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 51
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 51
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 51
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Mrs. Catherine (Hendricks) Nuzman departed this life at her home in Jefferson Township in 1867, leaving no children. In 1869, Mr. Nuzman con - tracted a second marriage with Miss Mary, daugh- ter of Robert Anderson, one of the pioneer settlers of Soldier Township. Mrs. Mary Nuzman was born May 12, 1850, in Illinois, and spent the first years
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. of her life in Canada, her parents removing to Canada when she was an infant. There was born of this nnion seven children, viz: Elsie, Nora; Ira, deceased, Frederick, Scott, Ina, and Gladys. Mr. and Mrs. Nuzman are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and warmly interested in its wel- fare and prosperity. Mr. Nuzman takes an active part in church work, officiating as Steward and Trustee, and otherwise endeavoring to promote its best interests.
During the progress of the Civil War, Mr. Nuz- man, in the fall of 1862, enlisted as a Union soldier in the 11th Kansas Infantry, and served three years. He participated in some of the most important bat- tles which followed, being at Cane Hill, Prairie Grove and Van Buren, and assisted in driving the raiders, Shelby and Price, from the frontier. He takes an active part in politics, and uniformly votes the Republican ticket. Ile has always been inter- ested in the temperance reform. He served as Township Trustee three years, and was a member of the Town Board a number of years. He was elected President of the Board in the spring of 1889. For five years he was the Town Treasurer.
The farm property of Mr. Nuzman embraces 375 acres of good land, which under his wise manage- ment has become the source of a handsome income. He carries a full line of hardware, and deals quite extensively in lumber. He owns and occupies a fine residence in the city of Circleville. and enjoys the friendship and acquaintance of its leading peo- ple. He has been for many years a member in good standing of the A. F. & A. M.
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OHN LUTZ. A residence of over thirty- one years in Liberty Township, has served to make Mr. Lutz and his estimable wife widely and favorably known to the most of its older residents. They form a portion of its solid and reliable element, people whose life career has been without reproach, and who possess, in a marked degree, those solid and reliable qualities which long ago established them in the esteem and confidence of all who know them. Mr. Lutz is one of the most extensive land-owners of Jackson
County, having a half section in the home farm, and 344 acres elsewhere in the township. He com- menced in life dependent upon his own resources, and from the start has been uniformly successful. No small amount of his prosperity is due to the sensible and excellent lady who has managed his household affairs in a wise and prudent manner, and who has been his most efficient helpmate now for a period of over thirty-five years.
Mr. Lutz was born on the other side of the At. lantic, in Germany, July 25, 1826. He received a practical education in the common schools of the Fatherland, and was reared to farming pursuits, which he has followed all his life. As a youth he was more than ordinarily ambitious, and deter- mined to be somebody in the world and accum- ulate a fair share of that which is the usual reward of industry and perseverance. Not being satisfied with his prospects in his native country, he, about the time of reaching his majority, set out for America, landing in New York City, July 18, 1847, a few days before his twenty-first birthday.
From the metropolis young Lutz proceeded to the farming regions of Lancaster County, Pa., where he worked as a laborer four years. In the meantime, with genuine German thrift, he saved what he could of his earnings, and casting his eyes to the Western country, determined to invest his money in Wisconsin land. Accordingly, in July, 1851, he repaired to Washington County, that State, and purchased a farm upon which he lived six and one-half years. This, in the meantime, he transformed from a wild and uncultivated tract into a comfortable homestead.
Mr. Lutz, not yet satisfied with his achievements, finally determined upon a removal to Kansas. In March, 1858, we find him in Jackson County, taking up a claim in what is now Liberty Township, upon which he settled, and where he has since made his home. He and his family encountered the usual privations and hardships of life in a new settle- ment, but by great energy and perseverance they in due time found themselves on the high road to prosperity. Where was once an apparently barren tract of land is now a series of cultivated fields, and substantial modern buildings. Mr. Lutz is progressive in his ideas, and has all the necessary
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machinery to carry on farming in a profitable man- ner. ' He keeps a goodly assortment of live stock, and is in the enjoyment of a handsome income.
Mrs. Lutz, like her husband, is of German par- entage and ancestry, and was born in the Father- land, Aug. 15, 1833, being thus a little over seven years younger than her husband. She came to America with her parents when a young girl of fourteen years, they settling in Wisconsin, where she developed into a bright and interesting woman- hood, and where she met with her future husband. There have been born to them thirteen children, viz .: Mary, Elizabeth, Christine. John, Martha. Maggie, Catherine, Sarah, George, Peter, William, Barbara and Emma.
Mr. Lutz, upon becoming a voting citizen, iden- tified himself with the Democratic party, but he mixes very little with public affairs, preferring to give his time and attention to his party interests. Ile makes a. specialty of stock-raising, keeping a large herd of cattle and a goodly assortment of horses and swine. Mr. and Mrs. Lutz belong to the German Evangelical Church, and number their friends and acquaintances among the leading peo- ple of Jackson County.
AMES M. HADLEY is a prominent con- tractor and bnilder of Jackson County, his residence and office being in Whiting. Ile has made a life study of his employment, and for the greater part of his life has been engaged in some branch of the work, and he is very success- ful in the line which he has adopted. He works in connection with the firm of C. D. Logan & Co., Dealers in Lumber and Builders' Supplies. The residence of Mr. Hadley is a tasteful frame cottage, which he built in 1879, and is situated on the main street of Whiting. In 1888 he bought an 80-acre tract of land, adjoining the town section, on which is an excellent dwelling. an orchard of about eight acres, and other improvements.
The eyes of Mr. Hadley first opened to the light in Ogdensburg, N. Y., June 2, 1838, and he re- mained under the parental roof until he was twenty
years of age, acquiring such education as the com mon schools at that time afforded. Upon leaving the parental home he went to Michigan and engaged in the lumber business, remaining about four years, when he returned eastward to Urieks- ville, Ohio, where he stayed three years, following his trade of a carpenter, and building machine shops for the railroad company. From the Buckeye State he went to Wisconsin and engaged in the lumber business at Oconto, but after a sojourn of a few months only he changed his location to God- erich, in the western part of the Province of Onta- rio, where for a short time he worked at his trade.
Not being satisfied with his location, Mr. Hadley crossed the lake to Marquette, Mich., having in various trips completed the circuit of travel on the Great Lakes from Quebec to Duluth. Settling in Marquette he resided in that city for twelve years, during that period being employed at car building for the M. H. & O. R.R. His next move was to the West, and he spent one summer in Kansas City, Mo., employed at the carpenter's trade, and then, in 1877, came to this city. He built what is now known as the Whiting House, and opened and managed that hotel for a year, at the expiration of which time he sold out and took up his old business of contracting. Since then he has erected the fine residences of Mr. Lentz, Mr. Olden and many oth- ers of the same kind.
In 1867 Mr. Hadley was united in marriage with Miss Amanda Capes, of Michigan, who bore him four children, only one of whom survives. Mrs. Hadley departed this life in 1877. Iler daughter -Jennie-is the wife of A. Conklin, a conductor on the Missouri Pacific Railroad, and their home is in St. Louis. They have one child.
Mr. Hadley contracted a second matrimonial alliance on July 3, 1879, the bride being Mrs. Mary (Brown) Armstrong, widow of Cyrus Armstrong, of Schuyler County, N. Y., where he died in 1877. Mr. Armstrong left a daughter, Mabel Es- tella, who died in childhood. The second wife of Mr. Hadley is a daughter of Isaac Brown, formerly of the Empire State, and now of Troy, Kan. He married Miss Mary, daughter of Benjamin John- son, of New Jersey, and his own father was Joseph Brown, The present Mrs. Hadley has borne her
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husband four children: Alice May, a young miss attending school; Arthur J., William Ray, and Grace Estella.
He of whom we write is a son of David and Margaret Hadley, who were married in their native country, England, and directly afterward emigrated to America. The subject of this sketch is a Re- publican, and takes an active share in the work of the party. He belongs to Jackson Lodge, No. 214, I. O. O. F. Both he and his wife be- long to the Methodist Church. Mr. Hadley is well and favorably known throughout the county, and has high standing among its citizens.
E F. RICHARDSON, M. D., one of the younger members of the medical fraternity of Potta- watomie County and located at Onaga, es- tablished himself as a resident physician at this point, Sept. 2, 1886. He is one of the go ahead kind, and is evidently bound to make his way in the world. He has already built up a lucrative business and is rapidly growing in the esteem and confidence of his fellow citizens. He was for three years prior to settling here, located at Havensville, where he commenced the practice of his profession after having been graduated from the Kansas City Medical College, March 4, 1883. IIe also took a course of study in the Virginia State Medical College at Richmond, entering that institution when a youth of nineteen years. Ile commenced the study of med- icine in the office of Dr. Hufford, of Wythe County, Va., when little more than a mere boy. He is a native of the Old Dominion, having been born in the city of Richmond, July 20, 1861.
The father of our subject was Evan Richardson, originating from one of the F. F .V's, and who dealt extensively in live stock. The mother in her girlhood was Catherine McDonald, of Scotch-Irish ancestry. She was born in Smith County, Va., and died there in 1876, when fifty-six years old. She belonged to the Smith Methodist Church from the time she was a maiden of eighteen years. Evan Richardson is still living, making his home with his son James, in Smith County, Va. Prior to the war he was a Whig, and afterward a Democrat,
and represented his county in the State Legislature. His sympathies were with the South, and after the ontbreak of the rebellion he raised a company of Confederate troops of which he became Captain, only surrendering his command when Gen. Lee also laid down his arms at Appomattox. He belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Dr. Richardson was the youngest of eight child- ren, six sons and two daughters comprising the parental household, of whom one daughter and four sons are yet living. Two of the sons besides himself are in Kansas-W. F. and T. J., both resi- dents of Havensville, the former a prominent phy- sician, and the latter a banker. E. F. pursued his lessons under a private tutor until ready to enter college. After coming to Kansas he was married, in Jackson County, to Miss Agnes Bell. This lady was born in the Province of Ontario, Canada, Dec. 14,1869,and is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Bell, natives of England. The latter crossed the Atlantic to Çanada prior to their marriage, it is supposed, and remained there until after the birth of most of their children. Then, coming to Kan- sas, they settled on a farm in Jackson County, where they now reside, being prosperous and highly respected citizens.
To the Doctor and his estimable wife there has been born one child, a son, Lester L. Mrs. Rich- ardson is prominently connected with the Baptist Church. The Doctor, socially, belongs to Onaga Lodge, No. 188, A. F. & A. M., and is a charter member of Excelsior Lodge, No. 102, K. of P., in which he has passed all the chairs. His political sympathies are with the Democratic party.
LFRED MORGAN. No truer or more worthy specimen of the self-made man could well be found than this gentleman, whose home is in Jefferson Township, Jackson County, where he has for several years been engaged in farming. Beginning life for himself at the age of fifteen years, empty handed and almost uneducated, he has not only, by hard work and good management secured an ample com- petency, but has educated himself and attained a
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high moral and Christian character. The greatest desire of his life has been to educate bis children, and give them a better chance in life than he has had, and well has he succeeded in carrying out his wishes. Mr. Morgan is numbered among the best farmers of his township, and is one who is inter- ested in every matter which promises to advance the interests of the people, being especially liberal in his donations to church and benevolent institu- tions.
Mr. Morgan is a native of Old England, and a son of John and Margaret (Brown) Morgan, who were also English. The occupation of the father was that of a sawyer. The mother was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and although our subject left home when but fifteen years old, no doubt the moral lessons impressed upon his childish mind by his mother, had an influence over his conduct in later years. He was born March 27, 1834, and after leaving home en- gaged as a farm hand, following this by labor upon various public works. In 1858 he was united in marriage with Miss Mary A., daughter of George Simmonds, like himself a native of England, her natal day having been March 16, 1834.
In 1871 Mr. Morgan came to the conclusion that he could better his condition in life by finding a home in the New World, and he therefore emi- grated to the United States, landing in a strange country without money or friends, and $34 in debt for his passage. The indomitable will and per- sistent energy of the man were well exhibited un- der the discouraging circumstances, and his condi- tion gradually improved. He first obtained work at Phillipsburg, Pa., as a miner, and after about eight months labor he went to Perry County, Ohio, continuing the same occupation in that State for a few years, and also renting and operating a farm. Ten years after landing in America, Mr. Morgan came to this State, and purchased the land on which he still lives, which comprises 160 acres on section 13, in the township above named, and at the time of his purchase was but partially im- proved. It is now well improved, well stocked, and one of the valuable quarter sections in the county.
Mr. Morgan and his estimable wife are the par-
ents of three children, of whom they may justly be proud on account of their mental attainments, and their excellent characters. William A. is now liv- ing at Shawnee, Ohio, and is employed as Assistant Postmaster; Eliza A. is the wife of William Mc- Allister, of this county; Olive Genevra completes the family.
Mr. Morgan belongs to the I. O. O. F. He is a Republican, and deeply interested in the political issues of the day. His wife belongs to the Method- ist Episcopal Church, and he to the Christian, and both bave excellent standing in their respective congregations, as well as in the opinion of the com- munity in general.
ACOB RIEDERER. This well-known resi- dent of Liberty Township, Jackson County, is numbered among its most thrifty and prosperous men. Ile is a farmer in good circumstances, and cultivates 375 acres of land, making a specialty also of stock-raising. Upon coming to Kansas in 1857, he secured a part of his present homestead on section 26, and here he has since resided, becoming fully identified with the best interests of the community.
A native of Switzerland, Mr. Reiderer was born Feb. 26, 1841, but remembers little of his native country, as he was only four years old when he came to America with his parents. They landed in New York City, and thence proceeded directly to Washington County, Wis., where young Rei- derer remained until a youth of eighteen years. He then accompanied the family to Jackson County, this State, but soon afterward removed to Leaven- worth. Later, however, he returned to Jackson County, and settled in Franklin Township, where his parents spent their last days. The father, Andrew Reiderer, departed this life about 1867. The maiden name of his mother was Dora Sante. She died in 1879. The parental household consisted of ten children, five of whom are living.
The subject of this sketch remained at the home- stead, and was married April 8, 1867, to Miss Mary Myer. Mrs. Reiderer is likewise a native of Switzerland, and was born Jan, 4, 1851. Iler par-
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ents were John and Euphemia (Suter) Myer, like- wise of Swiss birth and parentage, and who came to America in 1856. Landing in New Orleans, they proceeded thence up the rivers to Atchison County, Kan., where they have since made their home. The childhood and youth of Mrs. Reiderer passed uneventfully under the home roof until her mar- riage. She is now the mother of twelve children, two of whom, who were both named Charlotte, died, one in infancy and one when four years old. The survivors are: Dora, John J., Rosetta A., Bertha M., Anna C., Clara J., Sophia E., Mary E., Lizzie and Andrew M.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Riederer set- tled upon a farm in Franklin Township, where they lived two'years, then removed to their present homestead. They have a fine residence and the farm is very fertile, producing in abundance the rieh crops of the Sunflower State. Mr. Riederer. politically, gives his support to the Republican party, while he and his estimable wife are members in good standing of the Evangelical Church. Mrs. Riederer deserves special mention as a lady who has been in all respects the suitable partner of her husband, and who has greatly assisted in the accumu- lation of his property, and maintaining the reputa- tion of the family. They occupy a position second to none in their community.
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W ILLIAM W. ALLEN is the owner and oc- cupant of a pleasantly located farm in Mill Creek Township, Pottawatomie County, and the owner of another tract of land in Lone Tree Township. The home estate comprises a fractional eighty acres on section 6, and is well im- proved, being furnished with all necessary and suf- ficiently commodious outbuildings, and a dwelling attractive, comfortable, and substantial.
Mr. Allen was born in the Province of New Brunswick, May 7,1835,and is a son of George Allen, Jr., who was a native of the same Province and was the son of another George Allen, who was probably born in Ireland. George Allen, Sr., spent many years in New Bruswick, dying there when quite old. His occupation was that of a far-
mer and to that employment his son, George Jr., was reared. His wife was of Pennsylvania Dutch parentage and she also died in New Brunswick when quite old.
George Allen, Jr., the father of our subject, married Miss Letta Thompson, who was born in the same Province as himself, of English parents, who spent their last days in the Province. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Allen began life on a new and heavily timbered farm on the sea coast, where the former spent the rest of his life, dying when in middle age in the year 1837. His widow survived many years, her death taking place in her native place in 1875, when she was nearly ninety- four years old. Both parents of our subject were members of the Methodist Church, and lived use- ful and honored lives. Their family consisted of fourteen children, five daugliters and nine sons. One daughter died when ten years old. The others lived to years of maturity and all married and had offspring. Most of the family came to the United States, and five are now living in this country and one in New Brunswick.
Our subject is the seventh son in this large fam- ily and was reared to the pursuit which his father and grandfather had followed. He was married near his own home to Miss Charlotte Davis, who was born Aug. 7, 1837, and belonged to a neigh- boring family. Her parents, Thomas and Sarah (Jones) Davis, were also natives of New Brunswick " and were of Welsh and Irish descent. They were reared and married in their native Province, where the father died when seventy-five years old, and the mother when she had reached the advanced age of ninety-four. The father had spent six years of his life after marriage in the States, but returned to his native Province some years before his death. He belonged to the Baptist Church. while his wife had no particular faith. Mrs. Allen is the young- est of a family which comprised two sons and two daughters, and is the only one in this country. All but one of the family lived to years of maturity.
A few months after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Allen came to the United States settling in Winnebago County, Ill., where our sub- jeet obtained a pre-emption claim which was their home for over twenty years. During the Rebellion,
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Mr. Allen enlisted in Company D., 11th Illi- nois Infantry, his enrollment taking place in Sep- tember, 1861, and a brother, Abraham, joining at the same time. They went together to the South and for some time fought side by side. doing all that was in their power to prevent the disruption of the Union. Abraham Allen was wounded while on picket duty and was subsequently discharged for disability. Our subject remained in the ser- vice about fifteen months, when he was discharged on account of sickness, having been seriously disabled from exposure on a forced march to Ft. | Donelson. Ile has ever since been seriously crip- pled by rheumatism. His army life terminated in December, 1862, and he returned to his home and has since devoted liis attention to farming.
Mr. and Mrs. Allen are the parents of seven chil- dren. They have been bereaved of three of them : Napoleon B., who died at the age of one year; Oswald, at the age of eight years; and Sarah A., at the age of twenty-one years. The latter was the wife of David Rhoades, and left a daugh- ter-Sarah C .- who is being reared by her grand- parents. The living children are: Josephine the wife of George Bennett, a farmer in Lone Tree Township; Martin L. a mechanic who is now liv- ing in Ellsworth County; W. E., who runs a hay press at Fostoria, this county ; and Lotta, wife of Thomas Bennett, a farmer in Lone Tree Township.
Mr. Allen is a member of Custer Post, No. 39, G. A. R., at Onaga. In politics he is a sound Re- publicau, never failing to cast his vote in the in- terest of his party. Mrs. Allen is a member of the Baptist Church, of which her husband is also an attendant. Both are held in high repute for their many good qualities and their upright and useful lives.
ILLIAM R. WEEKS. The well-regulated farm of this gentleman comprises 320 acres of prime land on section 22, Liberty Township, Jackson County, and where he has effected good improvements, including neat and substantial modern buildings, with forest and fruit trees and all the other appurtenances of the modern country estate, Mr. Weeks is a thorough and
skillful farmer, progressive in his ideas, enterpris- ing and industrious, and in all respects a represent- ative man in a very intelligent community.
A native of Madison County, Ill., Mr. Weeks was born Nov. 25, 1840, and is thus in the prime of life. Ile grew to manhood in his native county, and remained a resident of Omphgent Township until a man of thirty-five years. He then removed to another township in the same county, where he resided two years, and in February, 1880, decided to seek the land west of the Mississippi. Coming to Jackson County, Kan., he settled on section 22, Liberty Township, where he has since resided. In addition to general farming he raises considerable live stock, and also deals quite extensively in the same.
Mr. Weeks, on the 8th of January, 1862, when approaching the twenty-second year of his age, was married in his native county to Miss Eliza A. Butler. Mrs. Weeks was born not far from the early home of her husband, Dec. 13, 1842. Of their union there are six living children, the eldest of whom, a daughter, Mary E., became the wife of James Lyon, and died at her home in Jefferson Township, Feb. 14, 1887; Carrie M. married Sam- uel Whitcraft, and they live in this county; Emma F .. Cora G., Stella M., Lulu J. and Bessie are at home with their parents. Mr. Weeks is a stanch supporter of Democratic principles, while he and his excellent wife are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Their home- stead is noticeable on account of the air of plenty and content which surrounds it, and forms a fitting monument to the lifelong industry of_the proprie- tor, who has also been nobly assisted by his life partner.
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