USA > Kansas > Wyandotte County > History of Wyandotte County, Kansas, and its people, Vol. II > Part 43
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Born in Germany in 1833, Jacob Einhellig immigrated to the United States in early manhood, and for several years followed the carpenter's trade in Pennsylvania. Coming to Wyandotte county, Kansas, in 1875, he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in Bonner Springs, and on the farm which he cleared and improved spent his remaining days, dying in 1905. Ile married Christina Mansnest, who was born in Germany, and died on the home farm in Wyandotte county in 1904. Of the eleven children born of their union three are now living, namely : Lizzie, Jake and William.
William Einhellig grew to manhood on the homestead, obtaining his education in the district schools. Under his father's instructions he became well acquainted with the various branches of agriculture when young, and has now the entire management of the old homestead prop- erty, which consists of one hundred and sixty acres of well improved and fertile land, on which he successfully pursues his independent ocenpa- tion. Ile makes a specialty of raising fancy stock, at the head of his herd having several fine breeding cattle.
Mr. Einhellig is not married, but his brother Frank 's widow, whose maiden name was Mary Duffy, presides over his household. Mr. Einhellig is one of the young, active and successful farmers, who ably upholds the prestige of the German farmer. He received a good practi- val education in the public schools and is a young man who endeavors to keep abreast of the times in the labor and improvements as an agricul- turist. He has the manly attributes of character, honesty and integ- rity. In a fraternal sense he stands high, being an honored member of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons at Piper, Kansas, and he is also a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at La Junta, Colo- rado. Religiously he was reared in the faith of the Presbyterian church. As a stockman his well bred cattle are eligible for registration.
DONIPHAN DUNLAP .- Doniphan Dunlap, who materially assists in maintaining the reputation of Wyandotte county as a superior agricul- tural and stock raising region, is actively and prosperously engaged in his chosen vocation near Bonner Springs, having a large and well ap- pointed estate. A native of Missouri, he was born November 11, 1841. in Platte county, and was there bred and educated.
William Dunlap, his father, was born and reared on a Virginia farm. In 1825, ambitious to try the hazard of new fortunes. he fol- lowed the trail of the emigrant westward across the Mississippi river. but did not remain long in the wild region of the western borders. Going back to his old home. he remained there until 1836, when, aceom- panied by his young bride, he made another journey toward the setting sun and located in Platte county, Missouri. Buying a traet of wild land. he cleared and improved a farm, and there both he and his wife spent their remaining days. To him and his wife, whose maiden name was Mary Hyatt. eight children were born, as follows: William. Narcissa. Preston. George P., Laura. Sue, all deceased; Doniphan, the special subject of this brief sketch: and Edna, widow of J. W. Whitlock, resid- ing on the home farm in Wyandotte county. Kansas.
Brought up on the parental homestead, Doniphan Dunlap attended
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the district school regularly throughout the days of his boyhood and vonth. In 1863 he made a trip across the plains to Fort Union, New Mexico, hauling government supplies, being driver of one of the wagons in a train which consisted of twenty-six wagons, each one drawn by twelve head of cattle, the round trip consuming one hundred days. He relates many interesting incidents of the trip, especially concerning the Indians, who were always friendly to him and his companions, causing
no trouble. Subsequently Mr. Dunlap went to Montana in search of gold, but as a miner met with no very brilliant results. In 1868 he located in Wyandotte county, Kansas, and having purchased two hun- dred and forty acres of land, began the improvement of his present fine farm, which is now under a good state of cultivation and yields abun- dant harvests, especially of wheat, of which he makes a specialty. Mr. Dunlap also raises a fine grade of stock, in this line of industry also having good suecess. He is a Democrat in politics and a member of the Christian church.
Mr. Dunlap was united in marriage, December 5, 1878, with Martha Catherine Michaels, a native of Ohio, and into their household four children have been born, namely : Guy V., a farmer in Wyandotte county ; James R., living on the home farm ; Ella A. ; and Eva. Mrs. Dunlap passed to the life beyond February 14, 1900.
CHARLES II. SIMMS .- An active, prosperous and progressive busi- ness man of Wyandotte county. Charles II. Simms is one of the leading merchants of Kansas City, Kansas, his large department store on Kan- sas avenne being finely equipped and well stocked with a variety of goods of the highest grades. A native of Ohio, he was born June 30, 1851, in Dayton, but was brought up in Illinois.
Andrew J. Simms, his father, was born and reared in Virginia. Learning the trade of a carriage manufacturer, he followed it in Day- ton, Ohio, locating there in 1850. He subsequently engaged in the same business in Peoria, Illinois, and also in Iowa. His earthly career, however, was comparatively brief, his death occurring when he was but forty-one years of age. He married Miss A. M. Chamberlain, a native of Ohio, and of their four children, two are now living. as follows: Charles H., the special subject of this sketch; and Minnie, wife of Frank Perkins, of Winchester, Oklahoma. The father was a Democrat in politics and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Educated in the schools of Peoria, Illinois, Charles H. Simms began life for himself as a lad of fourteen summers, becoming news agent on the Chicago and Northwestern Railway in 1865. He afterward became a brakeman. In 1870, locating in Kansas City, Missouri, Mr. Simms was for some time connected with the Missouri Pacific Railroad System. and was later in the employ of the Union Pacific Railroad Company for five years. Returning then to the employ of the Missouri Pacific Rail- road Company, he remained with the road as passenger condnetor until 1884. From that time until 1889 Mr. Simms was engaged in the clothing business with W. A. Coy. He then purehased his partner's interest in the concern, and has since been in business alone, as a general merchant meeting with suceess in his operations. Mr. Simms carries a complete stock of clothing, dry goods. shoes and millinery. each de- partment of his large establishment being well filled with a choice stock
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of goods. He is vice president of the Armourdale State Bank of Com- merce, and in polities is a Republican.
Mr. Simms married, in 1885, Sarah D. Coy, who was born in Kan- sas, a daughter of William Coy, and they are parents of three children, namely ; Julia, attending the University of Kansas, in Lawrence ; Iluldah who was graduated from the Kansas City, Kansas, High School, and from the Kansas City, Missouri, Normal School: and William, who is associated in business with his father.
WILLIAM W. ANDERSON .- The energetic, enterprising and substan- tial agrienlturists of Johnson county have no more worthy representa- tive than William W. Anderson, of Wilder, who has won an extended reputation throughout northeastern Kansas as an expert breeder of horses and mules, of which he keeps from fifty to one hundred and fifty head. A native of Kansas, he was born March 29, 1872, in John- son county, on the farm where he now lives, coming on the paternal side of sturdy Scoteh aneestry.
Thomas Anderson, his father, familiarly known to the residents of this vicinity as "Captain Tom" Anderson, was born in Glasgow, Scot- land, January 24, 1836. At the age of three years his parents brought him to America, locating in Virginia, where his father had charge of the Government stone works. Having obtained' a practical common school education, he spent two years in Seotland, and on his return to this country settled at Raeine, Wiseonsin. On attaining his majority, in 1857, he migrated to Leavenworth, Kansas, and worked in that vicinity until the outbreak of the Civil war, when he enlisted as a soldier in the First Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. With his regiment he took part in many engagements of importance, and at the battle of Chickamauga, September 19, 1863, was captured by the enemy and held in confine- ment two hundred and forty-eight days, eight days being kept prisoner on Belle Island, six weeks in Libby Prison and the remainder of the time at Danville, Virginia. Making his escape on Angust 26, 1864, Captain Tom Anderson traveled by night on foot across the Blue Ridge mountains, at the end of five weeks, without any guide, using the North star as his guide, having covered a distance of two hundred and fifty miles.
The Captain married, in 1865, Jane Beatty, of Racine county, Wis- consin, and moved to Missouri, where for a time he was engaged in the hotel business. Coming from there to Johnson county, he purchased the farm now occupied by his son, William W., and was here prosper- ously employed in agricultural pursuits until his death, March 31. 1904. Ile was held in the highest esteem throughout the community in which he lived, being very popular with all classes of people, and his funeral, it is said, was one of the largest ever held in this section of the state. hosts of sincere friends gathering to pay the last tribute of respect to his memory. He was very prominent in the Grand Army of the Repub- lic, and the book which he wrote and published, entitled "Rebel Prison
Life. " is read with interest. With the Captain in his last hours were his wife and sons William W., John, Milton and Ralph, with their wives. two of his sons, Robert and Thomas, being in the mountains.
Brought up on the home farm and educated in the district schools. William W. Anderson was well drilled in the various branches of agri-
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culture as a boy and youth, but at first could not make up his mind to adopt farming as an occupation. Going north, therefore, he spent about ten years in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and in the north- ern part of Wisconsin as a telegraph operator, but that occupation proved no more congenial to him, and he gladly responded to his father's summons back to the old homestead. Ile has since been profitably employed in general agriculture, making a specialty of breeding and raising fine stock, taking special interest in breeding horses and mules, with which he has had excellent success. His large estate of two hun- dred and eighty aeres, lying just across the bridge from Bonner Springs, is widely known as the "Highland Park Stock Farm," one of the finest and most highly improved of any in this locality.
Mr. Anderson raises both draft and road horses, and many mules. He has two noted stallions, both of which have honored pedigrees and prize records. Pierre, his imported Percheron draft horse, a beautiful seal brown stallion, weighing nineteen hundred pounds, was sired by Sir Conquerant 3344, while Guy Golden, his magnificent trotting stal- lion, valued at $3,000, is a son of Old Steinway 1808, and has, it is claimed. a record of 2:08. 1Ie has also two jacks, one being Hardin Mammoth 1253, and both being among the very best in the country. Mr. Anderson is a model farmer in every sense implied by the term, and is held in the highest esteem by his associates and fellow townsmen, his sterling integrity and manly qualities winning him friends wherever he goes.
Mr. Anderson married. January 17, 1900, Margaret Shea, of Canada, and they are the parents of six children, namely: Kenneth, Grace, Katherine, Margaret, Mary and Thomas William. Mr Ander- son is a high Mason and will take the Thirty-second Degree in the fall of 1911.
JAMES M. KILLMER .- The present able incumbent of the office of county commissioner of Wyandotte county, Kansas, is James M. Kill- mer, who, prior to his retirement in 1908, was engaged in the general merchandise business at Rosedale, Kansas, where he has been honored by his fellow citizens with election to various offices of trust and respon- sibility and where he has gained recognition as one of the ablest citizens of this section of the old Sunflower state. Mr. Killmer was a gallant and faithful soldier in the Civil war and during his life time he has been identified with a number of different occupations, in all of which he achieved noteworthy success.
A native of the fine old Keystone state of the Union, James M. Killmer was born in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, the date of his nativity being the 13th of October, 1845. He is a son of John and Catherine (Aarentz) Killmer, both of whom were born in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, the father in 1829 and the mother in 1831. The father was summoned to the life eternal in 1898, as was also his cherished and devoted wife, the former at the age of sixty-nine years and the latter aged sixty-seven years. Of the ten children born to Mr. and Mrs. John Killmer seven are living at the present time, in 1911, and of the number the subject of this review was the third in order of birth. John Killmer was a merchant in Pennsylvania as a young man and thence he removed west to Kewanna, in Fulton county, Indiana, Vol. II-21
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in 1854, there passing the remainder of his active career in conjunction with the general mercantile business. He was an uncompromising advocate of the principles and policies of the Democratic party in his political convictions and during his life time was incumbent of a number of township offices. His religious faith was in harmony with the tenets of the German Reformed church, and he and his wife both lived exemp- lary lives and were highly respected by all with whom they came in rontaet.
As a youth James M. Killmer attended the public schools in Indi- ana, his first school having been a crude log structure, in which the seats consisted of slabs supported by wooden pegs. At the time of the ineeption of the Civil war he was fired with boyish enthusiasni to go to the front in defense of the Union cause, and with that object in view he enlisted, in 1864, in Company E, Eighty-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, for a period of three years or during the war. He was mustered into the United States Army at Indianapolis and immediately thereafter proceeded forward to Nashville. Tennessee, where he was assigned to the Fourteenth Army Corps, under the command of General Thomas. He was one of the reeruits to the Eighty-seventh Indiana Regiment, which he joined at Ringgold Station soon after participating in the campaign between Ringgold and Atlanta. He was present at the surrender of Atlanta and later was with Sherman on his memorable march from Atlanta to the sea. From the latter campaign he marched through Virginia over the battlefield at Richmond and from there through the wilderness to Washington, D. C., where he participated in the Grand Review. From the National Capital he was sent to Parkers- burg, on the Ohio river, whence he was transferred to Louisville, Ken- tucky, where he received his honorable discharge and was mustered out of service. On the 25th of October. 1869, he came from his home in Indiana to Kansas City, Missouri, going thence to Topeka, Kansas. where he continued to maintain his home for the ensuing four years and where he was engaged in the work of his trade-that of stone mason. In 1869 he went to Danville, Illinois, where he remained for one year with his brother and whence he went to Topeka. Kansas, there entering the employ of the Atchison. Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad Company, doing stone mason work. In 1880 he went to Pueblo, Colorado, where
he was in the employ of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad Company, being engaged principally in steel construction work on that road. At this point, however, his health began to fail and upon the advice of his physician he returned to Kansas, locating at Great Bend, where he re- mained for a period of years, at the expiration of which he went into the gold mining country. Subsequently he went to Emporia, Kansas, being there at the time of the nomination of Glick for the office of governor of the state, in 1882. At the close of that convention Mr. Killmer decided to settle permanently at Rosedale, where he has resided continuously since 1882 and where he was long engaged in the general merchandise business, only retiring from active participation in mer- cantile affairs in 1908.
In his political affiliations Mr. Killmer is aligned as a stalwart in the ranks of the Democratic party. in the local councils of which he has long been an active and zealons worker. Ilis first public office was that of city clerk of Rosedale, of which he was in tenure for a period of four
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HISTORY OF WYANDOTTE COUNTY
years. He was then township trustee for three terms and later was mayor of the eity of Rosedale for two years. In 1890 he was elected county commissioner and he was re-elected to that office again in 1908, being incumbent thereof at the present time. Mr. Killmer has ac- quitted himself with all of honor and distinction in discharging the duties connected with his various official positions and as a man of high principles and fair methods he commands the unalloyed confidence and esteem of all who know him. In the time honored Masonic Order he is affiliated with Rosedale Lodge, No. 333, Aneient Free and Accepted Masons. He is also a valued and appreciative member of Rosedale Lodge, No. 48, Ancient Order of United Workmen.
On the 1st of January, 1884, Mr. Killmer was united in marriage to Miss Mary Stadler, whose birth occurred in the city of Philadelphia. Pennsylvania, and who is a daughter of Steven and Mary Stadler, both of whom were natives of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Stadler were united in marriage in the old Fatherland, whence they immigrated to America, locating in the vicinity of Philadelphia. He was an iron worker by trade and in his political proclivities was a stanch advocate of the vause of the Democratic party. In religious matters the Stadlers were devout communicants of the Roman Catholic church, in whose faith Mrs. Killmer was reared. Mr. and Mrs. Killmer have six children, whose names are here entered in respective order of birth : May, James A., Eva., Helen, John and Robert.
HERMAN THEDEN .- Some of the most progressive and prosperous citizens of Kansas were born across the sea, and prominent among this number is Herman Theden, of Bonner Springs, one of the foremost agriculturists of Wyandotte county, his snecess as a grower of vegeta- bles, small fruits and cereals, and as a dairyman being well known in this part of the state. A son of Henry Theden, he was born in 1868, in Sweden, and spent his childhood days on the home farm.
Henry Theden was born in 1838, in Holstein, Germany. Migrat- ing to Sweden in early life, he embarked in agricultural pursuits, and for a time had charge of one of the largest dairy farms in the country. He married Mary Tieehman, who was born in Holstein, Germany, in 1838. She died in Sweden in 1875, leaving five children. namely : Herman, the special subject of this sketeh ; Fred T., who married Anna Anderson; Emma, who died in 1892; George E., a farmer in Johnson county. Kansas; and Otto C., also engaged in farming in Johnson coun- ty. In 1885, ten years after the death of his wife. Henry Theden came with his son Herman to the United States, loeating in Wiseonsin, where for three years he worked on a railroad. In 1888, accompanied by his son Herman, he eame to Kansas, and having bought land in Johnson county. began the improvement of a farm, and when well established sent for his other children, who are mentioned above.
At the age of sixteen years, having had but limited educational advantages in his native land. Herman Theden came with his father to Ameriea, and for three years worked on a Wisconsin farm. In 1888 he came with his father to Kansas, and very soon after arriving in this state located in Wyandotte county, where he learned the nursery husi- ness, for seven years being in the employ of a horticulturist. Em- barking then on his own account, Mr. Theden purchased eighty-seven
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acres of land adjoining Bonner Springs and thirty-two acres in another tract, and immediately turned his attention to the growing of fine potatoes, an industry in which he was successfully employed for fifteen years. In the meantime he began to raise small fruits, making a specialty of strawberries, to which he devoted from five to nine acres. Laboring earnestly for the best possible results in his farming, Mr. Theden has found his labors crowned with success, and at the state fairs has always been a prize winner. At the Kansas State Fair in 1910 the Wyandotte county exhibit, put on by Mr. Theden and Mr. John Kern, took the first premium, while these gentlemen in addition won first prize on their exhibit of potatoes, containing ten varieties, the first on grain and forage plants in bundles; first on carrots; and second on cabbage. At Kansas City they were equally successful, receiving fifth premium on county exhibits and first on individual displays: first on collection of vegetables; first on ornamental grasses; and second on Kaffir corn, onions and turnips, winning in each case over many com- petitors. At the present time Mr. Theden is engaged in dairying. keep- ing fifteen cows and furnishing a high grade of pure milk and cream to the residents of Bonner Springs and shipping some to Kansas City.
Mr. Theden married, in 1895, in Kansas City. Missouri, Anna Anderson, who was born in Sweden and came to this country in 1887. Five children have been born of their union, namely: Robert T., who died in infancy : Emma E., who lived but two years; Carl A., who died when three years old; Frank E., a bright boy of nine years; and Vernie C .. an attractive little miss of seven years. Politically Mr. Theden. true to the faith in which he was reared. is a Republican. Religiously he and his family are Methodists, and fraternally he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, to the Fraternal Aid Association and to the Central Protective Association. In the spring of 1911 Mr. Theden was elected by acclamation as a member or treasurer of the Bon- ner Springs High School. Ile is a man who thoroughly believes in edu- cating the children to make of them men and women of practicable ability, and as is well known by all his friends, he stands for principles of right and the elevation of town and community.
WILLIAM KELLY, JR .- For thirty years William Kelly, Ir .. has been identified with newspaper work, and during his residence of a quarter of a century in Kansas City. Kansas, has become widely known as circulator of the Kansas City Star, which is now one of the leading journals of the United States and very popular with the reading public in the states west of the Mississippi. Ile comes of honored Irish an- cestry, being a son of William Kelly. Sr .. and was born Angust 30. 1862, in Albany. New York.
A native of Ireland, William Kelly. Sr .. was born in Edenderry. King's county, in 1836. As a vonth of seventeen summers, he immi- grated to the United States. landing in New York City. Tle was young. active. energetie and industrious, and found no trouble in seenring work. He was subsequently a leather inspector in Albany for some time. after which he was for a while engaged in agricultural pursuits in Franklin county, Kansas. Coming from that place to Kansas City. Missouri, he was employed in the freight department of the Missouri Pacific Railroad Company until his death, in March, 1898. lle was a
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HISTORY OF WYANDOTTE COUNTY
man of sterling integrity, a member of the Baptist church and belonged to Triple Link Lodge, No. 9, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Kansas City, Missouri. Ile married in Albany, New York, Elizabeth White, who was born in Navan, Ireland, and is now living in Kansas City, Missouri. Four sons and two daughters were born into their home, and of these one son, Robert S., has passed to the life beyond, and five children are living, as follows: Eliza, wife of Walter P. Hay- man ; William, Jr .; George H .; Joseph C .; and Emma, wife.of Charles E. Rudy.
Brought up in Albany, New York, William Kelly, Jr., was educated in the schools of that eity. Aecompanying his parents to Ottawa, Kan- sas, in 1879, he remained on the home farm two years, assisting in its labors. Not content with a farmer's life and occupation, he located in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1881, entering the employ of H. T. Wright, a book and stationery dealer, and received sixty cents a day for de- livering copies of a weekly newspaper published in New York. The following year he became connected with the Evening Star, whose office was on Fifth street, near Main street, the present headquarters of the Salvation Army. It was then printed on the presses of the Kansas City Times, which was located on the opposite side of the street. The Evening Star is now named the Kansas City Star, and issues a morning edition ealled the Kansas City Times. Mr. E. L. Cottrell, one of the party that came from Fort Wayne, Indiana, with W. M. R. Nelson to assist in establishing the Evening Star, which Mr. Nelson edited, was the first circulator of that paper, while Mr. Kelly was made city collec- tor. Mr. Kelly was also superintendent of circulation on the old Kan- sas City Times for a period of several years and subsequently went back to the Star, and with the exception of Mr. Nelson he is the only one of the force left that was then connected with the paper.
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