USA > Kansas > Reno County > History of Reno County, Kansas; its people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 53
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John Nafzinger received his education in the public school in the vicin- ity of his boyhood home in Maryland and remained on the farm assisting his father until he was twenty-two years of age, after which, in the spring of 1883, he went to Ohic and for a year worked on a farm in Champaign " county, that state. The next spring, 1884, his attention having been attracted to the stories of the wonderful possibilities awaiting energetic settlers in this portion of Kansas, he came to Reno county and stayed here a year, "getting the lay of the land." He then went over into Kiowa county and entered a claim there, remaining on the same until he had "proved up," after which he returned to Reno county, married and settled on a tract of land which he rented in that section of the county which later became Yoder township, and there he lived for four years, prospering meanwhile, and at the con- clusion of that tenancy bought a farm of eighty acres in the same section. There he made his home for four years, after which he rented a larger farm, and in 1903 sold his eighty acres and bought a quarter section in Reno township, on which he ever since has made his home and where he has done very well in his farming operations, in addition to his general farming paying considerable attention to the raising of fine Holstein cattle. The year after buying his present farm, Mr. Nafzinger moved the house which then stood on it to its present location, subjected the same to exten- sive remodeling and improvement and has a very pleasant home, in which he and his family take much comfort and pleasure.
In February, 1889, John Nafzinger was united in marriage to Emma Young, who was born in Montgomery county, Missouri, daughter of Elisha and Lydia Young, the former of whom has been dead for some years, and the latter of whom now makes her home with the family of her daughter, Mrs. Nafzinger, and to this union six children have been born, namely: Alma, born on November 14, 1891, was married on December 29. 1915, to D. S. Lauver, of Emporia, Kansas; Frank H .. March 20, 1893; Hattie M., February 21, 1894; Lewis P., June 12, 1898; Lena B., April 15, 1902, and John L., February 27, 1907. Mr.,and Mrs. Nafzinger are members of the
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Poplar Methodist church and their children have been reared in that faith. Mr. Nafzinger is a Republican, but reserves to himself a certain indepen- dence in his political views and votes for the man instead of the party in local elections.
RAY G. STREETER.
Ray G. Streeter, advertising manager of the Carey Salt Company. of Hutchinson, and one of the most affable and energetic young business men of that city, is a native of the Empire state, having been born on April 30, 1887. in the village of Weedsport, Cayuga county, New York, the son of Albert E. and Viola (Hunter) Streeter, both natives of that same county, the former of whom was born at Weedsport on February 5. 1850, and the latter at Conquest. March 9. 1848, both of whom are still living and have for years made their home in Hutchinson. this county.
Albert E. Streeter is the son of Joseph B. and Adaline G. (Eldridge) Streeter, both natives of Cayuga county, New York, the former of whom fell a victim to the deadly tropical fever while crossing the isthmus of Panama, en route to the gold fields of California, in 1851, and whose body was buried on the isthmus. Albert E. Streeter was but one year old when his father died and his widowed mother was left in comparatively destitute circumstances. Early in life, therefore, he began working in an effort to help his mother, even at nine years of age beginning to contribute to the family support, and was his mother's main dependence during the rest of her life, she making her home with him after he had established a home of his own, spending her last days in his home in Hutchinson, where she died in 1900. at the advanced age of eighty-five years. In the early part of his young manhood. Albert E. Streeter worked as a teamster and as a farm laborer and after his marriage, in 1872. engaged in the coal and lumber business at Weedsport, his native town, and was thus engaged until 1887, in which year he and his family came to this county, locating at Hutchinson, where they established a permanent home. Mr. Streeter had learned the con- fectioner's trade during his boyhood and upon his arrival in Hutchinson opened a confectionery shop and restaurant at 18 South Main street, later in the same year opening the Streeter hotel at the same number and there continued in business until 1902, in which year he bought the New York hotel. at the corner of Avenue A and Main street, which he successfully conducted until in December. 1911, when he sold out and has since been
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living retired from active business, a portion of his time being pleasantly occupied in a labor of love on behalf of the Hutchinson "refuge home," a most commendable local charity, for which he acts gratuitously as steward, his long experience in the hotel business giving a particular value to his service as a buyer for the home.
On December 19, 1872, Albert E. Streeter was married to Viola Hun- ter, born in the same county as himself, daughter of John and Anna Jane (Emerson) Hunter, the former of whom was born in the north of Ireland, coming to the United States during the days of his young manhood, settling in Cayuga county, New York, where he became a successful blacksmith and the owner of two farms. To this union four children were born, namely : Inez, who died at the age of eight months; Lila Blanche, who died at the age of three weeks; Iva M., who married Miles M. Stephens, proprietor of a plumbing establishment in Hutchinson, and has one child, a son, Kenneth M., and Ray G., the immediate subject of this biographical review. Mr. and Mrs. Streeter are members of the Hadley Methodist church and their chil- dren were reared in that faith.
Ray G. Streeter was but an infant when his parents moved to Hutch- inson, hence he was reared in that city. Following the completion of the course in the public schools, he attended the Hutchinson high school one year, after which he entered the Salt City Business College at Hutchinson, from which he was graduated, and on May 1, 1903, entered the employ of the Carey Salt Company, as a stenographer. He presently became a book- keeper for the same company and later was promoted to the responsible position of secretary to Senator Emerson Carey, head of the great Carey interests, which position he occupied until 1908, in which year he was further promoted to the position of advertising manager of the Carey Salt Com- pany, a position which he still holds, having performed admirable work in that connection. In addition to this, Mr. Streeter is secretary of the Hutch- inson Salt Company, a subsidiary of the Carey interests, and in other ways makes himself useful in behalf of the Carey industries. He has gained a fine reputation among advertising men throughout this section and takes an active part in the deliberations of the National Association of Advertising Managers, among the members of which he is deservedly popular.
On November 20, 1912, Ray G. Streeter was united in marriage to Edith May Hunter, who was born at Port Byron, New York. Mr. and Mrs. Streeter have a very pleasant home at 411 Sixth avenue, East, and take a proper and influential interest in the social and cultural affairs of the city,
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and are members of the Hutchinson Country Club, Mr. Streeter being an enthusiastic golfer, a form of relaxation in which he takes much delight. He is a member of the Masonic lodge and takes much interest in Masonry.
ELMER EVERETT.
Elmer Everett, a prominent, well-known influential and well-to-do retired farmer and stockman of Center township, an honored veteran of the Civil War and a pioneer of Reno county, is a native of Ohio, having been born on a farm in Trumbull county, that state, August 7, 1842, son of Benjamin and Catherine (Lowery) Everett, the former a native of New York state and the latter of Ohio, whose last days were spent in Knox county, Illinois, Benjamin Everett dying at his farm home there on December 25, 1886, at the age of seventy-seven, and his widow, less than a year later, July 16, 1887, at the age of sixty-eight, both having been long honored and respected residents of that section of Illinois.
Benjamin Everett was reared on a farm in New York state and when twenty-one years of age went to Trumbull county, Ohio, where he married a young woman who had been born and reared in that county and bought a farm, remaining there until 1852, in which year he sold out and with his family moved to Illinois, buying a farm in Knox county, that state, where he and his wife spent the rest of their lives. Benjamin Everett was a stead- fast, sober citizen, faithful in all the relations of life. He originally was a Whig, but upon the organization of the Republican party transferred his political allegiance to that party and ever thereafter was a stanch Republican. He and his wife were earnest members of the Christian church and their children were reared in that faith. There were six of these children, of whom the subject of this biographical review was the third in order of birth, the others being as follow: Lucretia, who married Elijah Woolson and died in Knox county. Illinois; Ezra, former judge of probate for Greeley county, this state, a wealthy retired ranchman, now living at Tribune; Lucy, who married Adam Martin and who is now deceased, both she and her husband having spent their last days in California; Amos, a prosperous ranchman, of Santa Anna, California, and Bishop, a farmer of the Part- ridge neighborhood in this county, who died in 1910.
Elmer Everett was about ten years old when his parents moved to Knox county and he grew to manhood on the home farm there. On August
Elmer Everett and Pride
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I, 1862, he then being not quite twenty years of age, he enlisted in Company K, Eighty-third Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, for service during the Civil War and served with that regiment until it was mustered out at Nashville, Tennessee, on July 26, 1865. The Eighty-third Illinois partici- pated in the second battle of Ft. Donelson and for a year thereafter was assigned to guard duty at that fort, attached to the Army of the Cumberland, and was sent thence into Georgia and Alabama, taking part in the campaigns against the Confederate generals, Wheeler and Forest. Mr. Everett served under Generals Thomas, Rosecrans and Sherman and bore the part of a true soldier throughout all the years of his service. He is an active member of Joe Hooker Post, Grand Army of the Republic, at Hutchinson, in the affairs of which he for years has taken a warm interest, and has not missed taking part in every state and national encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic for many years.
At the close of his military service Mr. Everett returned to the home farm, where he remained for a year, at the end of which time he began working on his own account on farms in that same neighborhood and was thus engaged for three years. He then, in the spring of 1869, married and rented a farm in Knox county and there made his home for five years, at the end of which time, in 1874, he and his family came to Kansas, settling in Reno county, arriving here in September of that year, just after the men- orable grasshopper visitation which left not a bit of living plant life in this section of the state. Mr. Everett bought the relinquishment of a homestead right to the southwest quarter of section 14, in Center township, and there established his home. He built a fourteen-by-twenty shanty on his claim and walked clear to the Indian Territory trying to buy a yoke of oxen. He started with nothing, comparatively speaking, but he was a good farmer and a capable manager and his operations prospered from the very beginning. He engaged in wheat farming with his yoke of oxen until he had "proved up" his claim and two years after settling there built a larger and more comfort- able house. After establishing his homestead he was able to borrow a bit of money, which he invested in a bunch of heifers and presently had his place well stocked with cattle. As he continued to prosper he was enabled to extend his investments, enlarging both his herds and landholdings, until in 1903, in which year he retired from the active labors of the ranch, he was the owner of one thousand two hundred and eighty acres of choice land in Center and Troy townships and had long been recognized as one of the best stockmen in this part of the state. Mr. Everett's specialty in the live-
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stock line was Shorthorns, his cattle for breeding purposes being in wide demand throughout this whole country. He also raised pure-bred Poland China hogs and kept a draft-horse sire and a roadster sire, the services of which did much to improve the strain of horses hereabout. In 1886 Mr. Everett erected the imposing house and barn which still stand on his well- kept homestead tract and which at that time were considered to be the finest buildings in the township. In addition to his large land interests in Reno county Mr. Everett also is the owner of a fine farm in Oklahoma and has made other profitable investments which distinguish him as being one of Reno county's most successful pioneer homesteaders.
In 1903 when Mr. and Mrs. Everett retired from the ranch a division of the land was made among the children, each being given land or the equivalent thereof to the value of ten thousand dollars, the land values being placed low, at that ; and Mr. Everett invested the balance of his money in approved municipal bonds, first mortgages and stock of the First National Bank of Hutchinson, the income from which investments provides more than enough for the needs of this excellent couple, who since their retirement have been spending the greater part of their time in Colorado and California, their summers in the former state and their winters in the latter, taking much pleasure in this manner of spending the pleasant "evening time" of their lives. If Mr. and Mrs. Everett live until April 20, 1919, a consummation most devoutely hoped for by their hosts of friends, they will celebrate their "golden wedding" anniversary, their marriage having taken place on April 20. 1860. Mrs. Everett then having been Millie Axtell. She was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, daughter of Joseph Axtell and wife, the former of whom died while he and his family were making their way from Pennsylvania to Illinois. His widow died the following fall in Warren county, Illinois, the daughter. Millie, thus being left an orphan at the age of fifteen years. The latter grew to womanhood in Knox county, Illinois. and there married her soldier husband, to which happy union three children have been born. Arthur C., unmarried. who is the owner and operator of the west half of section 23, township 24, range 7 west, in this county, received by him from his father; Leo, owner, by the same form of gift, of the southeast quarter of section 14. township 24, range 7 west, who married Grace Osborn and has a very pleasant home on his fine farm, and Elvessie, who married Franze Mellberg and occupies the old homestead in Center township. Mr. and Mrs. Mellberg have one child, a daughter. Evelyn Mae.
Mr. and Mrs. Everett for many years have been among the most active
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workers in the Methodist church at Partridge and are held in the highest esteem throughout that entire neighborhood, they ever having been earnest in all good works affecting the vicinity whose development they have pro- moted from the very days of the beginning of a social order thereabout. Mr. Everett for years gave his most earnest attention to the educational interests of that neighborhood and for ten years served as a member of the board of trustees of the Reno county high school at Nickerson. He is a Republican, having been furloughed home from the army to cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln, and for many years it was his proud boast that he "always voted the ticket straight," but in recent years, with the changing times, he tries to vote for the best man, irrespective of party. For many years he was precinct committeeman for his party and for six years, from the year 1876, served as a member of the board of county commissioners. Later he served as justice of the peace and in all his public service ever had an eye single to the public good. Mr. Everett is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and of Modern Woodmen of America, in the affairs of both of which organizations he has taken much interest.
CHARLES M. SNYDER.
Charles M. Snyder, a well-known hardware merchant of Hutchinson, this county, is a native of Indiana, having been born in Whitley county, that state, on June 23, 1869, only son of Alexander and Victorine (Miller) Snyder, the former of whom, born in Preble county, Ohio, died in 1873, at the age of twenty-eight, and the latter, born in Indiana, died in 1875, at the age of twenty-seven, and both are buried in a county churchyard near Columbia City, Indiana.
Alexander Snyder moved to Whitley county, Indiana, when a lad with his parents, who were among the pioneers of the section in which they spent the remainder of their lives. He was a studious lad and early equipped himself as a school teacher and was engaged in teaching when the Civil War broke out. He enlisted for service in an Indiana regiment and served valiantly until his left arm was shattered by a bullet, the serious character of the wound necessitating the amputation of the arm. He died when his only child, the subject of this sketch, was but four years old and his widow sur- vived him but two years. Thus early bereft of both parents, Charles M. Snyder was taken in charge by his maternal grandparents, Samuel Miller
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and wife, who lived on a farm four miles north of Columbia City, Indiana. Grandfather Miller died when his orphaned grandson was eleven years old and one year later, in 1881, the lad came to Kansas to make his home with his uncle, Clark C. Miller, one of the pioneers of Reno county, who is still living on his extensive ranch in Valley township.
During the first two summers he spent in Reno county, Charles M. Snyder herded cattle on his uncle's ranch during the summers and attended the district school in the winters. He has vivid recollections of the great prairie fires of that period and of his labors in helping to fight the sweep of the billows of flame. He lived with his uncle until he was eighteen years of age, after which, for one year, he worked on neighboring farms and then, in 1888. when nineteen years old, he left the farm and located in Hutchin- son, where he worked for a few months in a livery barn. In 1889 he began working for the Kansas Grain Company in that city and there his work was performed so well and faithfully that he soon was advanced to the posi- tion of supervisor and grain tester. Mr. Snyder remained with that com- pany until 1900, in which year he decided to go farther west and went to Colorado, where he entered a homestead claim in Powers county. Nine months later he sold that claim to advantage and returned to Hutchinson, where he re-entered the service of the Kansas Grain Company. In March, 1902, he formed a partnership with James Madden in the second-hand store business and in June of that same year took an active hand in the manage- ment of the store, another partner being taken into the store at the same time, the firm being known as Madden, Snyder & Raun. Presently, Mad- den sold his interest and a year later Mr. Snyder bought the remaining interest and operated the place alone. He presently changed the line of his business to a retail hardware store, under the name of C. M. Snyder & Company, doing business at 317 North Main street, and has ever since been thus engaged, doing a fine trade in the retail hardware line, also handling paint and hot-air furnaces, with a tinshop on the side, and is regarded as one of the representative and progressive merchants of Hutchinson.
On June 17, 1896, Charles M. Snyder was united in marriage to Hattie Cline, who was born in Augusta county, Virginia, daughter of Samuel and Mary F. Cline, who came from Virginia to Kansas in 1881, first settling on a farm in Russell county and later moving to Hutchinson, where Mr. Cline died and his widow is now living with her daughter, Mrs. Snyder. To Mr. and Mrs. Snyder three children have been born, Paul, born on July 8, 1897. a student in the Hutchinson high school, who also is a valuable assist-
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ant to his father in the store; Mary Margaret, AApril 2, 1908, and Thornton, March 24, 1914. The Snyders live in an attractive home at 226 West Eleventh street. Mr. and Mrs. Snyder are members of the Methodist church, of which Mr. Snyder is a trustee and also as assistant superintend- ent of the Sunday School.
Mr. 'Snyder was a Republican until the organization of the Progressive party in 1912, at which time he transferred his political allegiance to the new party. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and has served in áll the chairs in the local lodge of that order. He also is a member of the encampment of that order and of the Daughters of Rebekah, in all of which he takes a warm interest. For sixteen years he was a mem- ber of the Knights and Ladies of Security.
NOAH HARDY.
Noah Hardy, veteran of the Civil War and prominently connected with the real-estate business in Hutchinson, this county, is a native of Illinois, having been born in Mercer county, this state, on March 8, 1844, son of Ashford and Sophia ( Morehead) Hardy, pioneers of that county.
Ashford Hardy was born in Virginia and when nine years of age moved with his parents to Muskingum county, Ohio, where he grew to man- hood and was married, shortly after which, in 1835, he and his wife emi- grated to Illinois, where, in Mercer county, he bought a tract of government land at one dollar and twenty-five cents an acre and there established their home. His wife was a native of Pennsylvania, who had moved to Muskin- gum county, Ohio, in her girlhood, with her parents. In the party which accompanied the Hardys to their new home in Illinois were five other famil- ies from their immediate neighborhood in Ohio and all became pioneer set- tlers in Mercer county. Ashford Hardy prospered and finally became the owner of four hundred and eighty acres of choice land. He spent the rest of his life there, his death occurring in 1871, at the age of sixty-nine. His widow survived him more than ten years, her death occurring in 1883. at the age of seventy-two years. She had been reared as a member of the United Presbyterian church, but upon going to Illinois became a member of the Christian church. Ashford Hardy was a Whig, but upon the organization of the Republican party became affiliated with the new party and was devoted to its principles until his death. He was an influential citizen of his locality
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and for years served as township trustee. He and his wife were the par- ents of eight children, namely: Albert, deceased; Eleanora, who married J. O. Edwards, deceased: Henry, deceased: John, who died at the age of twenty-four; George. who met a soldier's death while serving in the Union army during the Civil War, as a member of Company I, Seventeenth Regi- ment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry: Sarah, who married Capt. George W. Greenwood. now a retired farmer, living at Topeka, the capital of this state; Noah, the immediate subject of this sketch, and Delila, who married N. G. Guthrie, now retired, living at Aledo, Illinois.
Noah Hardy was reared on the home farm in Illinois and received his education in the district schools of his home neighborhood. When the Civil War broke out he attempted to enlist in Company C, Eleventh Illinois Cav- alry, Col. "Bob" Ingersoll's regiment, which was recruited in the neighbor- hood of his home, but on account of his age he was not permitted to enroll his name. Not daunted by this rejection he finally caught up with the regi- ment at Memphis, Tennessee, and there succeeded in having his name enrolled as a member of his home company, and with this regiment he served until he was mustered out in October. 1865. This regiment saw service mostly in the states of Tennessee and Mississippi and after eight months of service Mr. Hardy was assigned to detached duty in the headquarters of the Army of Mississippi, stationed at Vicksburg and at Jackson. While serving with his regiment he took part in Sherman's rapid raid to Meridian, Mississippi, during which more than one hundred miles of the Mobile & Ohio railway track was destroyed.
At the close of his military service, Mr. Hardy returned to his home in Illinois and presently became engaged in the live stock business, buying cattle thereabout for the Chicago market. In 1877 he came to Kansas, locating at Oneida, where he engaged in the real-estate business. Not long after locating there he bought the Oncida Chieftain, which newspaper he conducted for some years. In 1886, when the town of Jetmore was pro- jected, Mr. Hardy went to that point and started a newspaper, the Jetmore Sunflower, which he issued in connection with an earnest campaign he started there for the voting of a bonus to the Santa Fe railroad in order to induce that road to run its line through Jetmore, Mr. Hardy having laid out a very promising addition in the new town. The road struck the town, but the "boom" was of short duration and Mr. Hardy did not profit as he had expected to do. In 1895 he moved to Blackwell. Oklahoma, where he was engaged in the real-estate business until 1902, in which year he came to this
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