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 82
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 82
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 82
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To Mr. and Mrs. Wible fonr children have been born-John C .. Laura F., Daisy and Chester, They
are receiving the very best advantages in the way of schooling and home training, and bid fair to do honor to their father and mother. Mr. Wible be- longs to Meridan Post, No. 160. G. A. R., and is a stanch Republican. He declines all offices, finding sufficient to occupy his time in his personal affairs and the ordinary duties of citizenship.
LONZO W. ROBINSON, editor and pro- prietor of the " Valley Falls New Era." is, in addition to being a lively. journalist, a man personally possessing great magnetism and one who draws around him warm friends wher- ever he goes. He is of that sanguine and com- panionable disposition which enables him to make the best of life and circumstances and in the call- ing to which he is now devoting himself, he is a pronounced success.
Mr. Robinson was born in the village of Mead- ville, Crawford Co., Pa., April 5, 1851. and is the son of William W. Robinson, deceased, who was a native of Beayer Falls that State. The latter was a stone mason by trade andi was likewise a man of breeding and education, greatly interested in the subject of phrenology upon which he delivered lectures for many years. The maiden name of the mother was Melissa Moore; she was born in Mead- ville, Pa., and bore her husband two children only, Alonzo W. and Carrie. The latter is the wife of Dr. Cowan of Valley Falls. William W. Robinson departed this life at his home in March 1877. His wife is living and makes her home with her children in Valley Falls.
The subject of this notice when leaving his na. tive State, in 1856, with his parents, was only five years old. They settled in Perry, Pike Co., Ill., whence they came to this State in the spring of 1861, locating at first in Topeka. In the fall of that year they changed their residence to Valley Falls which has been the home of Alonzo W. since that time, although he was at one period absent several years. When a lad of eleven he entered the office of the old Topeka Record where he commenced learning the printer's trade. He
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worked there five or six months, then coming to Valley Falls worked in the printing office during the summer seasons and attended school in the winter. He was thus employed in the offices of the Gazette, the Jeffersonian and New Era until gaining a thorough knowledge of the business. When about seventeen years old young Robinson went to Jenkin's Mills, Neb., where he established the Little Blue, which he published nine months with a partner. Then disposing of his interest in the business he established the Western News at De- troit, Dickinson County, this State, which he con- ducted nearly one year at that place, then removed the material to Marion Center, where in 1873, he established the first paper in the county, naming this also the Western News. Later this was merged into the Marion Record and is now one of the lead- ing papers of Kansas, being conducted by Hon. Ed Hoch, a member of the Legislature. Mr. Robinson sold out again in .1874, returning to Valley Falls, and the following year established the Pike County Express in Curryville, Mo. This he likewise conducted one year. While a resident of that State he was married Dec. 24, 1876 at Curry- ville to Miss Julia G., daughter of Squire J. Har- vey Mitchell. He returned to Valley Falls on the Ist of January, 1877 and in the summer of 1878, returning to Topeka, became local editor of the daily Journal sojourning there three months.
We next find Mr. Robinson as Deputy Postmas- ter of Valley Falls which position he held until in November, 1881, when he accepted the nomination on the Republican Prohibition ticket as Clerk of the district court. He was defeated at the election but sojourned here until in January, 1883. Then, going to Winchester, he purchased the Argus which he conducted until January, 1888, at which time he returned to Valley Falls, bringing with him his press and material and continuing the pub- lication of the New Era.
The New Era is the oldest paper in Valley Falls. In polities it is radically Republican and enjoys a wide circulation. In form, it is an eight-column folio and is mostly devoted to local matters, ad- vocating what it believes to be right regardless of fear and favor. Mr. Robinson is quite prominent in political affairs and during the Presidential elec-
tion of 1888, was presidential elector from the first district. He is the proud father of three boys who were all born in the month of February, on Sunday and five years apart-Paul S., Feb. 17, 1878; Clyde, Feb. 16, 1883 and Leland, Feb. 26. 1888. Mr. Robinson is a member in good standing of the Congregational Church and prominent in Masonic circles. He also belongs to the I. O. O. F. and the A. O. U. W. He occupies a neat home and with his estimable wife enjoys the acquaintance and friendship of the best people of his community.
BRAHAM R. HOSLER is an honored pio- neer of Jefferson County, and a man who has endured numerous hardships, trials and afflictions, including financial losses and family bereavements, but survives them all. His early life was passed amid frontier surround- ings, his boyhood home being a little house in the Pennsylvania hills, far away from any town and in a very sparsely settled section. The limited edu- cational advantages which he enjoyed were in a subscription school, whose teachers were generally of the "ox-gad" persuasion. The temple of learn- ing was a log-cabin, with puncheon floor, and slab seats, and the writing-desks formed of other slabs on longer legs; the door was of claphoards with wooden hinges, and a wooden latch and string formed its only fastening; the roof was also of clap- boards, with knees and weight poles, and the chim- ney was of sticks and mud; a huge fireplace in one end of the room, into which backlogs were hauled by a horse, furnished the pupils with heat, at least on the side toward the fire.
The parents of our subject were George B. and Catherine (Rorebaugh) Hosler, both natives of York County, Pa., and the parents of six children, namely : Henry, Abraham, Leah (Mrs. Rule), Samuel R., Elizabeth (Mrs. Steffey ), and George R. The first and third born of these children are now deceased. The father was a carpenter and joiner, and was a soldier in the War of 1812.
Abraham Hosler was born in York County, Pa., Jan. 9, 1818, and was a lad of fourteen years when his parents removed to Perry Township, Richland
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Co., Ohio, settling in the forest where they were surrounded by wild animals, and with Indians in the near vicinity. Ile learned the carpenter's and joiner's trade with his father, and followed it for twenty- one years in succession, and for three years at a still later period. In 1859, he went to Andrew County, Mo., and the following year to Jefferson County, Kan., locating April 15, of that year, on section 26, Delaware Township, paying $10 per acre for the quarter-section which he purchased. His farm has been well improved, and is well managed and devoted to the purposes of farming and stock-raising. The residence, with its contents, was destroyed by fire June 16, 1888, but Mr. Hos- ler rebuilt at once. He received $900 insurance on the ruined edifice. He raises Poland-China and Berkshire hogs and graded Short-horn cattle.
Mr. Hosler has been married three times and is the father of twenty children. His first matri- monial contract was entered upon March 20, 1842. his bride being Elizabeth, daughter of John and Susan (Hible) Spencer, who was born in Pennsyl- vania. Mrs. Hosler died in January, 1844, having borne one child, who is now deceased. Mr. Hos- ler was again married in December, 1845, being then united with Harriet, daughter of Jacob Dief- enbaugh, deceased. This union resulted in the birth of nine children, five of whom are now living, and of them we note the following: George W. married Etta Coffman; they live in Mitchell County, Kan., and have three children-Etta E., Edith and Catherine. Sarah married Ernest Sum- merfield, of Delaware Township, Jefferson County, and has five children -- John, George, Ellen, Bertha and Ernest L. Henry married Lovina Snyder, and lives in Jewell County, Kan., being the father of six children, three of whom are deceased; the liv- ing are Francis A., Alva E. and Preston. Eugene A. married Lenora Strawn, and lives in Delaware Township, Jefferson County, having five children, two deceased; the living are Ethel, Miller and Ilerbert. Damon W. married Laura Gordon, and has one child -- Effie ; his home is also in Delaware Township. The mother of these children, Mrs. Harriet Hosler, departed this life Jan. 31, 1861.
The third companion of Mr. Hosler bore the un iden name of Martha E. May and was a native
of Virginia, who accompanied her parents, Mr. and Mrs. George W. May, in 1857, to Kansas. The rites of wedlock were celebrated between her and our subject Aug. 14, 1852, and they became the parents of ten children, of whom seven now survive -- William J., John L., Dora C., Laura E., James F., Martha A. and Francis A. William married Daisy Whitman, and lives in Denison, Kan .; they have one son -- William A. Dora mar- ried Carl Painter, of Delaware Township, Jefferson County, and has borne one child, now deceased. Mrs. Martha Hosler was removed by death in Sep- tember, 1880.
Mr. Hosler takes no interest in politics, except- ing so far as to exercise the elective franchise, and is not a party man, although when he came to Kansas he was a Free-State Democrat, He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has high standing in society, and in the estecm of the citizens in general.
AMES DAVID is now carrying on in Jeffer- son County the occupation to which he was reared, and in which all his mature years have been spent. His farm is located in Kentucky Township, about one mile from the town of Medina, and was purchased by him about three years ago for $48 per acre. It has the fertile soil of the Kansas bottoms, is well watered, and well adapted for both grain and stock-raising. The entire estate is well fenced, and some marked im- provements have been made upon it by Mr. David, among them being a barn 34x54 feet, a well-built carriage house, commodious corn-cribs, granarics, etc., and a large dwelling of tasty design, good con- struction and most comfortable furnishings. Sixty acres of the estate are devoted to the culture of tame grass, and corn and wheat are the chief crops of grain. Thoroughbred Short-horn cattle are raised and full-blooded Poland-China hogs, and Mr. David ships from 100 to 150 swine per year to Kansas City. Two teams of good draft horses are kept constantly employed upon the place.
Mr. David is next to the youngest in a family of seven children, and was born in Kent County, Del.,
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near the city of Dover, Sept. 16, 1848. He was brought up on a farm and attended a log school- house, acquiring a common-school education by an attendance of about one month per year. flis father having died when young James was eleven years old, he was reared by an uncle until eigh- teen years of age, when he hired out on a farm. After a few years spent thins, he rented a farm and operated it for himself a twelvemonth.
In the spring of 1870 young David came to Wyandotte, Kan., and spent four years in the la- bors of a farm hand, working by the month. He was then married and rented a farm upon which he made bis home for a year, after which he took pos- session of eighty acres which he then owned ten miles from Kansas City. This was timber land on the Kansas River, and he cleared it all, put it un- der excellent improvements, and so increased its value that in the spring of 1887 he sold it for $200 per acre. He then came to Perry and bought the place which he now occupies, since which time he he has continued to reside in this county.
Both the grandparents of Mr. David were own- ers of large tracts of land and carried on agricul- tural pursuits on an extensive scalc. His grandfather David, was a large slave-owner and planter, and was a soldier during the Revolutionary War. Our subject's father, Reese David, was born and reared in Delaware, and also engaged in agri- cultural pursuits there until his death, in 1867. He was a strong Democrat, and engaged to a consider- able extent in political speaking. He belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church South. The ma- ternal grandfather, Isaac Hazel, was also a politi- cian of considerable prominence in Delaware, where he lived to the age of four-score years. His daughter Susan, became the wife of Reese David, by whom she had seven children, and she now lives in her native State with one of her sons. Margaret, John, Mary and Susan, the first four children born to Mr. and Mrs. David are now dead; Nemira is now living in Delaware; and in that State, Reese also resides.
James David, of whom we write, was married on Christmas Day, 1874, to Miss Sarah Grinter, the ceremony taking place at Kansas City, Mo. The bride, who is a lady of intelligence and estimable
character, was born in Wyandotte County, and ed- ucated in the Wyandotte schools. She is a daughter of J. C. Grinter. and her ancestry are noted in the sketch of her father who is represented else- where. Mr. and Mrs. David are the parents of five bright children, named respectively : Etta, Clara, Maude, Emory and James.
Mr. David is a sturdy Democrat. His wife be- longs to the Methodist Episcopal Church. Both are well liked by their neighbors and associates, and their independent financial circumstances give them abundant opportunity to assist in good works, and bestow hospitality upon their friends, and to give their children every advantage which paren- tal love can desire, or which will aid them in at- taining useful and honorable lives.
R OBERT M. MCCLURE. Some fifteen years ago this gentleman began the work of farming and stock-raising in Jefferson County, upon raw land which he had pre- viously purchased in Kentucky Township. He owns 220 acres, all under cultivation, enclosed and di- vided into fields by hedge and wire fences, and bearing a well-built house, barns and other need- ful buildings. The land is watered and fertilized by Devil's Branch, and is made up of 120 acres on section 10, and 100 acres on section 11. Mr. Mc- Clure raises wheat and corn, and good grades of hogs and cattle, feeding some stock also, and em- ploying two teams upon his farm. He is in ex- cellent financial circumstances, and since he first came to Kansas in the fall of 1865 his path in life has been a prosperous one.
Mr. McClure is a son of the Ilon. Robert Mc- Clure who was born in Grafton County, N. II., Sept. 23, 1799, and a grandson of Samuel MeClure, a native of Goffstown, Hillsboro Co., N. II., a farmer, and one of the first settlers in Groton. The wife of Samuel McClure was Annie Kemp, daughter of Capt. Kemp, a native of England, who had been drafted into the army and sent to America to fight the French. After the French and Indian War he settled in New Hampshire, and when the Revolu- tion began, entered the conflict as a minute man
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and was Orderly Sergeant at the battle of Bunker Hill, subsequently receiving a Captains's commis- sion. He was killed at Stillwater, where Gen. Burgoyne's army was defcated.
Hon. Robert McClure after reaching years of maturity engaged in farming, and became a promi- nent man and a large land owner. lle not only represented his town in the State Legislature in 1844-'45, being Chairman of the County Board of Selectmen, but was also Justice of the Peace for forty years, and a Captain in the New Hampshire State Militia for several years, and was known as Squire and Captain. In politics he was a Demo- crat and in religious belief a Universalist. He married Ruth P. Emerton, who was born in Gro- ton, N. H., and was a daughter of Thomas Emer- ton, a farmer of that State, who died in Coos County. To Hon. Robert McClure and his wife eight children were born. Mary is now living in her native State; William T. is deceased; Rachael died at the age of seventeen years; Ruth M. lives in Florida; the home of Samuel is in California; A. J. resides in Plymouth, N. H .; David lives in Massachusetts. Both the parents departed this life in their native State some years since.
The gentleman whose name initiates this notice opened his eyes to the light in Groton, Grafton Co., N. H., Jan. 3, 1838, and received the nsual home training of an New England farmer boy, coupled with the instruction which could be ob- tained in the district schools, becoming well versed in the ordinary English branches. He resided under the parental roof until of age, and then began working out as a farm hand, continuing so em- ployed nntil after the outbreak of the Civil War.
To a young man of New England birth and training, and with the patriotic blood of Scotch- Irish ancestors coursing through his veins, a peace- ful home life was almost impossible while his coun- try was in danger. Young McClure therefore enrolled himself among the defenders of the Union in August, 1862, becoming a member of Company B., 15th New Hampshire Infantry. He was mus- tered into the service at Concord as a Corporal and at once sent South, where his regiment took part in Bank's expedition, being engaged in more or less severe fighting for six weeks continuously.
He participated in the charges on and siege of Port Hudson, and in the first attack was one of the color guard. Of the ten men composing that guard two only escaped injury (or death). When the Color-bearer fell, Mr. McClure took the colors and carried them out of the fight and for his gal- lant care of the flag was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. During the siege the men were obliged to carry 100 rounds of cartridges each, and spent three days and two nights in the rifle pits without leaving them. Mr. McClure remained in the army until September, 1863, when he was mustered out at Concord, N. H., and returning to the paternal home, remained there until the spring of 1865. In April of that year he came West as far as Illinois, and worked upon the Chicago and Alton Railroad in Madison County, for eight months and then came by team to Lawrence. Kan., reaching that city on the 13th day of October. During the next eleven months he had charge of the stock farm of ex-Gov. Robinson, after which he entered the employ of the Kansas Pacific Railroad at Perry, and worked on the section for seven months. At the expiration of that period he became section foreman and was sent to Ft. Riley, thence to Law- rence, thence to St. George, and still later to Salina where he held his position a year. In May, 1871, he was appointed Roadmaster between Chapman Creek and Brookville, a position which he held for three and a half years. In the meantime he had purchased the farm upon which he now lives, in December, 1869, and in September, 1874, he lo- cated upon it and turned his attention to an agricul- tural life.
In Perry on the 19th of July, 1873, Mr. Mc- Clure was united in marriage with Miss Nanny Douglas, an estimable and intelligent young lady who was born in Missouri. Her father, William Douglas, was an early settler at Lecompton, where his demise took place. Mr. and Mrs. McClure are the happy parents of three children, Robert, William W., and Ruth A.
In politics Mr. McClure is a Democrat and has acted as delegate to county conventions. He be- longs to the A. F. & A. M. holding membership in Lawrence Lodge No. 6. He assisted in putting up the first school house in his district and was a
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member of the School Board six years. He is a man of good character, a reliable citizen, and is quite popular wherever he is known. Mrs. Mc- Clure is a member in good standing of the Presby- terian Church.
E RNEST P. KARR, editor and proprietor of the Herald at Winchester, is one of the most vigorous young men in JJefferson County and displays an amount of vim and tact seldom seen in one of his age. Although but twenty- four years old he has had several years of practical experience as a printer and in various editorial capacities, and is endowed with discriminating judg- ment, keen observation and a readiness of language, which well fits him for journalistic work. The pa- per which he now edits was established in 1877 under the name of Argus, and ten years later was sold by A. W. Robinson to S. T. Marshall, who changed the name to that which it now bears. A year later he disposed of it to O. C. Kirkpatrick and in February, 1889, the plant and good will were purchased by Mr. Karr. He has already im- proved it to a seven column folio and increased the subscription list, which his predecessor had al- lowed to run down to 200, and confidently ex- pects it to reach 800 in a short time. It has a large list of foreign subscribers, and its advertising col- umns are patronized by merchants of Leavenworth, Valley Falls and other neighboring towns, as well as by the home dealers.
Mr. Karr is a native of Knox County, Ohio. and a son of J. S. Karr, who now resides in Fredericktown which was the place of his birth and carries on the jewelry business there. A portion of our subject's early years were passed in Jackson and Jones Counties, lowa. He received a High School education and also attended a business college, fitting himself for usefulness in business circles. At the age of eighteen years he entered the printing establishment of Col. D. R. Anthony, editor of the Leavenworth Times, in order to learn the printer's trade and so well did he succeed that he was soon promoted to the position of assistant foreman. He afterward became city editor and after filling the place three years, in 1887 took
charge of the McLouth Times, which he conducted for a year. then, selling out, went to Topeka and took the position of telegraph editor on the old Commonwealth. This position he retained until the Commonwealth was merged into the Topeka Capitol, when he accepted a position on the State Journal and one on the Topeka Democrat, serving in a reportorial capacity for both sheets, While the Democrat loudly demanded ie-submission, the Journal strongly advocated prohibition.
Resigning his positions in Topeka, Mr. Karr came to Winchester in 1889 and soon began to make his mark in the community. It is univer- sally admitted among civilized Nations that ." the pen is mightier than the sword," and he of whom we write fills a responsible position, being able to reach a large number of people with his opinions and his theories regarding matters of public and neighborhood import, and his influence will be a prominent factor in the future development of Winchester and the adjacent country, should he be spared to continue his work here.
At the home of the bride on Sept. 11, 1888, Mr. Karr was united in marriage with Miss Alice Gibbs, the youngest daughter of Horace Gibbs, who was Sheriff of Jefferson County for eight years. A baby girl brightens the home of Mr. and Mrs. Karr with her infantile graces and the young journalist and his charming wife find her advent an added factor in their happiness. Mr. Karr belongs to Winchester Lodge No. 172, I. O. O. F., and his social spirit and ready intelligence make him very popular among his associates.
OIIN C. NORTHRUP. In the person of the subject of this notice we have one of the old landmarks of Jefferson County, who established himself on a tract of land com- prising the southeast quarter of section 19, Rural Township. He was without means when coming to Kansas and labored early and late, practicing the strictest economy for many years in order to obtain a foothold. He is now well-to-do and is accounted one of the most valuable meu in his community. Honest and upright, he enjoys the
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confidence of his fellow-citizens and has officiated as Justice of the Peace for several years.
A native of Livingston County, N. Y., our sub- ject was born in 1832, and is the son of .James and Phebe (Cook) Northrup, who were likewise natives of the Empire State. James Northrup was a hatter by trade, but later drifted into the lumber business, which he carried on quite successfully the greater part of his life. He died in 1873 at the age of seventy-three years. The mother had preceded her husband to the silent land, passing away in 1864, when sixty years old. Both were consistent mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church and took an active part in church work. Mr. Northrup was a liberal contributor to all benevolent objects, and by his own labor and outlay of money nearly erected a church by himself in his town.
To James and Phebe Northrup there was born a family of six children, viz : Ann Amanda, deceased ; Esther S., and Eusebia, residents of New York State, the former of Rochester; John C., of our sketch; James L., of Rochester, N. Y., and Sarah Malvina, the wife of Dr. Turner, of Clifton, N. Y. The family was well known in the Empire State for two or three generations, the paternal grandfather of our subject having been born there and there he spent his entire life. John C. was reared in his native county, attending the schools of Mt. Morris and also the High Schools at Nunda and Lima. When reaching his majority he left the parental roof, emigrating to Rockford, Ill., where he engaged as a teacher in the public schools one year. Then pushing on further Westward he also taught school one year in Iowa City, Iowa, and from there went to Oskaloosa, that State. In the meantime he was steadily advancing in experience and knowledge, and at the latter place was engaged as Principal of the Commercial College, holding the position two years.
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