr. Smith is an extensive feeder of Shorthorn cattle and Duroc Jersey swine. The years have seen the prosperity of William H. Smith increase and have seen his acreage grow until he is now the owner of 790 acres of good Kansas land, 680 acres of which are located in Richmond township.
Mr. Smith was married, in 1885, to Miss Mary E. Amos, who has borne him four children, as follows: Frank E., connected with the American Screen Co., Kansas City, Mo .; Amos, farming the home place ; Ruth, a high school teacher and graduate of the Seneca High School and Kansas State University; Agnes, a student in the Kansas University at Lawrence. Mrs. Mary E. (Amos) Smith was born April 24, 1862, at London, Ohio, and is a daughter of John A. and Ruth (Smith) Amos. Her father was a Methodist minister who came to Seneca in 1874, and erected the first Methodist church in the city. He died here in 1888, aged fifty-eight years. Her mother died January 17, 1896, aged over seventy years. Mrs. Smith taught school in Seneca for five years, previous to her marriage.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Methodist church, of which institution Mrs. Smith is a trustee. Mr. Smith is a Democrat, and is affiliated with the Ancient Order of United Workmen.
Albert Foster, farmer of Red Vermillion township, is a son of A. J. and F. J. (Kirkpatrick) Foster, natives of Iowa and Kansas respectively. His father, A. J. Foster, was born in Iowa in 1855, and was reared to the life of a farmer. He came to Kansas with his parents in 1865, and began working on his own behalf when sixteen years of age. He worked as farm laborer and rented land until 1880, and then became a land owner. He farmed his land with excellent success until 1902, and then retired to a home at Corning, Kans. Mr. Foster is owner of 375 acres of improved farm lands in Nemaha county.
A. J. Foster was married, in 1880, to Miss F. J. Kirkpatrick, who was born in Kansas in 1860, and has borne him children, as follows: Albert, subject of this review; Mrs. Bessie Hannum, wife of a railroad man at Horton, Kans .; Mrs. Edna Johnson, whose husband is farming part of the home place of the Foster family; Freddie, died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Foster are members of the United Brethren church, and Mr. Fos- ter is a Republican in politics.
Albert Foster was born in Nemaha county, November 14, 1881, and was reared on his father's farm. He began doing for himself at the age
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of twenty years, and rented his father's home place for a period of five years. For the following three years, he was engaged in the livery busi- ness at Siloam Springs, Ark., He traded his livery business for a ranch in Oklahoma, which he operated for a year, and then traded his Okla- homa property for an 140 acre farm in Reilly township. He returned to his father's home farm in Nemaha county, and is at present farming his property. Mr. Foster is a large producer of Duroc Jersey hogs to the extent of over 200 hogs annually. He also raises about thirty head of Durham cattle yearly.
Albert Foster was married on February 24, 1904, to Miss Daisy Adams, a daughter of B. F. and M. J. (Longwell) Adams, the former of whom was born in Ohio in 1846, migrated to lowa with his parents and served as a member of the Sixth Iowa infantry throughout the Civil war. He farmed in Iowa until 1882, and then came to Kansas, and for a time, he drove freight wagons in Washington county. He farmed in Marshall county, Kansas, for sixteen years, eventually sold out and bought a farm near Bancroft in Nemaha county. He cultivated this tract for five years, and sold it after which he traveled for his health. He is at present living at Canon City, Colo. His wife was born in Ohio in 1845, and was married to Mr. Adams in 1866. Mr. and Mrs. 'Adams are par- ents of the following children: Mrs. Hattie Love, Wetmore, Kans .; Charles, a farmer in Idaho; Edward, a carpenter and farmer at Blaine, Kans .; Mrs. Lillie Calvert, living on a farm in lowa ; Mrs. Maggie Leeson, whose husband is a merchant in lowa; Mrs. Laura Nelson, living on a farm in South Dakota; Henry, a farmer near Bancroft, Kans .; Mrs. Rachel Holt, Goff, Kans .; Mrs. Della Storms, living on a farm in Colo- rado; Daisy, wife of Frank Foster; Frank, farmer in Colorado; Mrs. Ollie Moyer, living on a farm near Wetmore; Albert, a laborer living in Idaho. Mr. Adams is a Republican in politics.
Mr. and Mrs. Foster have two children: Verga Marie, born Decem- ber 19, 1904, and Glenn Everett, born December 2, 1905. Mrs. Daisy Foster was born in lowa, March II, 1882. Mr. Foster is allied with the Republican party. Mr. and Mrs. Foster are a popular and energetic young couple who are making a success of their lives, and are highly respected in their home community.
Daniel Hitchner, retired farmer of Neuchatel township, was born in New Jersey, December 2, 1828, and was a son of Mathias and Sarah (Hannan) Hitchner, natives of New Jersey. Mathias Hitchner was born in 1784, and lived all of his life in the State of his birth, dying in 1876. His wife, Sarah, was born in 1784, and bore him thirteen children, seven of whom are living, as follows: Mrs. Susan Johnson, aged eighty-nine years, lives in New Jersey ; Daniel, subject of this review; Adam, a re- tired farmer of New Jersey; Mrs. Elizabeth Woodruff, New Jersey ; Jacob, a retired farmer of New Jersey ; Mrs. Sarah Horner, living in New Jersey ; Samuel, a farmer in Ohio.
When Daniel Hitchner was twenty-one years of age, he began work-
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ing at the trade of carpenter in his own behalf, and followed this trade until 1880, with an exception of about five years during which he con- ducted a general merchandise store at Elmer, N. J. He migrated to Kansas in 1880, and bought 100 acres of farm land in Neuchatel township upon which he has since resided. Some time later he bought an addi- tional quarter section but sold it to his son with whom he is making his home. Mr. Hitchner is one of the oldest citizens of Neuchatel township, and is enjoying good health at the advanced age of eighty-seven years. He is allied with the Democratic party, and has served as trustee of Neu- chatel township. He was married, in 1855, to Emeline Du Bois, a daugh- ter of Samuel and Mary (Johnson) Du Bois, both of whom were natives of New Jersey and members of old American families. The founder of the Du Bois family in America was Louis Du Bois, a Frenchman who came to America in about 1660, and established the French settlement of New Palz. Samuel Du Bois was born in Salem county, New Jersey, September 26, 1800, and died in May, 1873. He married Mary Johnson, who was born January 17, 1824, and died January 28, 1879. They were the parents of children, ås follows. Adaline, wife of Jacob Kaeley, de- ceased; Mary Jane, wife of John Du Bois, Fairfield, Iowa; Lewis, a prominent pioneer citizen of Atchison county, Kansas; Emeline, wife of the subject of this review ; Eliza, wife of A. Hitchner, deceased; Samuel Johnson, Salem county, New Jersey. Mrs. Emeline Hitchner was born in Salem county, New Jersey, in 1836. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Hitchner, as follows: Fidell G., a farmer with whom the elder Hitchner is making his home; Lillian, died at the age of eighteen years; Lewis, died at the age of sixteen years.
Fidell G. Hitchner was born in New Jersey in 1856, and has become owner of 200 acres of good farm land located in the same section, in which his father's home place lies. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and served as Sunday school superintendent for a number of years. He is a Progressive in politics, and for the past four years has served as clerk of Neuchatel township. He was married in 1879 to Miss Luella Miller, a daughter of Charles and Mary (Carlton) Miller, natives of Virginia. Charles Miller was born in 1824, and came to Kansas in 1877, residing here until his death in 1902. He was a mem- ber and a deacon of the Baptist church. Mr. Miller was a Democrat, politically, and filled the office of justice of the peace for several years. Charles and Mary Miller were parents of eight children, as follows: John, a farmer in Colorado; Mrs. Mary Sneddon, a widow living at Leb- anon, Kans .; Luella, wife of Fidell G. Hitchner ; Mrs. Belle Streeper, a widow living in Montana ; Mrs. Della Werner, whose husband is operat- ing a creamery at Corning : Mrs. Minnie McCafferty, wife of a United Brethren minister, Corning, Kans .; James, connected with the American Exporting Company, of Kansas City, Mo .; Mrs. Lucy Gentry, living on a farm in Oklahoma. Mrs. Mary (Carlton) Miller was born in 1834 in Indiana. She was a member of the Baptist church.
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Mrs. Luella Hitchner was born in Missouri, September 18, 1858. To Mr. and Mrs. Fidell G. Hitchner have been born nine children, as follows : Mrs. Jennie Werner, wife of an automobile machinist, Denver, Colo .; Lewis, Curtis, and Hubert, engaged in farming and real estate business in British Columbia; Fidell, office employee of Ford Automobile Com- pany, at Salt Lake City, Utah; Edith, George, May, Winifred, at home. Mrs. Hitchner is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
J. A. Bonjour, one of the largest land owners of Nemaha county, Kansas, and a resident of Neuchatel township, was born on the Bonjour home place in Neuchatel township, August 26, 1860, and is a son of J. A. Bonjour, Sr., a native of the canton of Neuchatel, Switzerland. J. A. Bonjour, Sr., was born December 29, 1830, and emigrated from his native land to America in 1852. He first located at Utica, N. Y., and went from there to Noblesville, Ind. He worked for a wage of $8 per month on farms in the neighborhood of Noblesville, Ind., for three years, and then came to Leavenworth county, Kansas, in 1855. During the winter of 1855, he crossed the ice in the Missouri river at Weston, Mo., married the lady of his choice and returned to Kansas. After living on a homestead claim in Leavenworth county for one year, he sold out and came to Ne- maha county and bought 160 acres in Neuchatel township, which served as his home until his death, December 29, 1878. For further particulars regarding the history of the Bonjour farmily in Nemaha county, the reader is referred to the biography of R. A. Bonjour.
J. A. Bonjour, the subject of this review, was reared to young man- hood in Neuchatel township, and began making his own way when eighteen years of age. After his father's death, he farmed the home place until January, 1885, in partnership with his brother, and then engaged in the meat market business at Centralia, Kans., for a year. He then rented eighty acres one mile east of Centralia for a year. For two and a half years following, he lived with his brother, R. A. Bonjour, and rented land. His next farming venture was to rent 160 acres from his father-in- law until 1894, at which time his father-in-law died, and he and his wife inherited the home place. Mr. Bonjour has become owner of 470 acres of land in Nemaha county, and owns 520 acres in Pottawatomie county, Kansas. He tills all of his land excepting 160 acres which he rents to Charles Hazelett, his son-in-law. Mr. Bonjour has excellent improve- ments on his home place. He erected a handsome eight-room modern residence in 1909, at a cost of $6,000. This fine country home is fitted up with heating and lighting systems with hot and cold running water in every bedroom, and is one of the finest residences in Nemaha county.
Mr. Bonjour was married September 9, 1885, to Mary L. Cox, born at Fairbury, Ill., September 10, 1864. She came to Kansas in 1884 to re- side with an aunt, and shortly afterward, met Mr. Bonjour. Mrs. Bon- jour died in June, 1886, at the birth of her son, Raymond R., who is now grown to manhood and employed as claim adjuster in the offices of the Home Telephone Company, Kansas City, Mo. The second marriage of
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Mr. Bonjour occurred April 10, 1889, with Julia Theys, who has borne him children, as follows: Mrs. Rose M. Hazelett, on a farm in Nemaha county ; Tunis, Rufus, and Sophie L., died in infancy ; Gertrude Grace, a graduate of Campbell University at Holton, Kans., and a public school teacher ; Goodlet Clarence, at home; Hazel, a student in the Onaga High School; Vira Leone, aged twelve years, graduated from common school with first honors, and Aletha Alberta. The mother of this fine family was born in Nemaha county, October 11, 1870, and is a daughter of Flor- ent and Louisa (Vautravers) Theys, natives of Belgium and Switzer- land, respectively. Florent Thayes, her father, was born in 1844, and im- migrated to the United States in 1863. He worked on a saw mill in Wis- consin until 1865, and then came to Kansas, and was employed in the construction of the Central Branch railroad until 1869, when he took up a homestead claim of eighty acres, and lived thereon until 1880. He then sold out and bought a quarter section in Neuchatel township, upon which he lived until his death, July 12, 1894. Mr. Theys was killed in a run- away accident. At the time of his death, he owned 640 acres of land and much personal property. His wealth was sufficient, when divided, to enable each child of the family to purchase 160 acres of land. Mr. Theys was a Republican in politics and a member of the Presbyterian church. His wife, Louisa, was born in Switzerland, January 4, 1851. After the death of Mr. Theys, she was again married in 1902, and lives at Neuchatel, Kans. Mr. and Mrs. Theys were parents of five children, as follows: Julia, wife of J. A. Bonjour, born October 11, 1870, in Nemaha county ; Mrs. Pauline McDebitt, on a farm in Nemaha county ; Mrs. Mary Bonjour, deceased; Mrs. Isabella Kelly, living on a farm near Onaga; Simon, a farmer at Cottonwood, Kans.
Mr. Bonjour is a member of the board of managers of the Congrega- tional church. He is a Republican politically, and served for three years as trustee of Neuchatel township and filled the office of treasurer one term. He filled the office of justice of the peace for twelve years, and is the present treasurer of school district No. 5. Mr. Bonjour is a member and treasurer of Lodge No. 188, of Onaga, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.
John Gurtler, farmer, Neuchatel township, and extensive land owner, was born in Wisconsin, July 21, 1865, and is a son of Peter and Mary (Freidel) Gurtler', natives of Germany and Austria, respectively. Peter Gurtler was born in Germany in 1823, and emigrated from his native country to America in 1854. He located in Wisconsin and bought a forty acre farm which he farmed until the spring of 1873, when he migrated to Nemaha county, Kansas, and bought 200 acres in Neuchatel township. He lived on this farm until his demise in July, 1901. Mr. Gurtler pros- pered in this county, and continued to buy land until he owned 880 acres. He gave each son of the family 160 or 240 acres at the time of their respective marriages. He was a member of the Evangelical church and a Republican in politics. His wife, Mary, was born in Austria, in
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1827, and died in 1900. Peter and Mary Gurtler were parents of nine children, as follows: Mathias, a real estate dealer living in Oklahoma ; Rev. E. J. Gurtler, a preacher in Wisconsin ; Mrs. Annie Dryer, a widow living in Topeka, Kans .; Peter J., a farmer in Marshall county, Kansas; Mrs. Mary Lampe, living in California ; John, subject of this. sketch ; Jo- seph, a farmer.in Nemaha county ; two children are deceased.
John Gurtler began for himself when twenty-eight years old, re- maining at home and working for his father even after he became of age until his marriage in 1893. Upon his marriage, his father gave him the deed to 240 acres of land upon which he has since resided. Ile has added to his acreage from time to time until he now owns 724 acres of good land, 200 acres of which he rents out to a tenant. Mr. Gurtler raises eighty-five head of cattle annually, and deals in mules and cattle exten- sively. Mr. Gurtler was married in 1893 to Sophia Lodholz, who has borne him children, as follows: Peter John, married and lives on the home place; Christina Susie, a student at Baker University, Baldwin, Kans .; George Nelson, died at the age of eighteen months; Albert Wes- ley, at home ; Mary Estella, died at the age of four years. Mrs. Sophia Gurtler was born in Marshall county, Kansas, December 31, 1864, and is a daughter of Godfred and Christina (Seitz) Lodholz, natives of Ger- many. Godfred Lodholz, her father, was born in 1835, and emigrated from the fatherland in 1852. He first located in Connecticut, and worked in a lock manufactory at Terrywell until 1858, at which time he migrated to Marshall county, Kansas, and farmed until his death in 1896. He was a member of the Evangelical church and a Republican. His wife, Chris- tina,' was born in 1832, married in 1856, and died in 1901. Five children were born to Godfrey and Christina Lodholz, as follows: Mary, living in Marshall county, Kansas ; Mrs. Annie Segenhagen, deceased : Mrs. Chris- tina Seip, Marshall county, Kansas; Mrs. Rosa Gurtler, Marshall county, Kansas; Sophia, wife of John Gurtler, who was reared on a farm and worked in Denver, Colo., for three years at a wage of $25 per month, prior to her marriage, and is an industrious woman.
Mr. Gurtler is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and is a Republican in politics. He and Mrs. Gurtler are well and favorably known in their section of the county and have many warm friends.
Fred Pfrang, prosperous farmer of Wetmore township, was born on a farm near Wetmore, Nemaha county, Kansas, January 25, 1877, and is a son of George and Mary (Gress) Pfrang, natives of Germany. George Pfrang, his father, was born in 1834. He located in Kansas after his immi- gration to the United States in the early pioneer days and followed farm- ing until his retirement to a home at Wetmore in 1906. He is a member of the Catholic church. His wife, Mary, was born in 1845, and 'has borne him nine children, as follows: Michael, a farmer in Pottawatomie county, Kansas; Fred, subject of this review ; Mrs. Freda Miller, wife of a dairyman, Denver, Colo .; Rose, wife of a farmer near Denver, Colo .; William, a farmer in Oregon; Mary, a stenographer, Kansas City, Mo .; George, Joseph, and John, farming near Wetmore, Kans.
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Fred Pfrang was reared on his father's farm, and began doing for himself when he became of age. He worked out as farm hand until 1902, at which time he became owner of a quarter section of land in Wetmore township, northeast of Ontario, Kans., which is his present home place. Mr. Pfrang has increased his acreage until he now owns 500 acres in Wetmore township, and owns eighty acres in Jackson county, Kansas. He is an extensive cattle feeder, and raises over 100 head of hogs an- nually.
Mr. Pfrang was married January 1, 1915, to Miss Caroline Karns, born at Ontario, Kans., August 26, 1887, and a daughter of George and Caroline Karns, prominent deceased residents of Ontario whose biogra- phies appear in this volume. Mrs. Caroline Pfrang received an excellent education and taught school for two years, previous to her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Pfrang have one child, namely: Lloyd, born December 6, 1915, a bright little fellow, who is a prime favorite. Mr. Pfrang is a mem- ber of the Catholic church and a Republican in politics.
George C. Adriance and Dora Adriance. owners and publishers of the Seneca "Courier-Democrat," were born on a farm four miles east of Seneca. George Adriance was born October 28, 1888. Miss Dora Ad- riance was born August 23, 1880. Their parents were Joseph and Mary (Todd) Adriance. Their father, Joseph Adriance, emigrated from Dutchess county, New York, in the spring of 1878, and settled on a tract of raw land in Adams township, Nemaha county. He improved this land and was married in September of that same year to Mary Todd, who came to Kansas by the overland route from Marion county, Ohio, with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Todd, soon after the close of the Civil war. The Todds located first in Capioma township, Nemaha county, and later moved to a farm on Tennessee creek, in Adams township. Mrs. Mary Adriance was educated in the Seneca schools, and taught for eight years in Nemaha county. Three children were born to Joseph and Mary (Todd) Adriance, as follows: Frank, born March 19, 1884, married in August, 1908 to Mary Moriarty of Seneca, lives on a farm near Blaine in Pottawatomie county, and has two children, namely: James Jay, aged six years, and Helen M., aged three years. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Adriance lived on their pioneer farm for twenty-three years when they sold it to R. L. Wheeler, and then purchased a small farm in the southwest part of Seneca, now owned by J. R. Baldwin. Both died during the same week in February, 1908.
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