USA > Kansas > Jackson County > Portrait and biographical album of Jackson, Jefferson and Pottawatomie Counties, Kansas : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens > Part 32
USA > Kansas > Jefferson County > Portrait and biographical album of Jackson, Jefferson and Pottawatomie Counties, Kansas : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens > Part 32
USA > Kansas > Pottawatomie County > Portrait and biographical album of Jackson, Jefferson and Pottawatomie Counties, Kansas : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens > Part 32
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OBERT C. MOORE, D.V.S., is a graduate of the Chicago Veterinary College, and since establishing himself in his profession in Holton, where he had previously resided several years, he has acquired a large practice in this city and in the surrounding country, and is justly regarded as one of the most intelligent and skillful of the veterinary surgeons of this part of Kansas.
Mr. Moore was born near Leesburg, Carroll Co., Ohio, Nov. 29, 1852, to Edward H. and Harriet A. (Cummings) Moore. His father was born in Jeffer- son County, Ohio, Oct. 20, 1827, a son of Thomas Moore, who was born in 1796, it is thonght, in Maryland. His father, great-grandfather of our subject, moved from that State to Ohio, and was one of the first settlers of Jefferson County, where he took up a tract of Government land, on which he erected a double log house to shelter his family, and he passed his remaining days on the farm that he cleared from the wilderness. At that time there were no railways or canals in the country, and no markets, and the settlers used to pack salt and other necessaries of life across the mountains on horseback.
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The grandfather of our subject. was reared on his father's homestead in Jefferson County, and resided there until about 1837, when he became a pioneer of Tuscarawas County, buying there'a traet of forest covered land, and when he cleared it he rolled large logs together and burned them to get rid of them. as they were not of much value where timber was so abundant. Ile improved quite a large tract of land, which he subsequently sold, and going to Carroll County, bought more wild land, located in Orange Township. There was a sawmill on the place when he bought it, which he operated the few years that he lived there. Selling that farm, he afterward made his home in Bueyrus, Crawford County, until his death. The maiden name of his wife was Margaret Haxton. She was an adept at spinning and weaving, and used to cook before the open fireplace. She died in Jeffer- son County.
The father of our subject lived with his parents until 1842, when he started out in life for himself, well-equipped mentally and physically for the struggle. He worked by the month until 1846, when he enlisted in Company B, 3d Ohio Infantry, and going to Mexico, served there fourteen months, and was then honorably discharged with his regi- ment. lle returned to Ohio, and farmed on shares iu Coshocton County until 1850. In that year he settled on his father-in law's farm in Carroll County, fourmiles from Leesburg, and lived there until 1864. After spending four years in Leesburg, he removed with his family to DeKalb County, Mo., and rented a farm there two years. In 1871 he came to Holton, and rented a farm near the city one year, and has since resided in Holton, engaging in various kinds of business. For six years he managed a restau- rant at the railway station, and for four years lie held the responsible office of City Marshal, acting in that capacity in a manner most satisfactory to his fellow-citizens. Ile was married Feb. 21, 1850, to a daughter of Anthony Cummings, a pioneer of Carroll County. She was born in Leesburg, Oct. 26, 1831, and was reared to a capable, useful wom- anhood in Carroll and Harmon counties, and was early taught to spin and weave and knit, and to perform all those household duties that contribute to the comfort and well-being of the inmates of
the home. Her father, a native of Loudoun County, Va., was a son of Thomas Cummings, who came from Scotland, the land of his birth, with two brothers, Robert and James, and settled in Loudoun County, Va., where the remainder of his life was passed. He was a firm supporter of religion, a Presbyterian in faith. He married Rebecca Curry. a native of Ireland, of Scotch descent. The grand- father of our subject went to Ohio when a young man, and was an early settler of Carroll County. He bought a farm near Leesburg. He spent his last years in that village, where he was for some time engaged in the mercantile business. The maiden name of his wife, maternal grandmother of our subject, was E. Maria Roby. She was a native of Maryland, and a daughter of Barton Roby.
Dr. Moore was reared in Leesburg, and received his early education in its excellent public schools. In 1868 he accompanied his parents to their new home in DeKalb County, Mo., and remained with them there, affording his father valuable assistance on the farm, until December, 1871. In that month he came to Kansas, having started out in life on his own account, with youth, health. good spirits, and a clear, well-balanced mind as sufficient capital for any enterprise in which he might embark. He was variously employed until the fall of 1875, when he bought a transfer line of one team. Holton was then only a small town, and the terminus of the narrow-guage railway, the only one in the place then, and his one team was sufficient to convey all the merchandise that was brought here. With the growth of the town in size his business rapidly in- ereased until he ran five teams of his own, and a part of the time had to hire others. In 1881, hav- ing aequired a competence, he sold his express route and engaged in the mercantile business until 1885. In that year he determined to fit himself for a veterinary surgeon, having already a good practical knowledge of the horse and his diseases, and he went to Chicago and entered the Chicago Veterinary College, and was a student in that in- stitution in the winters of 1885-86 and 1886-87, and was graduated in the spring of 1887, finely equipped for his profession, and immediately open- ing an offiee in Holton, he has practiced here and in the surrounding country with marked success.
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Mr. Moore's marriage with Miss Mary Klusmire, was duly solemnized in the month of October, 1875. She was born in Germany, and came to America with her parents, Frederick and Mary Klusmire. in 1867. Mr. and Mrs. Moore's pleasant home is made doubly attractive to those who eross its threshold by the warm and hospitable treat- ment accorded to them by the kind hostess and genial host. They have an adopted daughter, Edith, whom they cherish as if she were of their own blood, and she is given all possible advantages.
Mr. Moore is gifted with a stable character, an active temperament, and a liberal spirit, and besides being well-versed in his calling, is generally well- informed. In politics, he has sided with the Republican party since he cast his first Presiden- tial vote for R. B. Hayes. Ile is a prominent member of the State Veterinary Association, was its Treasurer two years, and ably served as its President in 1888. Religiously, he and his wife are among the working members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
₭ NUD KNUDSON, junior member of the firm of Oleson & Knudson, dealers in gen- eral merchandise, is also the owner of a farm of 143 acres in Blue Valley Township, Pottawatomie County, and a livery barn in Ols- burg. He is looked upon as a representative citi- zen of Pottowatomie County, a man liberal and public-spirited, progressive in his ideas, and of that genial temperament which has drawn around him hosts of friends. He was born in Urdal Preslyeld, Walders, Norway, Jan. 5, 1855, and is a son of Halvor Knudson, a native of the same place.
The father of our subject was born in June, 1825, and when a young man began trading in produce, freighting and shipping to Christiana and Jovig. He was the owner of a farm. which he operated for a number of years. Later, he sold out, and removed to Gulbranesdalen, where he pur- chased a large estate named "Staff," and upon which were located the fair grounds. There he en- gaged extensively in milling, owning and operat- ing two gristmills and two sawmills. At the same
time he was an agent for an extensive freighting line. He was a man of great energy, and in Amer- ica would be designated as a "hustler."
The elder Knudson, however, met with reverses, and in 1866 emigrated to America, in the hope of retrieving his fortune. Locating in Dane County, Wis., he worked for one season as a farm laborer, but in the summer of 1867 he was joined by his family, and in the fall of that year they all came to Kansas. The father first rented land on the Blue Bottoms, which he operated for several years. In 1872 he homesteaded 140 acres of land in Shannon Township, lying along Shannon Creek, and he also purchased 160 acres adjoining, the whole of which he improved, and lived there until his death, which occurred Aug. 30, 1874. In politics he was a Re- publican, and in religion a Lutheran. The paternal grandfather of our subject was Knud Oleson, like- wise a native of Norway, and a wealthy farmer. He married Barbara Halvorsdatter, and they spent their entire lives upon their native soil.
The maiden name of the mother of our subject . was Esther Bjornsdatter. She was likewise a na- tive of Walders, Norway, and was born in 1823. Her father was Bjorns Kohlspiekken, a well-to-do farmer. After the death of her husband, the mother operated the farm a number of years, then turned it over into the hands of a tenant, and retiring from the cares and labors of life, is now living with her son, Anton, in Blue Valley Township. The parental family comprised nine children, five of whom grew to mature years. Betsey is the wife of L. Winger, of Dickinson County, Neb .; Knud, our subject, was the second born; Bent is farming in Barron County, Wis .; Anton is farming in Blue Valley Township, Kan .; Clara died in Wisconsin when an interesting young lady of nineteen years.
The subject of this sketch was seven years old when his parents removed to the farm, "Staff," the journey to which was made over the mountains on horseback. He was required at an early age to make himself useful, and when nine years old be- came regularly employed in the mill and on the farm, receiving only limited school advantages, He accompanied his mother and her family to America, starting out in April, 1867, and going first to Christi- ana, where they remained two weeks. They then
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embarked on the sailing-vessel "Emerald," and after a voyage of six weeks ianded at Quebec, Canada. Thence they proceeded to Edgerton, Wis., where they remained until November of that year, then made their way by rail to Atchison, Kan., and thence by train to Blue Valley Township, arriving in the latter place December 25, and celebrating their Christmas as best they could amid the diffi- enlties of their surroundings.
In the spring of 1868 young Knudson began working out by the month, and was thus employed until nineteen years old, turning over his earnings to his father. He then began operating as a renter on his uncle's farm of 400 acres, and was thus successfully engaged for five years. In 1878 he homesteaded 160 acres of land in Shannon Town- ship, and soon afterward purchased eighty acres adjoining. He erceted a good residence, and other necessary buildings, enclosed his fields with sub- stantial fencing, and lived there until the spring of 1880. Then, selling out, he' engaged in buying and shipping cattle. In the fall of that year he purchased the farm which he now owns, and which was then a tract of mostly raw land, unculti- vated, and upon which no improvements had been made. Ile has brought about a great change in its original condition, making of it a fertile farm with good buildings. It is well watered by Shannon Creek, and lies two miles from the town of Olsburg, It is largely devoted to live stock, and Mr. Knud- son is considerably interested in fine horses, owning the stallion "Napoleon," a three-quarter Percheron, and valued at $1,000.
Mr. Knudson, in the spring of 1880, rented his farm, and removed to Olsburg, where he purchased a residence, and subsequently ran a wagon for the Leonardville Creamery. In the fall of 1889 he associated himself with his present partners as a general merchant, and the prospects are that in this, as in his other enterprises, Mr. Knudson is destined to meet with complete success. His liv- ery barn is operated by other parties.
On the 6th of July, 1881, Mr. Knudson was married. in Mariadahl, to Miss Emma Oleson. This lady was born in Galesburg, Ill., Aug. 12. 1857, and is the daughter of the Rev. II. Oleson, a min- ister of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Oleson was
born in Sweden, where he learned blacksmithing. and whence he emigrated in early life. settling first in Illinois, and in 1876 coming to Kansas, and settling in Mariadahl, where he officiated as a min- ister for a period of thirteen years. He is now re- siding near Galesburg, Ill. Of this union there have been born four children, viz: Arthur, Elsie. Ettie and Josephine. Mr. Knudson, politically, is a sound Republican, and an active member of the Swedish-Lutheran Church, to which he contributes a liberal support, and gave substantial assistance during the erection of their church edifice. Ile has been a School Director three years, and a Road Supervisor two years. He is, in all respects, a use- ful member of his community, and held in high esteem by his fellow-citizens.
OHN J. BARRY, JR., is a prosperous, suc- cessful young farmer residing in the south- eastern part of Blue Township. Pottawato- mie County. He operates a fine farm, consisting of 400 acres of fertile and productive land, lying on sections 11 and 14, on which he has recently erected a very handsome, convenient and commodious two-story frame residence, at a cost of nearly $2,000. This home is furnished in a man- ner that reflects credit upon the taste, judgment and liberality of its proprietor, who to a successful experience as a farmer, adds the habits of the student and scholar. Ilis home is adorned, and his hours of recreation made pleasant and profita- ble, by the companionship of the papers and maga- zines of the day, and the choicest works of the masters of modern thought. In this way a strong, vigorous and active mind is kept fresh and bright for the demands and duties of his farm work, over which he exercises a careful and intelligent super- vision.
Mr. Barry comes by his energy and his industry honestly. His parents, James and Mary (Fitz- gerald) Barry, who still survive, and are residents of the village of St. George, have lived a life of earnest industry, thus setting him an example by which he has already profited sufficiently to prove its inestimable value. Both his parents are natives
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of New York State. The earlier years of their married life were spent in Kankakee County, Ill., where the father followed farming until 1867. when he removed with his family to St. George, Pottawatomie County, and shortly afterward en- tered the employ of the Union Pacific Railroad Company, as general road master, a position held by him for twelve years. The road at that time was finished only to Manhattan, and Mr. Barry was employed in its construction from that point westward to Denver. In 1871, when the road reached Wallace, Mr. Barry opened a railway eating house, at that place, and ran it until 1881, when he sold out, having resigned his position on the Union Pacific, and accepted a similar one on the Denver & Rio Grande, from Pueblo, Colo., to Cacharah, N. M., his headquarters being at the latter place. He continued with this company about two years, when he resigned and turned his attention to farming, being ably assisted by the subject of this sketch, to whom he soon entrusted the management and superintendence of his valua- ble farm property. Hle is still a hale and vigorous man, with the promise of many useful and honora- ble years of life.
While Mr. Barry was busy with the exacting and responsible duties of bis position as General Roadmaster of the Union Pacific Company, he did not forget those he owed to his children. They were early taught to look upon a good education as a most valuable equipment for the battle of life, and were given such opportunities to acquire learning as were within his power to offer them, and as his rather nomadic life in following up the building of the road would permit. Our subject was especially favored in this direction. He was five years of age when he came to Kansas, and his parents being on the frontier most of the time, where schools had not yet made their appearance, he was sent to an uncle in Junction City, with whom he remained some time attending school. In the year 1875, he entered St. Mary's Academy as a student, and attended that institution nntil 1880. He then entered the employ of the Union Pacific Company. and was employed in the pas- senger service. The desire for further education caused him to soon give up his work and to enter
the University of Notre Dame, at South Bend, Ind., from the commercial department of which he was graduated in 1881. Thus equipped. he returned to Kansas to devote himself to agriculture.
The estate now operated by our subject, 240 acres of which is owned by his father and 240 by himself, has grown from a small beginning. The original purchase was eighty acres, but as success attended the efforts of the father and son, this has been added to until it now embraces 480 acres of as choice land as there is in Central Kansas. It is now run principally as a stock farm, and crops are raised with a view to feeding stock for market, and all the produce is fed on the place. Though not a fancy stock man, Mr. Barry is a careful breeder of horses, cattle and hogs. In horses he breeds Ham- bletonian and Messenger roadsters; in cattle, the grades of Short-born, and in hogs, good grades of Poland-China. They are raised and fed with a view to their value in the general market, and it is to his judgment in buying, feeding and marketing his stock, that Mr. Barry owes the success that he has thus far achieved. His investments have been prudently made, and have, notwithstanding short crops and such other things as all farmers have sometimes to contend against, been fortunate and gratifyingly profitable. The success which he has thus far achieved demonstrates the fact that the better a man is edneated, provided he is endowed by nature with a practical mind, good common sense and an inclination to industry, the better farmer as well as the better citizen he will make, and that the goal of success for the farmer's son with a college diploma, does not always lie in the direction of the large cities.
Our subject is one of seven children; two broth- ers-William and David, the second and sixth born -died in childhood, and also one sister-Fannie- the fourth born. Elizabeth, the eldest, married W. J. Dunning. a railroad engineer, who is now living in St. George, and running a grocery store; Alice, the fifth child, was graduated from the Academy of St. Mary's, at Denver, and married Peter Robidoux, a grandnephew of Joseph Robi- doux, the first settler in and founder of St. Joseph, Mo .; they have two children and reside in Wallace; Mary, the youngest, now eighteen years of age, is
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at home. The subject of this sketch is the third born, and is now twenty-seven years of age and unmarried.
Though a stanch Democrat, J. J. Barry takes no active interest in politics beyond exercising the right of franchise, and seeing that so far as his in- finence goes, the local offices are filled by good and capable men. He is descended from Irish Catholic ancestry, and is a faithful and devout member of that church. Like his father, he is a man of energy, industry and integrity. llis natural endowments and excellent education are admirable equipments for an honorable career, and it may be safely pre- dicted that the success he has thus far achieved is but the forerunner of a greater and even more gratifying future.
OIIN DAILEY. The subject of this sketch is a quiet, unassuming gentleman, who en- joys the confidence and esteem of his neigh- bors and friends. He owns a good farm of 160 acres of land, on section 14, Union Township, and combines the business of stock-raising with the work of a general farmer. By prudent economy and well-directed energy he has succeeded in making his life a successful one, and he has the further sat- isfaction of knowing that he has wronged no man in his career, but has many times helped a weaker brother, whom misfortune had overtaken, to regain his place in the world's busy hive of workers. While he has been "diligent in business," he has not forgotten the other part of the injunction to be "fervent in spirit, serving the Lord." An emula- tion of this example by the young men of the na- tion, would give us a class of citizens of wliom America might well be proud.
Mr. Dailey was born in Vermillion County, Ill., June 4, 1836. His father, David, deceased, was a native of Massachussetts, and was born near Bos- ton. David Dailey removed to Illinois when a young man, and settled in Vermillion County. When the Black Hawk War broke out, he sbon]- dered his musket and marched gallantly forward to uphold the starry flag against the assaults of the fierce tribes of Indians under the leadership of their
renowned chieftain. During the war it became desirable to bury a large quantity of lead to pre- vent its capture by the Red Men, and Mr. David Dailey was one of the party to whom was commit- ted the task of securely "planting" it. They ex . cavated a hole large enough to receive it and covered it so securely that it is not known to have ever been recovered, although the place of deposit is known to be In the vicinity of Rock Island, Ill. In 1841 Mr. David Dailey moved his family from Illinois to the State of Indiana, locating in Parke Connty. Our subject was then a child and re- mained in that place during his youth. He was reared on the farm of his parents and attended the common-schools of the district, but the educational advantages of that time in that place were exceed- ingly limited and young Dailey secured only an elementary acquaintance with the branches of knowledge usually considered necessary to an Eng- lish education.
The mother of our subject was Elizabeth Sellers, a daughter of Jacob Sellers, now deceased. She was a native of Ohio and remained under the pa- rental roof in that State until she was grown to womanhood. She was distinguished by great sweetness of disposition and strength of intellect, and was well fitted to be the companion of brave and noble men. The parents of Mrs. Dailey re- moved to Mercer County. Ill., in 1853, and resided there during the remainder of their lives.
Mr. John Dailey emigrated to Kansas in the spring of 1859, and resided in Nemaha, Pottawato- mie County, until 1862, when he went to Fremont County. Iowa, and followed farming in that place until November, 1875 In the latter year he re- turned to Pottawatomie County, Kan., and settled on the farm which he now owns and where he has continued to reside from that time forward. February 3, 1859. Mr. Dailey and Miss Margaret Ricker were united in marriage. She is a daugh- ter of George Ricker, deceased, and is a na- tive of Tennessee. Mrs. Dailey is a woman who enjoys the respect and esteem of all who are for- tunate enough to claim her acquaintance. The married life of Mr. and Mrs. Dailey has been made fruitful by the birth of six children of whom four have fallen victims to the grim monster, death.
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The two who survive are-Franees A. who is mar- ried to Robert Sebring of Shawnee County, Kan. Their post-office address is-Rossville. They have no children; and Abner P. who resides in West- moreland, Pottawatomie Co., Kan., a sketch of whose life appears in another part of this work. Mr. Dailey has been honored by his neighbors with the office of Township Treasurer, a position in which he is now serving his second term. Politi- cally he is a stalwart Republican. He finds a re- ligous home in the bosom of the Christian Church of which he is an active and consistent member.
OHN W. ARNOLD, Mayor of Louisville, Pottawatomie County, has a joint interest in the Louisville Roller Mill in company with A. C. Meritt, and also owns one of the finest farms in the county. He is well and favor- ably known throughout this congressional district. which he represented in the State Legislature in 1886-87. In local affairs he has filled various positions of public responsibility, and has ever been found trustworthy and competent in the ful- filment of the duties which devolved upon him.
Mr. Arnold is a son of Tunis and Harriet (La- paugh) Arnold, natives of Albany County, N. Y., where their entire lives were spent, the death of the mother taking place on the homestead which had been located by the great-grandfather of Mrs. Arnold, and the father dying at Albany. She died in 1860, and he survived until 1882. remarrying some time after her death. Our subject was the second of six children born to his father and mother, and his birth occurred on the old homestead, in Albany County, N. Y., in February, 1841. Hav- ing spent the first twelve years of his life on the ancestral estate, he entered a store at Chesterville, in the same county, and four years later, when the establishment was moved to Wayne County, he went with it, remaining with his employer eight years altogether. IIe then went to Battle Creek, Mich., and entering upon a farm life, carried on that business three years, next buying an interest in a hardware store in the city near which he was
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