Portrait and biographical album of Jackson, Jefferson and Pottawatomie Counties, Kansas : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 54

Author:
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago : Chapman Bros.
Number of Pages: 788

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 54
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 54
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 54

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Mr. Diekson, in 1872, was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Granger at the bride's home in this county. This lady was born in England and was the daughter of James and Mary A. (Laven- der) Granger, who were likewise natives of that country. The mother died in Michigan and the father is still living. The three children born of this union were named respectively: Robert P., Flora L. and James F. Mr. and Mrs. Diekson are prominent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which Mr. Diekson officiates as Steward and Trustee. He is a warm defender of the prinei- ples of the Republican party and a self-made man who starting out in life dependent upon his own resources, has acquitted himself with eredit and gained in a marked degree the confidence and esteem of his fellow-men.

Jobn Dickson, the brother of our subject, and likewise an old settler of Jackson County eame to this region in 1857. Ile was born in New Jersey whence he went with the family to Wisconsin when a child and was there reared on a farm and edu- cated in the common schools. He left home at. the age of sixteen years joining his brother Peter in this State and took up a tract of land in Grant Township, upon which he labored and resided until the troubles preceding the outbreak of the Rebel- lion. He then like his brother Peter, allied himself with John Brown and went with him to Iowa. When withdrawing from John Brown's band he re- turned to the East, and while visiting in the State of Connecticut, the war having broken out, he in the spring of 1861, under the first eall for volun- teers, enlisted in the 1st Connectieut Infantry being the first man to enroll his name. Ile partici- pated in the battles of Bull Run and Mannassah

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Depot. At the expiration of his term of enlist- ment he went back to Wisconsin and in September following re-enlisted in the 5th Wisconsin Battery, in which he served three years and until the close of the war. He met the enemy in many of the im- portant battles which followed, namely, Island No. 10, Farmington, the siege of Corinth, Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga. Mission Ridge, Dallas, Resaea, Rome, Kenesaw Mountain, Chattahoochie, Jonesboro. and was in the Atlanta campaign inelud- ing the battle of Bentonville. Although experienc- ing many hairbreadth eseapes, he was neither wounded nor captured and at the elose of the war received his honorable discharge.

Upon retiring from the army John Dickson re- turned to Wisconsin and thenee eame the second time to Kansas, where he took up his abode and has sinee remained, carrying on the improvement of his farm. In 1864, while home on a furlough he was married in Wiseonsin to Miss Jennie R. Harris, a native of that State. There have been born to them four children. The eldest a daughter, Louie, is now the wife of II. E. Sanderson, of Gurley, Ala .; May is a musie teacher and makes her home with her parents; George is deceased; Roy is at home. Mr. Dickson and his estimable wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church and Mr. Diek- son, politieally, is a sound Republican.

OSEPH L. MILLARD. A snug homestead of 120 acres, well cultivated and improved with good buildings, constitutes the head- quarters of Mr. Millard, who is operating successfully as a general farmer and stoek raiser. His possessions lie on seetion 4, Mill Creek Town- ship, where he has resided since the spring of 1874. He came to this State that year from Hillsdale County, Mich., of which he had been a resident for the long period of twenty-eight years. Prior to this he had lived in Trumbull County, Ohio.

A native of New York State, the subject of this notice was born in Bennington Township, Ontario County, March 15, 1830, and is the son of Eleazer Millard, a native of Rhode Island. The latter was of Welsh parentage on his father's side, and the

father, after coming to America, assisted the Colo- nists in their struggle for independence as a soldier in the Revolutionary' War. He lived afterward in Rhode Island and New York State, dying in the latter when an old man. He was by occupation a brass- founder, and was a skilled workman.

Eleazer Millard remained in his native State of Rhode Island during his younger years, then ac- companied his parents to Ontario County, N. Y., where he attained to his majority and was married to Miss Elsie Lee. This lady was born in Con- nectieut, whenee she removed with her parents to Massachusetts and finally to New York State. Her parents were natives of Connecticut, and de- seended from Irish and English ancestry respect- ively. Her father, Israel Lee, served through the War of 1812, and afterward settled on a farm in New York State, and later moved to Ohio, where he spent the remainder of his days, dying when past seventy years old. His wife Mrs. Anna ( Wea- ver) Lee, died in Michigan at the advanced age of ninety-six years.

After the birth of two children, Horaee and Jo- seph L., Eleazer Millard and his wife emigrated to Trumbull County, Ohio, where were added to the family eircle two more children-S. Filander and Anna. The four are still living, and with one ex- ception all married. In 1846 the Millard family, leaving Ohio, changed their residence to Michigan, settling on a tract of new land in Woodbridge Town- ship, Hillsdale County. They improved a farm from the wilderness, and there the father died at the early age of forty-two years. His widow was mar- ried the second time, and was for some years there- after a resident of Lenawee County, Mieh. Finally she went to the home of her daughter in Washite- naw County, where her decease took place when she was quite aged; she was a member of the Methodist Church.

The subject of this sketeh was the second child of his parents, and was quite small when they re- moved from his native State to Trumbull County, Ohio. He was a youth of sixteen years when he accompanied the family to Hillsdale County, Mich., where he attained to his majority. A year prior to this, however, he had purchased a small farm in Camden Township, and being thus prepared to es-

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tablish a home of his own, was married to Miss Susan Sampson. This lady was born in Wayne County, N. Y., Oct. 12, 1830, and was the daugh- ter of the Rev. Newland and Catherine (Hall) Sampson. who were natives of Connecticut, but were probably married in New York State. Mr. Samp- son for years officiated as minister in the Metho- dist Church in Wayne County, N. Y., removing from there in 1844. Later he took up his residence in Hillsdale County, Mich., where he labored in the Master's vineyard for some years. There the wife and mother died when about fifty years of age. Mr. Sampson later removed to Indiana, where he was married to his second wife and died in Hebron, that State, very suddenly, while roofing a house. He was then about sixty years old.

Mrs. Millard was carefully reared and educated, and by her union with our subject became the the mother of three children, one of whom, a daughter, Mary A., died at the age of four and one half years; Melissa is the wife of William Hicks. and they live in Havensville, Kan .; J. Mar- ion, the twin brother of Mary A., married Miss Lydia Simons, and they live on a farm in Mill Creek Township. Mr. and Mrs. Millard are con- nected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Millard, politically, supports the principles of the Republican party.

E RNST KOLTERMAN. The farm upon which this prosperous young man is now living consists of 320 acres in Mill Creek Township, Pottawatomie County, and was the birth- place of its present owner, and a part of it was the original claim of his father William Kolterman, who secured eighty acres for a yoke of oxen in the year 1857. From that date until bis death, Sept 16. 1882, Mr. William Kolterman made this his home. He was one of the most prosperous and intelligent farmers of the county, and at the time of his de- cease owned more than 1,400 acres of land here. He belonged to an excellent German family and was born in Prussia, and was there reared on a farm. Ilis wife was Miss Louisa Brunkow, who was also a member of an old Prussian family, and

who is yet living and makes her home with our subject. She has now reached the age of sixty-five years. She has been a member of the Lutheran Church since her childhood, and her deceased hus- band was also a prominent and life-long member and was one of the organizers of the society here.

In 1856 William Kolterman, his wife and three children, came to the United States and spent one year near Monroe, Green Co., Wis. They then, in the spring of 1857, came with ox-teams to this State, taking up their abode in the sparsely settled region which is now included in this township, where wild game and Indians were numerous, and where the trails of the red men were the only high- ways. Their first tract of land is located on Dutch Creek, and was the nucleus from which the splen- did landed estate of its original owner grew.

The paternal family consisted of four sons and three daughters, one of the former being now de- ceased, and the others, with the exception of one daughter, residents of this county. Our subject is the youngest son, and having spent his boyhood and youth on a farm in a new country, he was reared to hard work and early acquired a practical knowledge of the occupation which he has success- fully conducted since he began life for himself. Ile was married, at his own home, to Miss Emma L. Henneberg, who was born in Lone Tree Town- ship, this county, Oct. 16, 1860. Her parents, Charles and Elizabeth (Weber) Henneberg, were born in Prussia, and there reared until about of of age, when they came to America and settled in Iowa, their marriage taking place at West Point, Lee County, that State. They remained there about two years after their marriage,and then, in 1858, came to Kansas and settled on a pre-emption claim in Lone Tree Township, some years later changing their location to another farm in Mill Creek Township. Here Mr. Henneberg died in 1863, at the age of forty-three years, after a successful * and honorable life. His widow subsequently be- came the wife of John Snyder, a prosperous farmer of this township. Mrs. Kolterman is the youngest of her father's three children, and is the only one now living. She was reared by her mother and step-father, and is a lady of intelligence, and one whose home and domestic affairs are kept in

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the most orderly and tasteful condition. She is the mother of two children-Ida L., and Walter W.

In politics, Mr. Kolterman is a Democrat. He and his wife belong to the Lutheran Church, and he is a Trustee in that society. Intelligent, industri- ons and thrifty in the conduct of his private affairs, a kind neighbor and a reliable citizen, Mr. Kolter- man is highly respected by his fellow-men, and is already taking a high rank among the young farmers of the county.

L UTHER M. MYERS. No resident of Jack- son County is more favorably known therein than this gentleman, who has been identi- fied with its interests since the summer of 1856. He is well known as a public official in the county and in Cedar Township, where he lived for many years, and the manner in which he fulfilled the duties of the responsible positions which he has held added to his credit with the citizens who already held him in high regard. He is engaged in the banking business in Whiting, having had the control of the Whiting Exchange Bank since 1882, when he opened that institution. His realty in Cedar Township is a valuable and well-improved piece of property.

The place of birth of Mr. Myers was New Market, Va., and bis natal day April 6, 1828. He acquired an excellent education in the High School of his na- tive place, where he remained until of age. Though he had always lived in town, he was a lover of out- door sports and work, and had a great desire to see something of the world. About the time that he attained to his majority, California was becoming a prominent objective point to those who were not averse to the tedious and adventurous journey across the plains, and Mr. Myers turned his face in that direction. He started for Westport Land- ing-since known as Kansas City, Mo., whence he intended to join a caravan for California, but on reaching Westport in the latter part of May, 1851, he found the trains for that season had gone, and so postponed his trip for a year. Coming up from St. Louis to Westport, Mr. Myers had become acquainted with Kit Carson, who was on his way

home to New Mexico from St. Louis, where he had been to buy goods and visit his daughter who was attending school there. The celebrated scout of- fered to take Mr. Myers to New Mexico without expense to the latter, if he would go, but after due deliberation the offer was declined and Mr. Myers went to Bentonsport, Iowa, where he stayed until the following spring. He then, in company with others from that place, set out for California with an ox-team, having an interest also in another part of the outfit, and being the personal owner of one of the horses. The train was made up of five out- fits, and eighteen men, two children and one woman were the human beings who undertook the long and trying expedition.

The guardian angel of the caravan was Mrs. Thomas Freeman, a refined and educated lady, who with two small children to care for, found time to pay a great deal of attention to the sick in their party, and who is held in sacred remembrance by them all. She was the wife of a Universalist min- ister, who had abandoned preaching and entered upon a mercantile life, and who was on his way to California, where he expected to continue his busi- ness. Mr. Myers having been a victim of the mountain fever during their journey, has good cause to gratefully remember the ministering care of the noble woman and his reverence for her is unbounded.

The train left Iowa on the 12th of May and reached Shasta City on the 16th of September, after some trying experiences, and incidents long to be remembered by those who participated in them. An incident worthy of mention occurred at Shell Creek, Neb., where the Indians tried to stop the train and make the white men pay toll on a rustic bridge. The leader of the wagon train, Mr. Jacob Rupley, who knew the Indian character well, gave the boys orders not to shoot unless he set the example, and when the savages tried to drive off the stock from the caravan, he took his big ox whip and went after them, striking the chief over the head and cansing him to take to his heels with the rest following him.

In the great descent of the Humboldt, which is but a vast stretch of sandy plain, the oxen were for three days and two nights without food, and during

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two of these days traveled sixty miles. When at Black Rock Springs, thinking themselves safe from molestation, the party failed to put out the usual guard, and in the morning four of the five horses belonging to the party were missing, and all of them belonging to the outfit in which Mr. Myers had an interest, one of them being his private property. There being no feed where they had camped, the other four outfits proceeded on their way intending to camp when they had found food and water, and await the arrival of their comrades. Four of the men went in search of the missing horses, and returned at night in an exhausted con- dition, as the water which they had taken from the spring, being mineral, became unfit for use when warm. Mr. Myers was left alone in the tent during the day, being too ill to help himself to even a drink. Having failed to find the lost horses, they started on the next day with their cattle, which were suffering from the lack of feed, and the trip from the springs to Honey Lake, thirty miles distant, will long be remembered by the party. Three of the men went ahead, leaving one man to drive, with Mr. Myers sick in the wagon. During the forenoon the cattle went very well, but later in the day they would give out frequently and stop, and the driver several times gave up in despair, having worn him- self out in whipping them and trying to urge them onward. About the middle of the afternoon a horseman was seen in the distance, and he proved · to be one of their friends who had returned with refreshments for the driver, whose spirits were re- newed; and it seemed as though the oxen could smell the grass and water ahead as they traveicd much better as they neared their journey's end. Reaching Honey Lake, which is on the line between California and Nevada, they found an abundance of good water, grass, and fish for food.

Reaching the Golden State and recovering from the mountain fever, Mr. Myers went into the mines, working there for a year, and then taking a vessel for New York, but little better off than when he reached the coast. Journeying from New York to his native State, he spent a year at his old home and then went once more to Bentonport, Iowa. There he made his home until July, 1856, when he came to this county and filed a claim on the south-

west quarter of section 21, Cedar Township, which he still owns, and which was his home until 1877, when he was elected County Treasurer, an office which he held two terms. Upon opening the Bank Mr. Myers moved to Whiting, which has since been his place of residence. Mr. Myers is a Democrat and his election to office in a very strong Republi- can county, and his re-election, is a decided testi- mony to his manly and upright character. In his own precinet, a Republican one, he received every vote cast, and he is the only Democrat who ever held the office. Mr. Myers has been incumbent of the office of Township Treasurer, also.

Mr. Myers has been the father of six children, two of whom died in infancy. The mother of this family was in her maidenhood Miss Anna A. Right- linger, and the ceremony that united their lives and fortunes was performed on June 8, 1859. Mrs. Myers was a native of Switzerland and her parents died when she was quite small. She came to this country with friends during her young lady- hood and made many warm friends in her new abode. Her death took place at Whiting, April 22, 1886, and she was followed to her grave in the Whiting Cemetery by a large concourse of sorrow- ing friends. She was a member of the Presbyterian Church. The surviving progeny of Mr. and Mrs. Myers are: Emma A., the wife of Mark Harrison of this county, now living on the Myers' home- stead; Laura V., wife of W. A. Green, formerly of Whiting, and now of Onaga, Pottawatomie County ; Frank E., a young merchant of Whiting, unmarried and at home; Alice M., a well-educated young lady who still remains under the parental roof. All the children have had good advantages and are cdu- cated and refined.

Le ORENZO D. NICHOLS, It is now a quar- ter of a century since this gentleman came to Netawaka Township, Jackson County, having been induced to move to a farm on account of the dangerous state of his wife's health, and the opinion of the physician who said she could live but a short time in Atchison, where their home then was, and advised her removal to a farm away

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from the Missouri River. Not only did Mrs. Nichols regain her health, but her husband has prospered in business, and has no cause to regret becoming a resident of this county.

He of whom we write is a son of John and Lydia (Adkins) Nichols, and is of Welsh ancestry. He was born in Crown Point, Essex Co., N. Y , and left an orphan at an early age, his mother having died when he was two years old, and his father four years later. After the death of the latter he was sent to Warren, Washington Co., Vt., to the home of his uncle, Alfred Nichols, and was bronght up on a farm until he was eighteen years of age, receiving such cducation as the district schools afforded. He then went to Vergennes where he learned the trade of a wheelwright, serving three years with S. A. Bragg. Returning to his native State, he acquired a knowledge of stationary steam engineering, afterward taking a position as engineer on a steamboat plying between Westport, N. Y., and Basin Harbor, Vt. Ere long he became half owner in the boat, which was subsequently de- stroyed by fire while lying at the dock at Westport.

Mr. Nichols then took a position as engineer on a steamer running between White Hall, N. Y., and Montreal, Canada, but abandoning this occupation after a time, went to Massachusetts, engaging in the manufacture of wagon felloes at Lanesboro, whence he moved his manufactory to Dashville. He had been at work in the latter place but about a year when the Waukill River flooded the country, wash- ing away his plant of 812,000, and $2,500 worth of logs, leaving him almost penniless with a $30,000 contract on his hands. The dealers in New York offered to build him up again, but he was afraid to undertake the risk, and settling up his affairs re- turned to his old employment of running an engine for wages. He was able to re-obtain his former job from Whitehall to Montreal, but only ran one season, when he moved to Chicago, Ill., and began work in the brick business intending to run the engine for the yard. It was not long before he was made foreman, having about 200 men under his charge, and continuing thus engaged for a ¡ eriod of five years,

At the expiration of that time Mr. Nichols went to St. Louis, and purchased a half interest in a

photograph gallery, which he carried on for three years in partnership with his brother, Dr. Nichols, who, prior to his own arrival, was a resident of that city. With the view of improving the failing . health of his wife he sold out and removed to Atchi- son, Kan., where he managed the eastern end of the business of Stubbins & Porter, bankers and freight- ers. On several occasions he went as far as the Blue River with the trains, which consisted of cov- ered wagons drawn by from four to six yoke of oxen. In 1865, when told his wife could live but a short time in Atchison, he purchased the place which he now occupies, bringing Mrs. Nichols, whose weight was but seventy pounds, to the farm on a cot. The invalid at once began to improve and soon regained her health, which has since been excellent, and she now weighs 150 pounds.

The residence of Mr. Nichols being a large one and on the Parallel Road, he was forced to throw it open to the public and the same year he started a store, which he carried on for several years. When a depot was built in 1866, he was appointed agent of the company and retained the position for about a year, during the time opening a store in half of the depot, afterward taking in L. F. Vaughn as a partner, and finally selling out entirely to him. In 1880 he took charge of the Netawaka Hotel, which Mrs. Nichols carried on for two years.

While Mr. Nichols has been engaged in other business he has managed to improve his land and now has 160 acres under fine cultivation, with a . residence 24 x 20 feet, and two stories high in the main, and having a wing 12 x 16 feet. He has ex- perimented to a considerable extent in small fruits, has paid considerable attention to peaches and many kinds of grapes, but of the latter finds the Concord the only variety worth raising.

The wife of Mr. Nichols was in her maidenhood Miss Caroline Bouchard, and is a daughter of Louis and Mary (Bellrcef ) Bouchard, all of Canada. Of their family we note the following: Caroline E. is the wife of E. B. Rust, a farmer in the neighbor- hood of her old home, and they have two children. J. G. is a carpenter and lives in Horton, having a wife and one child. George L., with his wife and one child, operates a farm in this township. Will- iam J., and F. H. are at home and engaged in agri-

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cultural pursuits. Walter W. is unmarried and is the Superintendent of Pottawatomie Mission farm. Henry D. is a school boy and at home.

Mr. Nichols was a member of the I.O.O.F. at the age of twenty-one years and advanced in the order as far as the first five degrees. In politics he is a De- mocrat and at the last election was nominee on his party ticket for the office of County Clerk. In 1871 he was elected the first Trustee of Netawaka Township, and re-elected the following year. Mrs. Nichols was educated in the Catholic Church, but is now rather a freethinker in matters of religion. Mr. Nichols has an honorable record as a man and eiti- zen, and he and his family are respecte.l members of the community.

LIVER F. NELSON. The subject of this sketch is a native of Sweden where he was born April 6, 1828 to Nelse Nelson, a farmer by occupation. Our subject was reared on his father's farm and remained at home until he was twenty-five years of age when he bade the old home farewell and came to America. He landed in New York in the summer of 1853 and immedi- ately started for the West, reaching Chicago after a brief period of travel. From there he soon after- ward went to Galesburg, Ill., where he secured work as a farmer. The place where he found work was about seven miles north of Galesburg and he remained there until the following October, when he started Westward with California as the goal of his ambition. His intention was to proceed via New Orleans, but when he reached Vicksburg, Miss., he secured a contract to ent wood and pursued that occupation for three months when, being unable to get his money for the work done, he was obliged to take wood in payment and the necessity of dis- posing of it to get funds to continue his journey, detained him until January 1854. This incident dampened his ardor to proceed further and he thereupon returned to Galesburg, Ill., and entered the employ of the Chicago Burlington & Quincy

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Portrait and biographical album of Jackson, Jefferson and Pottawatomie Counties, Kansas : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, Part 54

Author: Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Chicago : Chapman Bros. Number of Pages: 788

Author:
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago : Chapman Bros.
Number of Pages: 788