USA > Kansas > Reno County > History of Reno County, Kansas; its people, industries and institutions, Volume II > Part 6
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It was during his pastorate at Hutchinson that Doctor Moore was selected as a member of the committee which organized the presbytery with which the Presbyterian church at that point is still connected, and it was he and the Rev. Mr. Overstreet who drew the first standing rules for the gov- ernment of the presbytery, and no other man has been so long of so effi- ciently connected with the work of the presbytery as was he. Upon leaving Hutchinson, in 1880. Doctor Moore filled charges at Carthage, Illinois ; Columbus, Kansas: Ft. Worth, Texas, and El Paso, same state, and in 1887 returned to Hutchinson to pass the remainder of his days among the mem- bers of his family and among the firm friends he had made during the time of his long pastorate there in pioneer days. His interest in Hutchinson and in her people never waned and in the very hour of his death, at a few min- utes past nine o'clock on .August 2, 1900, the aged clergyman feebly ex-
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pressed his regret that the state of his health would prevent his attendance on the annual meeting of the old settlers of Reno county that was being held in Hutchinson that day.
To the Rev. Daniel M. and Mary K. ( Ellison ) Moore three children were born, W. E. Moore, of Peru, Illinois; E. M. Moore, manager of the Hutchinson Printing Company, of Hutchinson, and Mrs. E. L. Meyer, wife of the president of the First National Bank of Hutchinson.
Edward M. Moore was born in the town of Greenfield, Highland county, Ohio, in 1861, during the period of his father's pastorate at that place and he was seven years of age when he came with his parents to Kan- sas in 1868. His early schooling was received at Lawrence and he remained there until in March, 1874, when he followed his father to Hutchinson and became "devil," or printer's factotum in the office of the Hutchinson News. In the early fall of that year. W. F. Wallace started the Independent in Hutchinson and young Moore transferred his services to that paper, con- tinuing as printer there under the successive ownerships of E. Conway Bruffy, à Virginian, and Jap Turpin, an Indianian. When the Interior Herald was launched by W. C. Bowles, J. W. Kanaga and others, with Henry Inman as editor, Mr. Moore went over to that paper, serving the owners thereof as printer until they sold to J. W. Kauaga, after which he continned with the latter owner for three years, doing the printing of the paper under contract. In 1882 Mr. Moore left Hutchinson for a time and went to Peru, Illinois, where he was engaged as shipping clerk by the Illinois Zinc Company until 1886. in which year he returned to Hutchinson and engaged there in the plumbing business for one year, at the end of which time he resumed his connection with the printing trades, taking employment in the printing department of the Hutchinson Notes, under R. M. Eansley, editor. Presently Mr. Moore was given charge of the circula- tion department of the News and when the Sponslers bought the paper he was made advertising manager. In 1895 Edward M. Moore and W. Y. Morgan bought the Hutchinson Daily News, Mr. Moore acting as business manager of the same until 1908. In 1909 the Hutchinson Printing Com- pany ("Jay Hawker Press") was incorporated to take over the job-printing department of the News, that paper no longer to engage in the job-printing business, and Mr. Moore was made manager of the same, which position he still holds, retaining his interests in both the printing company and the newspaper.
Edward M. Moore has been twice married, his first wife having been Clara A. McInturff, who was born in Trenton, Missouri, daughter of
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Andrew and Lucretia McInturff, early settlers of Reno county, who home- steaded a place in Lincoln township in 1873. later moving to Hutchinson, where Mr. MeInturff became a well-known photographer, in which business he continued until his death. Mrs. Moore died in 1908, without issue, and on August II, 1911, Edward M. Moore married, secondly, Belle Rice, who was born in Ohio, daughter of George and Elizabeth Rice, the former of whom, now deceased. for years was a well-known building contractor in Hutchinson, who erected the Masonic Temple, numerous school buildings and other important buildings throughout the city and county, and whose widow is now making her home with Mr. and Mrs. Moore.
Mr. Moore is very prominently connected with the order of the United Commercial Travelers, in the affairs of which he takes a warm and active interest. He has served as the grand treasurer in the state organization of that popular association and has several times been a delegate to the national conventions of the organization.
SAMUEL G. PUTERBAUGH.
Samuel G. Puterbaugh, a well-known retired banker of Hutchinson, this county, is a native of Ohio, he having been born on a farm in the Xenia neighborhood of that state on November 11, 1840. son of David and Cath- erine ( Snyder ) Puterbaugh, the former of whom, born in 1800 died in 1864. and the latter, born in 1803, died in 1853.
David Puterbaugh was born near the town of Hagerstown, Pennsyl- vania, and was reared on a farm there. Following his marriage, he and his wife moved to Greene county, Ohio, where they lived on a farm until 1850, in which year they moved with their family to Illinois, settling in Tazewell county, where they established a new home, in which Mrs. Puter- baugh died three years later. David Puterbaugh lived until 1864 and became one of the well-to-do men of that section, having been the owner of more than one thousand acres of land. While living in Ohio, he and his wife were members of the German Lutheran church, but upon moving to Illi- nois, finding no church of their denomination there, became members of the Christian church. They were the parents of ten children, of whom only one besides the subject of this biographical review is now surviving, David Puterbaugh, a real-estate speculator and traveling salesman, of Kansas City. Another brother. John Puterbaugh was for years a resident of Hutchinson.
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this county, he having been engaged in the agricultural business there and, in boom times, was well known as a real-estate speculator. He died in 1888.
Samuel G. Puterbaugh was ten years of age when his family moved from Ohio to Illinois and in the latter state he went to school but one year. He grew up on the farm in Tazewell county and upon the first call to arms after Ft. Sumter had been fired on enlisted in the Eighth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, for the three-months service, and served in that regiment for six months, at the end of which time he enlisted in the Third Illinois Cavalry, with which he served until the close of the war, the greater part of this service having been in the Army of the West, under General Grant. Mr. Puterbaugh was wounded twice, once in 1862 and again in 1863. At the battle of Lafayette, Mississippi, he was taken prisoner and for eight months was kept in durance by the Confederates, for one month at Mobile and the remainder of the time in Belle Isle, Richmond. He then was exchanged and until the end of the war served in the Tennessee cam- paign, near Memphis and Vicksburg.
At the close of the war, Mr. Puterbaugh engaged in the dry-goods busi- ness at Mackinaw, in Tazewell county, Illinois, in partnership with his brother John, which connection continued for three years, at the end of which time the brothers sold their store, John coming to Kansas and Samuel G. moving to Pekin, county seat of his home county, where for four years he served as deputy clerk of the circuit court, at the end of which time he became a candidate for the office of county clerk, on the Greeley ticket, and was defeated by only sixty votes. He then went to Chicago, where he entered the service of the John V. Farwell Company, with which he was connected for five years in the capacity of a traveling salesman, after which he transferred his services to Carson, Pirie, Scott & Company and was for twenty-five years engaged with that company as a general salesman, having charge of their Kansas territory, meanwhile making his home in Chicago. He then became interested in the Webb-Freyschlag Company at Kansas City and, resigning his position in Chicago, moved to Kansas City and took charge of that company's affairs. This work, however, proved too confining and in 1904 Mr. Puterbaugh traded a part of his stock in the Webb-Freyschlag Company for a general store at Lyons, this state, and moved to the latter place, where he lived for two years. Upon finding his health completely restored he came to this county in 1907. locating at Hutch- inson, where he organized the Reno State Bank, though still retaining his store at Lyons. He was elected the first president of the Reno State Bank and served that institution in that capacity until the time of his retirement
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from active business affairs, and still makes his home in Hutchinson, being the owner of a very pleasant home at 1006 North Maine street, of modern style and very attractive, built in 1911.
On February 16, 1887, Samuel G. Puterbaugh was united in marriage to Nora L. Webb, who was born in Macon, Illinois, and who is a reader in the Christian Science church at Hutchinson. Mr. and Mrs. Puterbaugh have an adopted daughter, Elizabeth B., who was born in November, 1909. Mr. Puterbaugh is an active member of the Grand Army of the Republic.
MARTIN CHARLES BUSSINGER.
Martin Charles Bussinger, one of the best-known retired farmers of Reno county, now living in Hutchinson, former trustee of Center township, an honored veteran of the Civil War and one of the real pioneers of this county, he having been a resident here since the year 1873, is a native of Ohio, having been born in the village of Gnadenhutten, Tuscarawas county, that state. June 2, 1843, son of Anselm and Sarah (Keiser) Bussinger, the former a native of the republic of Switzerland and the latter of Pennsylvania, born in the city of Philadelphia.
Anselm Bussinger was born in 1802 and was about nine years old when he came to this country from Switzerland with his parents in 1811, the family locating in the city of Philadelphia, where young Anselm grew to manhood and where he learned the cabinet-maker's trade. He married in that city Sarah Keiser, who was born in Philadelphia in 1806, daughter of a physician, and presently moved to Gnadenhutten, in Tuscarawas county, where he was for some years engaged at his trade of cabinet-making, later, in April, 1859, moving to Indiana and locating on a farm in the neighborhood of the city of Terre Haute. Years later he and his wife came to Kansas and their last days were spent in this state, his death occuring in Reno county in 1876 and hers. ten years later, in 1886, in Kingman county. Anselm Buss- inger was a Republican and he and his wife were members of the Congrega- tional church. They were the parents of six children, those besides the subject of this biographical review being as follow: Henrietta, born in Philadelphia, who married Dr. Samuel B. Livingston : Henry, born in Phila- delphia : John, born in Pittsburgh ; Sophia, born at Gnadenhutten, Ohio, and Louisa, also born at the last named place, which also was the birthplace of M. C. Bussinger.
Martin, le Bussinger
Sarah & Bussäger
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Martin C. Bussinger was about sixteen years of age when the family moved from Ohio to Indiana, in the spring of 1859, locating on a farm in the Terre Haute neighborhood, and he was living there when the Civil War broke out. Upon the call for volunteers to defend the flag and suppress the rebellion, Mr. Bussinger, following the example of thousands of other patriotic young men of Indiana, abandoned his civil pursuits and offered his services as a soldier. He enlisted in Company K, Eighty-fifth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, which was organized at Terre Haute, John P. Baird, colonel; Lewis Pucket, captain of Company K. The Eighty-fifth Indiana was mistered in on August 12, 1862, and was mustered out, June 12, 1865, at the close of the war. Mr. Bussinger followed the fortunes of this regiment from the start to finish, participating in the marches and minor skirmishes, in the early months of service, in Kentucky and Tennessee; the severe engagement at Thompson's Station, Tennessee, March 3, 1863, when the greater part of the brigade to which the regiment was attached was over- whelmed by a superior force and taken prisoners; in the Atlanta campaign under Sherman, participating in the battles of Resaca, Dallas, Culp's Farm, Peach Tree Creek and others; in the march to the sea, the siege and capture of Savannah ; thence through the Carolinas, participating in the last severe engagement of the war, at Averysboro, North Carolina; thence on to Ben- tonville, Goldsboro and Raleigh, being. stationed at the latter place when Lee surrendered; thence on to Washington, participating in the final Grand Review of the army at the close of the war.
During Sherman's march from Atlanta to the sea, the army was wholly dependent upon the country through which it passed for subsistence. Details were made from the several commands and sent out each day, some distance from the line of march, to gather food and forage. These details were under command of an officer and a strong guard as a protection against straggling bands of the enemy. Not infrequently soldiers of Sherman's army would leave the command to forage on their own account, taking the risk of being captured and severely deal with by the enemy. Mr. Bussinger took a risk of this kind, and a narration of his experience in getting back with his "supplies" to the "safety zone" will be of interest in this personal sketch.
"It was dangerous business, going out foraging," said he, "for the 'Johnnies' were prowling about all the time. Once I came very near being captured. I was sent by my lieutenant down to a white house to forage around for food. He said it was half a mile, but I found it a good deal farther.
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"There were three women on the porch. I kept my eye on them, for I didn't want to take any chances and I wasn't sure whether or not they would fight. I backed away from them, meanwhile keeping an eye on them, while I searched for food. In the smoke house I found some sides of bacon, sev- eral of which I hung to my saddle and then started off. I didn't have a gun and when I saw a man ahead I made an effort to get away, but he saw me and took after me calling on me to surrender; but I kept on going and finally got away. I found that the 'Johnnies' had driven my company away when I got back to where I had left it, and I had a close call in finding my company.
"At another time, soon after leaving Atlanta, I went out foraging on my own hook. We were getting short of food and I was mighty hungry. I decided to go out and see what I could get. I was warned not to go, for the rebels were all around us, and they were hanging every forager they caught and filling the bodies full of bullets. But I decided that I'd take a chance. I was so hungry that I didn't much care ; I'd about as soon be killed as to die of starvation, I thought. So, early the next morning, I struck out before the boys were up. In a short time I came to a house and after looking around found I was safe. Finding a sack of flour in the house I picked up the sack and started off with it. I ran across an old negro and made him carry the sack for me. He begged hard to be relieved, as he said there were rebels all around; 'they's thousands of 'em right over dar in de woods,' he said. but I made him go ahead and carry the sack. He begged every step of the way. and was almost scared to death, for fear there'd be a 'reb' behind a tree ahead. Finally, we got to the road which would take me to our lines, when I saw some chickens that tempted me. I knew I'd better be hurrying along, but I couldn't leave those chickens. The old negro kept insisting that the 'rebs' were coming, but I made him catch three hens and a mule for me. Then, with my sack of flour and three chickens on the mule, I struck off down the road. I didn't meet any 'rebs' and got back to camp safe with the supplies. We had good eating in my mess for a few days."
After his discharge from the army, at the close of the war, Mr. Buss- inger returned to Terre Haute and remained there until the fall of 1866. when he went to Coles county, Illinois, where he remained for about two years, working on a farm, and where he was married, after which he moved to lowa and located at Charitan, in Lucas county, where he remained until the fall of 1873, when he and his family came to Kansas and located in Reno county, where they ever since have made their home. It was in September,
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1873, that Mr. Bussinger settled on his homestead in Center township, this county, he and his family thus having been among the earliest pioneers of that part of the county. He developed that homestead farm and became a large landowner and one of the most influential residents of the county. For years he served as trustee of Center township, and in other ways did his part in the development of the civic interests of the community. Mr. Buss- inger is a Republican and has, ever since coming to this county, given his earnest attention to local political affairs. In 1901 Mr. Bussinger sold his farm and moved to Hutchinson, where he started his children in business and has since then lived retired.
It was on December 2, 1867. in Coles county, Illinois, that Martin C. Bussinger was united in marriage to Sarah C. Johnston, who also was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, November 2, 1842, daughter of Christopher and Grace L. (Kennedy ) Johnston, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of Ohio, and to this union ten children were born, three of whom died in infancy, the others being as follow: Gracie, born in Coles county, Illinois, who married Lincoln S. Davis and died at Partridge, leaving a daughter, Charlotte G. : Charles, born in Lucas county, Iowa, who married Eliza Paine ; Bertha, also born in Lucas county, who married George H. Pickens, a Reno county farmer, and has five children, George, Grace, Bertha, Claude and Harold; Harry, born on the homestead farm in Center township, who married Abbie Pickens and has four children, Charles, William, George and Robert ; Eugene, born in Center township, who married Selma Austman: Louise, born in Center township, who married C. E. Pickens, a Reno county farmer. and has three children, Carl, Helen and Francis, and Annette, also born in Center township, who married H. L. Eales, proprietor of an automobile repair shop at Hutchinson, and has one child, Bertha.
Mr. and Mrs. Bussinger are earnest members of the Methodist church and for years have been active in the work of that denomination in this county. Upon coming to this county they brought their letters from the Methodist church at their former home and put the same with these of the congregation of the First Methodist church at Hutchinson, with which they ever since have been connected. Mr. Bussinger was a member of the original building committee of the church and was superintendent of construction when the first church was built ; also, as an officer of the church, taking an active part in the work of refurnishing and decorating the edifice in February, 1908. He is now a member of the board of trustees of the First Methodist church and continues to maintain his warm interest in the affairs of the same.
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PET NATION.
Pet Nation, cattleman and banker, vice-president of the First National Bank of Hutchinson and for years one of the leading factors in the com- mercial and financial life of that city, though a Hoosier by birth has been a resident of Kansas since he was a boy fourteen years old and a resident of this county since he was eighteen, hence is as true and loyal a son of Reno as though "native and to the manner born." He was born on a farm in Henry county, Indiana, in 1864. son of Sylvan and Sarah Nation, both natives of that state, the latter of whom died in 1903. at the age of sixty- two, and the former of whom is living at Emporia, this state, in his eightieth year, for many years one of the best-known cattlemen in that section of the state.
It was in 1881 that Sylvan Nation left his farm in Indiana and with his family came to Kansas. He located at Emporia and in that vicinity engaged in the cattle business on a constantly growing scale until he presently became known as one of the most extensive ranchmen in the state and is still actively engaged in the business in which for years he has made so distinct a success. His three sons followed in his footsteps and all became successful, the subject of this sketch having two brothers, Fred and Carl. who are largely engaged in the cattle business, with headquarters at Emporia.
Pet Nation was seventeen years old when the family came to Kansas in 1881 and he at once entered, heart and soul, into the fine free life of the open range. As a cowboy on his father's ranch, he reached his physical growth carly and learned the cattle business from the bottom up, early becoming a thoroughly experienced and competent cattleman. When eighteen years old, in 1882, he came to Reno county and started in the cattle business on his own account. Six years later, in 1888, following his mar- riage. he moved onto a half section of land in the northern part of Reno township. on Cow creek, and there established his home, but presently his operations had expanded to such a point that he found he could conduct his affairs more advantageously from the vantage ground of the city and in 1890 he moved from the farm into Hutchinson, where he ever since has made his home, directing his cattle business and other extensive interests from that point. Some time after locating in Hutchinson Mr. Nation sold his Reno county ranch and bought a much more extensive ranch over in Chase county, which he has since operated very successfully. He also is actively identified with the financial and commercial interests of this com-
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munity and as vice-president of the First National Bank of Hutchinson, the oldest and strongest financial institution in central Kansas, is recognized as one of the leading and most influential factors in the financial life of this section of the state, and has done much to advance the material welfare of the community.
In 1888 Mr. Nation was united in marriage to Nettic Price, daughter of P. B. and Sarah Price, the former of whom, for years was one of Hutchinson's leading real-estate men, is now deceased and the latter of whom is still living in Hutchinson. To this union one child has been born, a daughter, Eula, who married Edward W. Meyer, assistant cashier of the First National Bank of Hutchinson, and lives at 510 Avenue A, east. In 1902 Mr. Nation erected a fine residence at 512 Avenue A, east, and there he and his wife are very pleasantly, situated. Mr. Nation is a member of the Hutchinson Commercial Club and takes an earnest interest in the affairs of that organization, constantly on the alert to promote any movement hav- ing to do with the further development of his home town.
CAPT. JOHN M. HEDRICK.
Capt. John M. Hedrick, who enjoys the local distinction of being the only man ever elected to three terms as sheriff of Reno county, is a veteran „of the Civil War and one of the real pioneers of this county, he having come here the year after the first permanent settlement in the county, when this section was a virgin plain, buffaloes and hostile Indians then roaming at will hereabout.
John M. Hedrick was born in Clark county, Ohio, August 22, 1840, son of Isaac and Elizabeth ( Patterson) Hedrick, the former of whom was a native of Kentucky and the latter of Pennsylvania. . Isaac Hedrick was a prominent farmer and stock buyer and drover, well known throughout eastern and central Ohio, whose custom it was to buy up cattle, fatten them on his farm and drive them to the eastern markets. During the Civil War he served the Union cause as a member of the famous Ohio "squirrel hunters" and was a patriotic and influential citizen, eight of whose sons served as soldiers in the Union army during the war and the eldest of whom, David, also had been a soldier in the Mexican War. Isaac Hedrick was twice mar- ried, his first wife, mother of the subject of this sketch, having been the mother of seven children. Following her death, Mr. Hedrick married a
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widow who had five children by her former marriage and to this second union ten children were born, making twenty-two children in the Hedrick family. Captain Hedrick has but one full brother living. William, a farmer, who lives at Palmyra, Missouri. Another brother, Joseph, now deceased, was for years a well-known painter in Hutchinson, this county.
The boyhood of John M. Hedrick was spent upon the paternal farm in Ohio, school periods being limited to attendance three months a year in a little log school house, and very early he began assisting his father in the business of driving cattle, making trips through Ohio and into Illinois and Indiana after cattle, which later would be driven to eastern markets. He spent the winter of 1859 with his brother in Brown county, Illinois, return- ing the next spring to his home in Ohio. On April 17, 1861, John M. Hedrick enlisted, at Columbus, Ohio, in Company F, Twenty-second Regi- ment. Ohio Volunteer Infantry, in response to the President's call for three- months volunteers. In September of that same year he re-enlisted, this time taking service in the Fourth Ohio Cavalry, with which he served until July, 1865. a period of nearly four years. He was mustered in as a private, but gradually was promoted and in the summer of 1864 was made the cap- tain of his company. Captain Hedrick's service throughout the war was with the Army of the Cumberland and he participated in most of the severe engagements undertaken by that great army. On his twenty-fourth birth- day, during Kilpatrick's raid at Lovejoy Station, near Atlanta, Captain Hed- rick was wounded and for a time was laid up in the hospital. During Sherman's march to the sea he was in Wilson's cavalry brigade and fought at Stone's River and in all the cavalry raids around Chattanooga and Atlanta. Seven of Captain Hedrick's brothers also served the Union cause as soldiers during the Civil War and at one time one of his half-brothers, Louis, was serving in his company.
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