USA > Kansas > Shawnee County > History of Shawnee County, Kansas, and representative citizens > Part 41
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50
Mr. Skinner was married December 2, 1875, to Lizzie O. Leaf, and they have five children : Sue, wife of E. E. Olinger ; Ralph E. and George M., who are employed on the home farm; and Nellie S. and Alice E., who are students attending the Topeka High School. Mr. Skinner and family belong to the Presbyterian Church. Politically he is a stanch Republican.
HON. MATTHEW THOMPSON CAMPBELL.
HON. MATTHEW THOMPSON CAMPBELL, an attorney of Topeka, has resided in this city continuously since 1872. He was born at Bloomington, Indiana, May 2, 1846, and is a son of Matthew M. and Martha ( McPherters) Campbell. His grandfather, Arthur Lee Campbell, was the owner of a great tract of land in Kentucky, where the city of Louisville now stands, and was a warm friend of President Andrew Jackson, with whom he used to correspond relative to Indian affairs.
Matthew M. Campbell, father of our subject, was born in Tennessee and upon reaching manhood's estate went to Indiana. There he attended and graduated at the State University at Bloomington, and afterward taught the languages in that institution for a period of 15 years. He with his family came West to Kansas in 1860 as agent for the American Bible Society, visiting every house in the State. He returned to Indiana in 1862 and served as county superintendent of public instruction for a number of years. He
520
HISTORY OF SHAWNEE COUNTY
was also chaplain in the army in the Civil War. He again came to Kansas- in the later days of 1880 and located with the subject of our sketch at Topeka, where his wife died in 1881. He attained wide prominence as an educator, corresponding with educators all over the world, and contributed many articles for educational journals. His death occurred in December, 1897, and he lies buried by the side of his wife in the Topeka Cemetery. In politics he was a Republican and a strong temperance advocate.
Matthew Thompson Campbell first came to Topeka in 1860 with the rest of the family, but in a few years returned East to take a course in Eastman's Business College at Poughkeepsie, New York. He experienced a change of mind as to his career in business and decided to enter the legal profession. He entered the University of Indiana, and after graduation in 1869 came West to Atchison County, Kansas, reading law in the office of Hubbard & Glenn for two years. He was admitted to the bar at Atchison under Judge Nathan Price, and immediately thereafter began the practice of the law at Waterville, Marshall County, Kansas. In December, 1872, he came to Topeka where he has since practiced his profession. He has the confidence and esteem of a large clientage, as well as of the general public. He is a Republican in politics, and in 1876-77 represented the district north of the Kansas River in the State Legislature. He has also served as a member of the Board of Education of Topeka. He maintains his office at No. 531 Kansas avenue.
On September 3, 1871, Mr. Campbell was united in marriage with Louise Adams at Waterville, Kansas. She is a daughter of Henry J. Adams, who was the first Free-State mayor of Leavenworth and was one of the leaders of his party. His brother, Franklin G. Adams, a very prominent man, was graduated from Cincinnati College in 1852, and in 1858 was made probate judge of Atchison County, Kansas. In 1861 he was appointed register of the United States Land Office by President Lincoln, and in 1865 was appointed United States Indian agent. In 1864. he established the Atchison Daily and Weekly Free Press, and was later proprietor of the Waterville Telegraph. In 1876 he became first secretary of the State Historical Society, and held that office many years and until his death. On September 29, 1855, he married Harriet E. Clark. Henry J. Adams married Abbie R. Gibson, whose sister married the noted sculptor, Hiram Powers.
Our subject and his wife became the parents of six children, as follows: Annie, who married J. E. Griest, of Ellis. Kansas, now chief clerk of the Western Division of the Union Pacific Railroad, and has three children : Theodore Reed Griest, aged six years, Louise, aged four years, and John Mendleson, aged two years; Arthur Lee, the second child born to our sub- ject and his wife, who was named after his paternal grandfather: Florence Powers (named after the daughter of Hiram Powers, above mentioned).
52I
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
who is now acting as her father's stenographer; George M. (who is a soph- more at Washburn College and is greatly interested in scientific works); Eugene Dunlap, a freshman at Washburn College, who was named after Rev. Eugene Dunlap, a great and personal friend of Mr. Campbell, being at Eugene's birth pastor of the North Congregational Church at Topeka but now a resident of Chicago; and Donald Adams ( who takes his mother's family name), who is attending Topeka High School. The family are members of the Congregational Church of Topeka. Their residence is in the First Ward of the city.
C. F. MENNINGER, M. D.
C. F. MENNINGER, M. D., one of the leading professional men of Topeka, president of the Board of Health and officially connected with num- erous medical and charitable institutions in this city, was born July 11, 1862, in Indiana.
After completing the public school course in his native place, he came under the personal instruction of Rev. Richard Totten for three years, a period that the Doctor considers a very valuable portion of his life. He then entered Central Normal School, Danville, Indiana, where he was graduated with the degree of B. S. Then entering Campbell University at Holton, Kan- sas, he secured his degree of Master of Arts and in 1889, at Hahnemann Medical College and Hospital, Chicago, he was graduated in medicine. His locating at Topeka was the result of his having spent the summer vacation of 1887 and 1888 here. In 1889 he decided to make this city the scene of his professional work. In 1891 he opened an office in the front part of the build- ing at No. 727 Kansas avenue, but he subsequently changed to the rear rooms on the same floor, where he could have an abundance of light. He is cen- trally located and has a comfortable, convenient and well-equipped set of apartments. He is a general practitioner and is also a member of the staff of Christ's Hospital, having charge of the obstetrical work. He is also president of the Board of Health, e.r-officio president of the Board of Plumb- ing Examiners, and a member of the executive committee of the Topeka Orphans' Home. He is also physician for the Lutheran Orphans Asylum.
In 1885 Dr. Menninger was married to Flo V. Knisely, and they have three sons, viz: Carl A., Edwin A. and William Clair. Their beautiful home is situated at No. 1251 Topeka avenue. Mrs. Menninger is well known in Topeka as a lady of culture and one whose study of the Holy Scriptures has made a great demand upon her as a teacher. She now devotes a large part
522
HISTORY OF SHAWNEE COUNTY
of her time to teaching the Bible, two days of the week being entirely given up to her large classes, among which are numbered 200 of the ladies of Topeka. Mrs. Menninger is gifted with a clear understanding and the faculty of im- parting knowledge.
Dr. Menninger belongs to numerous medical organizations, including the Kansas State and the Missouri Valley homeopathic medical associations, and the American Institute of Homeopathy .- the national body of that school. He is a member of the board of directors of the Free Public Library and of the Academy of Science. His fraternal connection is with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is a member of the First Presbyterian Church and the chorister of the Sunday-school. This brings us to note the Doctor's love for and proficiency in music. If he has any other hobby, it is the culture of lilies. When relieved from professional cares, he is very apt to be found absorbed in finding new beauties in his valuable collection of choice flowers, or in the enjoyment of musical compositions, either in his own refined home or elsewhere. The pursuit of these tastes serve to relieve the mental strain and physical weariness which attend, more or less, the life of every faithful physician.
WILLIAM R. FISH.
WILLIAM R. FISH, deceased, was formerly one of the prominent business men and substantial citizens of Topeka. Mr. Fish was born March 6, 1843, at Dupont, Jefferson County, Indiana, and was a son of Marshall and Sarah C. (Abbott) Fish. On the paternal side the family ancestry reached to the pioneers of Kentucky. On the maternal side the ancestry was Irish.
The Fish family removed to Illinois during our subject's boyhood and he attended the public schools of Marion County. When 18 years of age, he went to Chicago where he enlisted for service in the Civil War, entering Company G, 88th Reg., Illinois Vol. Inf. He served through the war, par- ticipating in 18 serious engagements and many skirmishes, but surviving all dangers and returning safely home, with a soldier's honors, in 1865. In 1881 he established himself in the coffee and tea business at Topeka, where he prospered and gained the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens. His death took place in June, 1891, as the result of a lamentable railway accident.
Mr. Fish was married in 1870, at Kinmundy, Illinois, to Sarah E. Nevill, who is a daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Fuell) Nevill, natives of Ken- tucky. They had two children, viz: William R .; and Kitty M., who died
PHILIP KECK
525
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
aged three years. Mrs. Fish and son reside in their handsome home at No. 4II Greenwood avenue, Potwin Place. Mr. Fish was fraternally associated with the Knights of Honor and the National Union.
PHILIP KECK.
PHILIP KECK, a prosperous farmer of Auburn township, owns a fine farm of 160 acres in section 20, township 13, range 14, on which he re- sides, and a nearby tract of 160 acres which he uses in grain farming and stock-raising. Mr. Keck was born May 1, 1840, in Wittenberg. Germany, and is a son of Jacob and Mary ( Hoover) Keck.
The father of our subject died on his farm in Germany, and the mother and her children came to America and settled in Ohio. She died in Kan- sas, aged 66 years. The family consisted of four children : John, who died in Darke County, Ohio; Jacob, of Oakland, California; Mrs. Kate Franklin, who died at Topeka; and Philip, of this sketch.
Our subject was five years old when his mother took passage for her- self and family on the sailing vessel "George Washington," landing at the port of New York 31 days later. The destination of the family was Darke County, Ohio, and almost the whole of the journey was made by boat, three months elapsing from the time the little party left Germany until the new home was reached. Here, surrounded by many hardships, Mr. Keck grew to sturdy young manhood. When the Civil War broke out, he felt it his duty to assist in supporting the government of the country which had extended so cordial a welcome and provided so desirable a home, and on September 10, 1861, he enlisted for three years in Company K. 34th Reg., Ohio Vol. Inf., under Captain Smiley and Col. Don Piatt. The history of this famous regiment is incorporated in the records of State and Union, and during its years of notable service, no more faithful soldier was found than Philip Keck. Much of the service of this regiment was in the mountains of West Virginia and the 34th Ohio won as honorable a position as any other regi- ment and was one of the victorious ones at the battle of Winchester under General Sheridan. Mr. Keck's term of service expired just after the battles of Winchester and Cedar Creek and he was honorably discharged in 1864.
After the close of his army service, Mr. Keck returned to Ohio and continued to farm there until 1868, when he came to Kansas, accompanied by his wife and two children. He located in Auburn township, Shawnee County, where he bought . 160 acres in section 19, township 13, range 14, 30 acres of which had been broken. On the property stood a log cabin,
526
HISTORY OF SHAWNEE COUNTY
which sufficed for a shelter until he could build a comfortable house. In 1897 he purchased the farm on which he now resides. The land is all in one body and makes one of the finest farms in his section of the county.
Mr. Keck was married August 20, 1865, to Charity M. Reed, who was. born in Darke County, Ohio, March 26, 1844, and is a daughter of Allen and Mary (Wood) Reed, natives of Ohio. They have had 10 children, of whom Benjamin died at the age of three years, and Martha, at the age of three months. The survivors are: William J., who owns a fine farm near his father; Maria Belle, who is the wife of Michael Boley, of Topeka town- ship; Ida, who is the wife of William Snyder, of Auburn township; Allen, a farmer of Auburn township; J. Noah, Frank and Minnie, who live at home; and John, who married Meryl Coffman. Mr. Keck is proud of his 19 grand- children, all of whom do him credit.
Mr. Keck cast his first presidential vote for Lincoln and has always. been a Republican. He is a justice of the peace in Auburn township, and for 15 years he has been a member of the School Board, during which period the present fine school building has been erected. He has been a member of Lincoln Post, No. 1, G. A. R., at Topeka, for many years and is honored there as a worthy comrade. For the past 27 years he has been a deacon in the Wakarusa Valley Congregational Church. Mr. Keck is widely known and commands the respect, as he enjoys the esteem, of his fellow-citizens, his neighbors and his family. A portrait of Mr. Keck accompanies this sketch, being presented on a foregoing page in proximity to this.
CHARLES J. AYE.
CHARLES J. AYE, one of the well-known, responsible men and good farmers of Tecumseh township, Shawnee County, who resides in section 19, township 12, range 17, where he owns 85 acres of excellent land, is also one of the old soldiers who survived the dangers and hardships of the Civil War in which he took an honorable part. Mr. Aye was born February 6. 1842, in Vermilion County, Indiana, and is a son of George D. and Anna Elizabeth (Jordan) Aye.
Jacob Aye, the grandfather of Charles J., was born in Germany and came to the United States and settled in Maryland, but later went to Vir- ginia, where George D. Aye was born. On the maternal side, the family was an early one to settle in this portion of Kansas. The maternal grand- father, Rev. Charles Jordan, removed to Shawnee County in 1854 and settled
527
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
at Tecumseh, being the first Methodist minister in the county. Mrs. Aye was born in Kentucky, but both she and her husband died in Kansas. Their chil- dren were: Mrs. Nancy Kiser; John, of Vermilion County, Indiana, who served through the whole Civil War; Mrs. Edna J. Smith, of Terre Haute, Indiana; Mrs. Lucy Parks, of Springfield, Missouri; Charles J., of this sketch; William, of Rossville, Kansas; Thomas, deceased; Mrs. Mary Ma- tilda Rogers, of Denver, Colorado; and Morrison H., of Topeka.
Our subject was a child of seven years when the family removed to Edgar County, Illinois, where they lived until 1855, when they came to Kan- sas, with their household possessions, arriving in Coffey County on Decem- ber 15th. The father preempted a quarter-section of land on the Neosho River. After the death of his wife in the following year, the father returned to Illinois, but in the spring of 1857 our subject came to Shawnee County and went to work for his relatives, the Jordans. In 1861 he crossed the plains with the Southers and Clark train to Denver and on the second trip that year went up over the range to Georgia Gulch. He returned in December and spent the next season in farming, but on August 14, 1862. he became an enlisted soldier, entering Company H, 11th Reg., Kansas Vol. Inf., under Col- onel Ewing and Capt. Joel Huntoon. This regiment took part in the battles of Prairie Grove, Cane Hill, Fort Wayne and all the engagements of Price's campaign. In the spring of 1865 it was sent to Idaho to subdue the Indians. It then returned to Fort Leavenworth, where it was mustered out November 18. 1865. While recalling battles, mention may be made of the fight at Bull Creek, in the "Border Ruffian War," when our subject was engaged with the noted "Jim" Lane. The fight and return to Lawrence took some five days and Mr. Aye says that the biggest battle of all for him was with his father, who had some opinions concerning his son's running away and was disposed to administer necessary discipline.
Mr. Aye has resided in Tecumseh township since 1866 with the exception of two years spent in Jefferson County. He carries on general farming and stock-raising, having many head of cattle, hogs, horses and mules.
In February. 1866, Mr. Aye was married to Romanzy C. Stroup, who was born in Rush County, Indiana, March 27. 1846, and in 1862 came to Kansas with her parents, who were Nathan and Mary Stroup. natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Aye have four children : Silas S., of Monmouth township: Charlotte, who married Frank Amo, of Tecumseh township and has eight children: Nathan, living at home; and Mrs. Hattie Jackson. of Williamsport township, who has two children.
Mr. Aye cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1864 and has been a stanch Republican ever since. He has held a number of the township offices and has always been active in his support of education and religion. He
.528
HISTORY OF SHAWNEE COUNTY
donates to all religious bodies but is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He assisted in the building of the new church edifice of the Bethel and the Brethren bodies at Tecumseh. He belongs to the Jesse Nelson Post, No. 62, G. A. R., of Tecumseh. Fraternally, he is a Mason.
HON. EDWARD WALLIS HOCH.
HON. EDWARD WALLIS HOCH, Governor of the State of Kansas, elected to the Office in November, 1904, stands to-day as one of the leading public men of the United States. Through the years of greatest storm and stress, Kansas became acquainted with this fearless and uncompromising defender of the people's rights, and when the time was ripe conferred on him the high- est honor in the commonwealth he had served so well.
Born in Kentucky on March 17, 1849, and educated in the schools of his native place, Danville, and at Center College, Kentucky, Edward Wallis Hoch came to Kansas at the age of 23, little dreaming of the future awaiting him. Completing his apprenticeship to the printer's trade, he turned his attention for a time to farming in Marion County, but in a shore time he purchased a newspaper, the Marion Record, and entered upon a career in the field of journalism. Overcoming the obstacles and discouragements which swept many a brave man off his feet in those days, Mr. Hoch by 1876 had firmly · established himself, and since that time the Marion Record has been not only a financial success, but has been the exponent of what is the greatest and best as regards public interests in this State.
In 1888 he became prominent in public life as the member from Marion County to the State House of Representatives, where his voice was raised in support of those reforms for which he had so long battled with his pen. His eloquence and convincing arguments always claimed attention. In 1892 he was reelected and was made Speaker pro tem and in this position. a difficult one at the time, his discretion and judgment brought about the success of the Republican contingent and peaceful adjustment of all difficulties. On two occasions he has been urged for Congress by his party, and the trend of public opinion was shown as early as 1894, when he was actively supported by the Republican State Convention for Governor.
At the Republican State Convention, at Wichita, Kansas, Mr. Hoch was nominated for the office of Governor by acclamation on March 8. 1904. His Democratic opponent at the polls in November. 1904. was David M. Dale, of Wichita, Kansas. Mr. Hoch was elected by the large plurality of 69.740. His election to this high office justifies the judgment and prediction of his
529
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.
friends for many years. Not for one moment do the people doubt what his administration will be. With a determined devotion to principle, with high ideals of public duty, he will pursue his fearless way, with disinterested patriotism, doing his full obligation in every way, independent of favor or criticism. At the very outset of his term of office, he has been identified with the movement to oust the Standard Oil Company and its branches from the State of Kansas. The war on this hydra-headed monopoly is being viewed. with intense interest by other commonwealths of this country, many of which hope to follow the leadership of Kansas in this struggle, if the fight proves successful.
In May, 1876, Governor Hoch was married to Sarah Lou Dickerson, of Marion, Kansas, and they have four children, namely : Edna, Homer W., Anna and Wallis, who is named after his father. In Matters of religion Mr. Hoch is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and has long been an active worker in the church and Sunday-school.
JOHN MADDEN.
JOHN MADDEN, one of the progressive and enterprising retail grocers of Topeka, whose completely equipped grocery and market is situated on the corner of 12th street and Kansas avenue, is a citizen whose business success has been attained through upright methods and persistent efforts. Mr. Madden was born July 20, 1867, in Coshocton County, Ohio, and is a son of Simeon and Lucy (Corder) Madden.
The Madden family has been established in Virginia for generations. On the maternal side it is more recently English. The father of Mr. Madden was born January 7, 1841, and the mother, December 5, 1845. The latter died in August, 1899. They had three children, viz: John, the subject of this sketch; Milton, a missionary to Japan ; and Mrs. Miriam Timmons, of Topeka.
Mr. Madden was reared on a farm although his birth took place in town, and thus his education was secured in the country schools. Later he took a business course at Sedalia, Missouri, and was only 17 years old when he was operating a farm on his own account. In 1887 he came to Kansas and bought a farm in Wabaunsee County, a partially improved tract of 160 acres. He remained on this property, erecting buildings and otherwise improving it until 1902, when he removed to Topeka. He purchased his present business of his father and has successfully conducted it ever since, the father having
.530
HISTORY OF SHAWNEE COUNTY
retired after an honorable business career in this city of more than 15 years. Our subject retains the farm, having it under rental, but gives his attention to his large commercial interests. When he first came to Topeka he was · offered a position in the Santa Fe general offices, of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Company, but he preferred an independent business of his own. His establishment ranks with the leading houses of its kind and lie gives his personal attention to the selection of choice, varied and seasonable goods.
Mr. Madden was married at Paxico, Kansas, to Christina Finny, a lady whose American ancestors were established in this country before the Revo- lutionary War. They have four sons, whose ages range from 14 to seven years, viz: Milton, Edgar, Paul and Charles. Mr. and Mrs. Madden are members of the Euclid Methodist Episcopal Church.
Rev. Milton Madden, our subject's brother, who is a missionary to Japan, was educated in the public schools and later was graduated from the Topeka Business College. From there he entered Bethany College, West Virginia, and after four years of preparation was selected by the First Chris- tian Church of Topeka, as missionary, and with his family is located at Sendai, Japan. He married Maud Whitmore and they have three children : Harvey, Elma and Garfield.
ELZA V. COLDREN, M. D.
ELZA V. COLDREN, M. D., who has been engaged in the practice of medi- cine in Topeka since 1882, is one of the best known members of the profes- sion in the city. He was born at Marion, Ohio, September 22, 1841, and is a son of Reuben and Mary Ann ( Newhouse) Coldren.
Reuben Coldren, father of our subject, was prominently engaged in the lumber business for many years, but at the time of his death in April, 1890, was living a retired life. His union with Mary Ann Newhouse resulted in the following offspring: Lemuel T., of Spokane, Washington; Alwilda, widow of George Bowman, who was a banker at San Jose, California; Aure- lia J., wife of George Swartz, of Kansas City, Missouri, who is extensively engaged in lumbering in Louisiana, the town of Swartz being named after him ; Isaac J., of Coffeyville, Kansas ; and Edward, who died at Boone, Iowa, in February, 1870, and is buried there.
Elza V. Coldren received his early education in a seminary at LaGrange, Indiana, and the Des Moines (Iowa) High School. He then read medicine in the office of Dr. A. J. Willie at Nevada, Iowa, and attended the College of
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.