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 50
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 50
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 50
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Mr. Dixon and his wife are the parents of seven children, one having been removed from them by death in its infancy. Frank, a young man at home, took a business course at the Holton University, but devotes his attention to fruit-growing, being quite successful and taking great pride in his work. Cora A. was educated first in the common schools and completed her studies at the Normal School in Holton, and adopted the profession of teaching.
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Virgil is at home and has adopted farming as his occupation in life. Eva L., a young miss at home, Bessie, and Florence May, complete the family circle.
Mr. Dixon is a believer in and a supporter of the principles of the Republican party. Mrs. Dixon and the two eldest children belong to the Congre- gational Church. The entire family stand well in the opinion of their neighbors and fellow-citizens on account of their worth as individuals and as residents of the county.
W ILLIAM C. MCKEEVER. In noting the career of the solid citizens of Liberty Township, Jackson County, the name of Mr. Mckeever can by no means be properly left out of the category. He is a thorough and skillful farmer, enterprising and industrious, and has been successful in his calling, having now a fine body of land under excellent cultivation, with convenient modern buildings. He is a native of the Keystone State, having been born in Chester County, Sept. 6, 1832. His parents were Clark and Jane ( Wal- lace) Mckeever, natives of Ireland, who came to Kansas in 1859, and settled in Jackson County, which remained their home for many years. The mother died in Cedar Township about 1860. Clark McKeever departed this life at the residence of his son Archibald, in Valley Falls, Kan., July 4, 1881, at the advanced age of ninety-one years. He had been engaged in agricultural pursuits nearly all his life. About 1837 he removed with his family to Morgan County, Ohio, where he sojourned a num- ber of years, then changed his residence to Hock- ing County, and from there came to the Sunflower State.
The subject of this sketch was reared to man- hood in Ilocking County, Ohio. During the sec- ond year of the Civil War he enlisted as a Union soldier in Company II, 114th Ohio Infantry, serving until the close and taking part in nine general en- gagements inelnding charges upon seven forts. Although experiencing many hairbreadth escapes, and all the hardships of army life, he maintained his health in a remarkable manner, and was neither
wounded nor captured. Upon leaving the service he returned to Ohio, and for eighteen months thereafter lived in Delaware County. In the spring of 1867 he came to Kansas with his wife and four children, and secured land on section 32, Liberty Township, of which he has since been a resident. His farm comprises 200 acres of very fertile land, which under his careful management has become the source of a handsome income. In addition to general agriculture, he is quite exten- sively engaged in stock-raising.
The marriage of William C. Mckeever to Miss Sophia Reynolds was celebrated at the bride's home in Hocking County, Ohio, Nov. 8, 1855. Mrs. Mc- Keever was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, May 1, 1837, and spent her childhood and youth in a comparatively uneventful manner under the par- ental roof. Of her union with our subject there have been born twelve children, the eldest of whom a daughter, Mary J., is the wife of J. E. Elliott, and and resides in Oklohoma; William C .; Martha A. died when three years old; Frederick A., Charles A., John A., Lew W., Clarence E., Anna B., Ben- jamin F., George W. and Thomas A. are at home with their parents. Mr. Mckeever, politically, is a sound Republican, and as an ex-soldier, belongs to Will Mendell Post, No. 46, G. A. R., at Holton, and is also identified with the Farmers' Allianee. Mrs. McKeever is a member in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Her parents were William and Mary (Hedge) Reynolds, the former of whom died in Hoeking County, Ohio, on his fiftieth birthday. Mrs. Reynolds is still living and makes her home in Delaware County, Ohio, with her son William.
A view of the residence of Mr. Mckeever may be found in connection with this sketch.
ACOB WELEN. This gentleman holds high rank among the independent farmers of Pottawatomie County, being the owner of 920 acres of land therein, bearing as good improvements as can be found in the State of Kan- sas. The home estate comprises 760 acres of land, located on sections 2, 3, and 35, Blue Valley Town-
1881.
9981
4886
FARM RESIDENCE OF JACOB WELEN, SEC. 2. BLUE VALLEY TP., POTTAWATOMIE CO. KAN.
FARM RESIDENCE OF W. C. ME KEEVER, SEC. 32. LIBERTY TP, JACKSON CO. KAN .
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ship, and the remainder lies in Shannon Township. The residence is a large stone house of good de- sign, and under its hospitable roof, good cheer and notable housewifery abound. The barn on the home estate is a stone structure 33x90 feet, and is the largest stone barn in the township. The estate is well-watered by Shannon Creek, and is adapted to both farming and stock-raising, in which Mr. Welen is engaged.
John A. Welen, the father of our subject. was born in Elsborgslan, Sweden, and owned a farm in that country, which he operated until his death in 1848. He married Miss Aneka Pearson, also a na- tive of Sweden, who came to America with her children, in 1863, and three years later removed to Kansas, dying in Blue Valley Township, this county, in 1874. To Mr. and Mrs. John A. Welen six children were born, the third of whom, Charles, is now deceased. The survivors are: Swan, who lives in Riley County; Mrs. Catherine Erickson, also of Riley County; Jacob, of whom we write; Anna S., now Mrs. Peterson, of Blue Valley Town- ship; and Magnus, whose home is in Riley County.
The subject of this sketch was born in Elsborgs- lan, Sweden, April 20, 1837, and was reared in the rural districts, receiving the early educational ad- vantages, which his native land furnishes to her children. ,When thirteen years old, he began to work at herding, and continued thus employed for about two years, when he commenced to labor as a regular farm hand. In 1856, he found employ- ment on the State railroad at construction of the same.
In the spring of 1863, Mr. Welen came to Amer- iea, landing in New York, whence he went to Rock- ford, Ill., and engaged in a foundry. This occupied the principal portion of his time, until the begin- ning of the year 1866, when he came to Kansas and took up forty acres of his present estate as a home- stead. Commencing his farm work with oxen, he has by energy, good management, and thrift, brought his land to a high state of cultivation, and added largely to the original acreage, being one of the wealthiest agriculturists in BIne Valley Town- ship.
Ilaving paid considerable attention to stock- raising, Mr. Welen is now the owner of 130 high-
grade Short-horn cattle, and ships yearly about two car-loads; besides these, lie also ships about the same number of hogs, the stock being Poland- China. The horses are of Clydesdale and Norman high-grade, and he is very successful in this grow- ing department of labor, having a herd of twenty- eight head.
The lady, who, in her own department, has been a valuable assistant to Mr. Welen, bore the maiden name of Miss Kajsa Johnson, and the ceremony which united their lives and fortunes, took place in Sweden, May 1, 1863. Mrs. Welen was the young- est of six children born to John Larson and Aneka (Hansdatter), the father being a farmer of Sweden, and her natal day was Oct. 22, 1835. She has borne her husband five children: Emma A., John F., Albert W., Ida M., and Alma J.
Mr. Welen has served as School Director and Treasurer of his district, has been Supervisor of Roads three terms, and Township Treasurer one year. In politics, he is a Republican, and a strong temperance man. Ile belongs to the Swedish Mis- sion Church, at Balla Guard, and his wife is a member of the Lutheran Church at Mariadahl. Both are held in high esteem by their neighbors and fellow-citizens, for their many excellent quali- ties and worthy lives.
A view of the homestead of Mr. Welen, with its principal buildings, is presented on another page.
R ICHARD B. SARBER. There is probably not within the precincts of Pottawatomie County, a more stirring. wide-awake, go- ahead man than Mr. Sarber, proprietor of the Sarber Grove Stock Farm. 1Ie has been suc- cessful in his undertakings as a rule and especially so as a stock-breeder, and he operates a well regulated farm on section 17 in Blue Township. He is in the prime of life, having been born Sept. 2, 1842, and is a native of the city of Pittsburg, Pa.
The parents of Mr. Sarber were Stephen H. and Lucy (Cable) Sarber, the former born Jan. 20, 1812, near Pittsburg, Pa., and the latter a native of New England. Grandfather John Sarber was of German descent and born in 1781. Ile departed
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this life Oct. 18, 1850, at his home near Pittsburg. Stephen H. Sarber, during his early manhood was engaged in mercantile pursuits and at one time was a Paymaster in the Alleghany .Arsenal. Subse- quently in 1849 he went to California overland with a company organized in Pittsburg. He staid there two years, returning in 1851 and shortly afterward was appointed Postmaster of Alleghany Arsenal by President Pierce. He resigned the office in 1855 for the purpose of emigrating to Kansas, his destination being Pawnee City, a town located on the Ft. Riley reservation but which was afterward wiped out by order of the War Depart- ment at Washington.
Upon leaving Pawnee City, the father of our subject settled on a elaim of Government land at the month of Clark's Creek, two miles south of Ft. Riley, at a time when but few white men had located in that region. He lived there until 1857. then moving to Manhattan, commenced dealing in land and cattle. The year prior to this a town site was laid out on land now comprising the farm of Richard B. Sarber, occupying the northwest quarter of section 17. The land lies just across the Blue River from Manhattan and is connected with Poyntz Avenue by a bridge. The latter place was intended as a rival of Manhattan and was first named Pittsburg. In 1859 Stephen Sarber "jumped" this town site claim, having made the discovery that the claimants had not complied with the law. A legal contest resulted in Mr. Sarber coming out as winner, his rights being recognized as upheld by the authorities at Washington.
That was the end of the proposed town as Mr. Sarber moved his family onto the land and improved it for farm purposes. He, however, commeneed dealing in land and stock, making this his chief bus- iness and remaining there until his death, which oe- curred June 12, 1862. Ile had been a useful man in his community and during his younger years offi- ciated as minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church in the Smoky City. After settling upon his farm in Kansas he served for a number of years as Jus- tiee of the Peace, and was otherwise identified with the interests of his township. He was a man of fine education and excellent business talents which he was enabled to put to good account financially.
and at his death left to his heirs a fine property. The wife and mother passed away in 1849, prior to decease of her husband.
To the parents of our subjeet there was born a family of nine children, the eldest of whom, John N., was a Government seout during the Civil War and then settled in Clarksville, Ark., where he still lives. He has been prominent in public affairs, serving as a member of the State Legislature in both houses and was at one time United States Marshal. He is now a practicing attorney and a prominent member of the Arkansas Bar. He married Miss Susan, daughter of Judge Rose of Clarksville, and they have five children. Miss Emma L. Sarber was the wife of W. K. McConnell, a real- estate dealer of Greenleaf, Kan., who died in May, 1889. Mrs. MeConnell is a resident of Manhattan, and has six children. Miss Harriet Sarber married George B. Reicheneker, who was the Postmaster of Wyandotte, Kan., during the administration of President Arthur, and who died in April, 1884, leav- ing two children. His widow lives in Wyandotte. Wilbur died at his home in Blue Township, March 16, 1863 at the age of fourteen years.
The subject of this sketeh pursued his first studies in the common school, and in 1859 entered the office of the Western Kansas Express at Manhat- tan and began learning the printer's trade. He made such good headway that in due time he became foreman of the office and was thus employed until af- ter the outbreak of the Civil War. In the fall of 1861 he signalized his patriotism by enlisting as a Union soldier in Company F, 6th Kansas Cavalry, going in as a private and shortly afterward was promoted to be Chief Bugler. He served the term of his en- listment and was mustered out of service Nov. 28, 1864. In the meantime he met the enemy in many important battles, being at Coon Creek, Mo .. Prairie Grove, Ark .. Cane Hill, where Jewell, the Colonel of his Regiment, was killed and large num- bers of his comrades fell, Newtonia, Honey Springs, Poison Springs. Jenkin's Ferry and other engage- ments.
Upon leaving the army Mr. Sarber returned to Manhattan and subsequently was keeper of the toll bridge at that place for three years. After- ward he engaged in freighting from Leavenworth to
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Manhattan. In due time after his father's death he purchased the interest of the other heirs in the prop- erty and proceeded to open up and improve the land upon which little or nothing had been done. On the 2d of September, 1864, being ready to establish a fireside of his own, he was married to Miss Mary McCaulou, the wedding taking place at the bride's home in Manhattan. This lady was the daughter of Miletus and Lydia A. McCaulou, and of her marriage with our subject there was born one child, a son, Wilbur, who as a member of the firm of Balderston & Sarber. is engaged in the confect- ionery business in Manhattan. He married Miss Daisy Gay hart.
As a breeder of live stock, Mr. Sarber is a de- cided success. He makes a specialty of high grade Messenger, Hambletonian and Almont horses, Jersey Cattle and Poland-China swine. Mr. Sar- ber is also a dealer in and an extensive shipper of Blue River sand. In addition to his extensive business interests he still finds time to keep himself posted upon current events and gives his entire allegiance to the Republican party. He fre- quently serves as a delegate to the county and congressional conventions and has officiated as Township Clerk and Trustee a number of years. As a Union soldier, he belongs to Lew Gove Post, No. 100, G. A. R. , at Manhattan.
W ILLIAM H. CRUMBAKER. Among the young men of Pottawatomie County, none are making a greater success of their chosen occupation than he whose name initiates this sketch. He is one of the large live-stock dealers and farmers of Vienna Township, the land upon which his business is conducted consisting of 469 acres on section 29, which has been im- proved by him since its purchase in 1884. It is furnished with all the necessary buildings, well- built and conveniently disposed for the purpose for which they were erected, and everthing about the place is indicative of good management and thrift.
Our subject is the eldest of the three members of the parental family now living, and was born in Coshocton County, Ohio, April 20, 1852. He was
reared to manhood near Winterset, Madison Co., Iowa, whence he came to this township in Novem- ber, 1880. His life in this State has been an emi- nently successful one as is indicated by his ability to buy and improve the fine acreage above mentioned within four years of his arrival in this state. His youngest brother, A. J. Crumbaker is now a partner with him in farming and stock-raising. The brother married Miss H. J. Taylor, and they have one child, Charles A. The other brother, Oliver P., is keeping a restaurant in Onaga. He married Miss Anna Miles, and they have one daughter, Bessie A. Our subject and his brothers are stanch Republi- cans, and are young men of excellent principles, active lives, and more than ordinary intelligence, deserving and receiving respect and good will from their fellow citizens.
The parents of our subject were born in Ohio, both families being Virginians and the Crum- bakers, it is supposed, of German descent. The grandparents of our subject, John and Catherine Crumbaker, were married in the Old Dominion and lived in that State until after the birth of most of their children. They then moved to Ohio and spent the remainder of their lives in the eastern part of that State. They were members of the Lutheran Church and instilled good principles into the minds of their offspring. They reared a family of ten children, the youngest but one being Andrew J., father of our subject. He was born in Ohio about the year 1825, and having attained to years of manhood became a farmer and continued in that occupation for a number of years. In Muskingum County, Aug. 11, 1850, he was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Valentine, whose birth took place in Coshocton County, Feb. 5, 1825. Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Crumbaker remained in Ohio until the early part of 1854, when the hus- band started for the Pacific coast via the ocean and Isthmus route and his wife accompanied her par- ents to Iowa. Mr. Crumbaker experienced many hardships, being once nearly lost at sea with all on board the ship, which came near being wrecked in a storm. He spent six years in California in the mining regions, returning as he had gone and join- ing his wife in Iowa.
Andrew Crumbaker having returned from the
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coast just prior to the breaking out of the Civil War, could not long be content to remain at home while his country was in danger. He there- fore in 1862, enlisted in Company H, 23d Iowa Infantry, and went at once to the front. He par- ticipated in many engagements, and was promoted to the rank of Captain. The change of climate and hardships of army life affected his health, but though ill he remained with his command some time longer, and finally started home on a leave of absence. While on the way he became worse and died on a boat on the Mississippi River, July 3, 1863, and was buried at Memphis, Tenn. He was a sturdy Republican in politics, and was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His widow has since his death lived with her father and her children, in whose welfare she has ever taken a warm and loving interest. She is also a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is a woman whose worth of character has endeared her to many friends.
The mother of our subject is a daughter of Alex. and Mary (Taylor) Valentine, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Ohio. Alex. Valen- tine was but four years old when with his father, llugh Valentine, he went to the Buckeye State, the family making their home in the wild wooded regions of Coshocton County. There Hugh Val- entine lived until quite ripe in years, going thence to Madison County, Iowa, where he died at the age of eighty-six years, after having lived in that State some time. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Laden, had departed this life in Ohio, when somewhat past middle age. Both were hon- ored members of the Methodist Church.
Alexander Valentine and wife, after their mar- riage, lived in Muskingum and Coshocton Counties until 1856, his occupation up to that time having been that of cattle drover over the Alleghany Mountains and his active business life in Ohio in- cluding a period of twenty-one years. At the date mentioned he moved to Iowa, and settled on a farm in Madison County, where his wife died May 2, 1880, being then seventy-nine years old. The be- reaved husband came with his children to this State in the fall of the same year and died in this township, March 18, 1888. He was of advanced
age having been born Feb. 2, 1803. Like other ancestors of our subject he was a strong Republi- can. He was a Class-Leader in the- Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he and his wife were active members for many years.
W ILLIAM C. POPE. The steady.going ele- ment of Liberty Township. Jackson County, recognizes Mr. Pope as one of its represent- ative men. Without making any great stir in the world he has pursued the even tenor of his way, living economically and following the habits of in- dustry in which he was trained from boyhood. He is one of the old settlers of Jackson County and one of its most reliable men. He is content to live simply, being satisfied with the comforts of life, . while at the same time fortifying himself against want in his old age.
Mr. Pope was born in Hendricks County, Ind., Oct. 4, 1835, and when about nine years old ac- companied his parents to Platte County, Mo., where he developed into manhood. He was reared to farm pursuits and remained a resident of Missouri until the spring of 1860. In the meantime he was married in Platte County, Nov. 10, 1858, to Miss Eleanore Edean. This lady was born in Lincoln County, Ky., Nov. 27, 1835. In March 1860, Mr. and Mrs. Pope came to Kansas and settled on a farm on section 19, Liberty Township, where they lived until 1865. Then selling out Mr. Pope returned with his family to Platte County, Mo., and so- journed there about three years. He, however, found that he preferred Kansas to Missouri and re- turning to the former State purchased a farm in Jefferson Township which he operated until 1882. Then selling out he purchased back his old place in Liberty Township and is now the owner of 150 acres which have been brought to a good state of cultivation. He follows general farming and raises considerable live stock .
There have been born to Mr. and Mrs Pope five children, the eldest of whom, Annie E., is the wife of David Stirton and they live in Jefferson Town- ship; Edward A., in Circleville; James K., Thomas G .; and Allie F., are at home with their parents.
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. Mr. Pope, politically, votes the straight Democratic ticket and was Trustee of Jefferson Township for three years. He and his estimable wife are mein- bers in good standing of the Christian Church.
The parents of our subject were George W. and Jane (Cooper) Pope who were natives respectively of North Carolina and Virginia. They were reared in the South and after their marriage emigrated to Indiana and located on a farm in Hendricks County. Thence, a few years later, they migrated across the Mississippi into Platte County, Mo., where they lived until 1863. That year they came to Jackson County, Kan., and lived one year in Liberty Town- ship. They then removed to Jefferson Township, where the father died in 1875. The mother is still living and makes her home in Jefferson Township. Of the twelve children born to them, four are living.
The parents of Mrs. Pope were John and Mahala (Roberts) Edean, who were natives respectively of Kentucky and Virginia. They came to Kansas in 1858 while it was still a Territory, settling in Jef- ferson Township among its earliest pioneers. They built up a home in the wilderness and there the mother died in 1886. Mr. Edean spent his last days in Grant Township, dying in 1877. They had a family of seven children, six of whom are living and of whom Mrs. Pope was the second born.
F6 REDERICK C. NUZMAN, President of the Town Board of Circleville, is also a leader among its mercantile interests, and has been a resident of Kansas since 1860, coming to Jackson County during its Territorial days. He was born in the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg, Germany, March 6, 1834, and is the son of Frederick and Mary (Flascone) Nuzman, who were likewise na- tives of Mecklenburg, and who emigrated to Amer- ica in 1857. Taking up a tract of land, the father prosecuted farming pursuits, to which he had been bred from boyhood, and continued his residence in Soldier Township until his decease, which occurred in 1880, when he was seventy-five years old. The mother survived her husband seven years, dying in 1887, at the advanced age of eighty-two years. Both were members of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church, in which the elder Nuzman was one of the chief pillars, officiating as Class-Leader, and being otherwise identified with its prosperity.
To the parents of our subject there was born a family of six children, all of whom are living, be- ing devoted Christian men and women, and highly esteemed in the community: Mary became the wife of John Schrader, and they reside on a farm in Soldier Township; Frederick Charles was the next in order of birth; Charles is farming in Idaho; John is farming in Soldier Township; Reka is the wife of Charles Beckman; Louis is farming in Sol- dier Township.
The subject of this sketch was reared on a farm in his native Germany, and received the advantages of a good education in the mother tongue. Upon becoming his own man, he resolved to seek his fortune in America, and accordingly embarked on the German vessel "Elizabeth," which landed him safely in New York City, in December, 1855. Thence he proceeded to Laporte County, Ind., where he engaged as a farm laborer two years. In the meantime he formed the acquaintance of a most estimable young woman, Miss Catherine Hen- dricks, a native of Indiana, to whom he was mar- ried, Dec. 11, 1858. The newly wedded pair com- menced the journey of life together on a rented farm, and remained in the Hoosier State until 1860. Coming then to Kansas, Mr. Nuzman purchased 175 acres of raw land in Soldier Township, from which he proceeded to build up a homestead. He brought the soil to a good state of cultivation, and effected various improvements, continuing his resi- dence there until 1865. Then selling out, he pur- chased a farm in Jefferson Township, upon which he lived until 1880. He then invested a portion of his capital in a stock of hardware, from which he built up a good trade, and in which business he still continues, while at the same time he carries on his farm.
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