USA > Kansas > Marshall County > Portrait and biographical album of Marshall County, Kansas : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county > Part 32
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96
Mr. McLeod has held the office of Justice of the Peace for twelve years, in Center Township, which shows the high regard for probity and fairness in which he is held by his neighbors. He has also been Township Trustee for one year, and in every relation which it has been his lot to sustain toward his neighbors has given unqualifiedly good satis- faction. Politically, he is a Republican, and ma- terially assists liis party in all legitimate campaign work. lle is a fine, upright, energetic man, and enjoys the respect and esteem of the entire district. He has been an active and influential member of the Baptist Church for about thirty years, and has a character without a stain.
RS. ELIZABETH ROBINSON. In no other country, perhaps, does a woman have a better chance to support herself and those depending upon her, when the decree of fate demands that she make the effort. than in so-called free America, but even here the attempt is fraught with a thousand difficulties and trials unknown to and not experienced by the sterner sex. In the matter of recognizing and pro- viding for the fact that a woman has the right to make and provide for a home for herself and those depending upon her, owing to the taking away of the natural head of the house or for any other rea- son, the "West" and Kansas especially is far in advance of the Eastern States. A woman is recog-
nized as a citizen, and has more rights granted by law than the doubtful one of paying taxes without representation.
One of the noblest among the many noble women of Marshall County, is the one whose name is at the head of this sketch. Mrs. Robinson is a daughter of Henry Nealy, who was born in Canada of Irish ancestry. Her mother was Sarah II. Switzer, of German ancestry. After marriage the parents set- tled in Upper Canada, where they lived continu- ously until called upon to go hence. Mr. Nealy was a farmer by occupation, but for thirty years was Sheriff of the county. This couple became the parents of four children, one son and three daugh- ters. Elizabeth was the eldest of the family. She was born in Newberg, township of Camden, Up- per Canada, Oct. 20, 1828. She remained with her parents till her marriage which took place in her native town, June 1, 1857.
John Robinson, the husband of our subject, was born in England about 1817. He was only three years old when his parents removed to Canada. His father was Thomas Robinson, his mother Mary (Wil- lin) Robinson. Their death occurred in Canada, where they had spent the greater portion of their lives. John Robinson grew to manhood in the town- ship of Smith, near Peterborough. He followed the occupation of farming, and after marriage set- tled near Peterborough, in Canada. They resided there until the decease of Mr. Robinson, which oc- curred June 21, 1872. They were the parents of nine children, named respectively, Henry N., George W., Isabella, Albert R .. Sarah J., Victoria E., Adelaide, Moreley P. and Frances E.
In the spring of 1871 John Robinson visited Marshall County and purchased 362 acres of land in Center Township, on sections 19 and 20, in- tending to remove and locate on the place he had bought, but death intervened, his departure taking place the following spring. Six years afterward Mrs. Robinson disposed of her property in Canada and emigrated to Kansas. locating on the land which her husband had previously secured in Mar- shall County. She erected a handsome residence and other good buildings, which she keeps in first- elass condition. She has also made other good im- provements on her estate and operates it herself
288
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
with gratifying success. She has a fine farm which is a credit to her and an ornament to the neighbor- hood.
When a lovely maiden of nineteen, MIrs. Robin- son confessed ber faith in her Redemer and united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which communion also Mr. Robinson found a religions home. She takes a deep and abiding interest in whatever concerns the welfare and prosperity of the young, taking especial interest in educational and religious affairs. In her labor of love for the advancement of her friends and kindred in moral and mental subjects, she is carrying forward with loving fidelity the work so nobly begun by her husband. It may be truly said of Mrs. Robinson that she is a " noble woman nobly planned."
C HRISTIAN BLUHM. It has been very truly said that " All are architects of fate, working in these walls of time." Some build structures, fair in outward appearance, but with eager haste and careless hand upreared, so that the seemingly perfect building soon totters on its mold- ering pillars, wavers and falls. Others fail to gain even the ontward symmetry and beauty and discour- aged and disheartened. retire from the midst of the busy workers, and in indolence, languidly and listlessly watch other architects. But happily many there are in this world of action who erect eternal monuments, commemorative of their perseverance, honor and integrity, and leave these structures to be examined by others, and to be admired both for beautiful outward aspect and inward stability.
As one of these latter ones. we present the name of Christian Bluhm, together with a brief record of the most important occurrences in his life, a long and active one, passed partly in the United States, and partly in the Fatherland. A native of Mecklenburg, Germany, Mr. Bluhm was born July 11. 1827, and was reared as other boys in his land under the compulsory education law. When he had reached the age of twenty-one years he was united in marriage, in 1848, with Miss Sophia Monk. daughter of William Monk, and a native of
Mecklenburg. Both the Bluhm and the Monk fam- ilies for many generations, and as far back as the family record extends, were natives and residents of Mecklenburg, and also members of the Luth- eran Church. On both sides the ancestors were, without exception, people of worth and ability, respected and admired for courage, thrift and in- dustry. A few years after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Blohm, accompanied by their son, Joseph, left their old home, and their friends and relatives, to seek a fortune in a newer country, and a richer soil. In 1852 they made the voyage across the ocean. taking passage from the port of Hamburg in a sail-ship. the "Aleza," which made the trip to New York in ninety days, so that the passengers landed Dec. 15, 1852. Crossing the State of New York they reached Buffalo, without money. home- less and friendless.
Many stout hearts have been disheartened un- der less appalling circumstances, but our subject went to work cutting wood at two shillings per cord, and his family lived on the pittance thus earned until something better offered itself to them. Securing employment in the cement works at Ak- ron, N. Y .. the family removed to that city which was their home until 1870. Then. in accordance with the famous advice of one of our wisest and most brilliant statesmen, they came West, and for a time were located in Cook County. Ill. Their eyes still turned further toward the setting sun, and Kansas became their home in the spring of 1873. The first year of their residence here they occupied rented land, but in 1874 Mr. Bluhm erected the buildings on his present farm, which he purchased in 1873. He is now owner of 360 acres of fine land, in excellent cultivation, with pastures and meadows, and inclosed by good fences. On this homestead he has put up a commodious frame residence, with a fine barn, and all the outbuildings now considered essential to a modern farm. Real- izing the importance of fruit to the development and financial value of his land, he has set out a fine orchard. and now has 100 bearing trees within its limits.
The only child of Mr. Bluhm and his excellent wife is their son, Joseph, the chief manager of the farm. He was born in Mecklenburg, Germany,
289
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM,
in November, 1849, but accompanied his parents to their new home across the Atlantic in 1852. Ilere he early learned to work, and became indis- pensable to the home while yet young in years. IIe was married in 1876, to Miss Henrietta, dangh- ter of William and Mary Kinka. This lady was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, and came to Amer- ica in 1868, her parents having died in Germany prior to her emigration here. Her family are all members of, and in sympathy with the Lutheran Church, to which she has devoted a great deal of her time, and has earnestly endeavored to promote the cause of the Gospel. Joseph Bluhm and his wife have become the parents of four children, viz .: George. Albert, Ernest and Augusta, all living and receiving good educations in the home schools. while at the same time they are becoming proficient in various kinds of manual labor. Mr. Bluhm and his son make a specialty of Poland-China hogs, raising between 100 and 120 head each year. Hav- ing arisen from an humble beginning to affluence, they can look back on a past of honorable endeavor and unremitting labor, with the pleasant conscious- ness that their present prosperity is due alone to their own efforts. They realize that they have been aided also by encouraging words, and kind actions on the part of their neighbors, who have ever accorded them the highest respect, as is due those who have promoted the interests of their community. Politically, our subject and his son are both Republicans.
OHN ROLL. Among the many attractive homes of this county none would more quickly strike the eye of a stranger than that occupied by the subject of this sketch, and none would prove more attractive to those who cross the threshold. The house is comforta- ble and homelike in appearance, made still more attractive by its setting of shade and fruit trees, and is situated on section 10, Center Township.
The father of our subject was Frederick Roll, a native of Switzerland. The mother, whose maiden name was Anna Rolle, was also a native of that fa-
mous land, where the parents married and settled. They emigrated to America in 1854, settling in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, where they lived about ten years. They then removed to Benton County, lowa, where they now reside. They had a family of seven children, five sons and two danghters, our subject being the sixth child in order of birth. lle was born in Tuscarawas County. Nov. 29, 1854, being about ten years of age when his parents re- moved to Iowa, where he grew to manhood. He made the best of his educational advantages and acquired a good education at the common schools. He continued to reside under the parental roof until he was nearly twenty-three years old, when he came to Brown County, this State. During the first year of his residence he worked by the month upon a farm. He then settled upon land which he had previously bought in that county, and there he remained until 1882, when he sold his farm, and, coming with his family to this county, bought 320 acres in the township where he has since been a resident. He subsequently sold 160 acres.
Miss Maggie S. Pfister, to whom our subject was married, in Brown County, Kan., Jan. 1, 1879, is, like her husband, of Swiss descent. Her father Christian and her mother Mary (Witchie) Pfister, were natives of Switzerland but were living in America previous to their marriage. Their home was at Ilighland, Ill., where Mr. Pfister died, Feb. 18, 1882. They had four children, of whom Mrs. Roll was the second, she having been born at Highland. Ill., March 3, 1858. Mr. and Mrs. Roll are the parents of six interesting children : Freder- ick C., Anna M., Mary M., Lizzie M., Eva I. and John W.
Mr. Roll is now an adherent of the principles of the Union Labor party, though formerly belong- ing in the ranks of the Democracy. He has been entrusted with the cares of the school funds. hold- ing his office to the satisfaction of the community. His farm has not only been thoroughly improved, but upon it he has erected substantial and adequate buildings for the carrying on of agriculture, and in addition to this has set out a great number of fruit and shade trees. He now owns 160 acres, and he and his wife take great pleasure in their attract- ive home. Both are worthy members of the Ger-
290
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
man Reformed Church. Not only is Mr. Roll a good farmer and a reliable citizen, but he and his wife are people of more than ordinary intelligence and worthy recipients of the respect which they receive.
OSEPH WILSON. Prominent among the wealthy stockmen and farmers of this county is our subject, senior member of the firm of Joseph Wilson & Son, who occupies a fine brick residence, surrounded by excellent. farm buildings, on section 16. Marysville Township. The father of our subject, Joseph Butler Wilson, was a native of Iludson, N. H. His mother was a native of Massachusetts, her maiden name being Harriet Crossfield. The parents first settled in Malden, Mass., where they lived until their death. They were blessed with but two children, our sub- ject and his sister Ilarriet, who became the wife of Charles Heath, and died in Malden, Mass., in 1887. Our subject was born July 29, 1820, passing his early life in his native place, Malden, Mass. His father being a millwright he worked at that busi- ness until the age of twenty-seven. He then went to Lowell, Mass., where he was employed in a car- pet machine shop for the period of two years. He then took a position as foreman in a machine shop at Brady's Bend, Pa., the shop being known as the Brady's Bend Rail Works. IIere he remained for eighteen months, when he returned to the New England States, and for six months was employed in Providence, R. I. While here he was married to Sarah Phillips, of Brady's Bend, Pa. Mr. Wil- son moved to South Boston, Mass., and there fol- lowed his trade of machinist for about six years. IIe then started a hotel and family grocery store in the same place, which he carried on for about four years. Returning to Malden on the death of his father, he remained there eight years, building several houses and speculating in land. During his early life Mr. Wilson was extremely fond of hunting and made several trips to the West on hunting expeditions. In 1872 he, with his son Charles, then nineteen years of age, came to Ind-
iana and engaged in hunting for an entire season. Previous to coming to Kansas in 1873, our subject sold his property in Malden and Boston, and select- ing Marshall County for his home he located on section 16, Marysville Township. Since coming to this State he has given his attention to farming and stock-raising, being one of the wealthiest men of the township, where he owns about 900 acres of land. In company with his son Charles, he makes a specialty of breeding fine Percheron horses. They keep about 100 head of horses and about 250 head of cattle.
Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have been the parents of three children-Harriet E., who is the wife of Colvin T. Mann, of Marysville; Charles B., the junior member of the firm of Joseph Wilson & Son. (for whose history see another page of this ALBUM); and Clara Belle, who died in her first year in South Boston, Mass. Mrs. Wilson died in Malden, Mass., about 1866.
Although formerly an active member of the Republican party, Mr. Wilson now supports the principles of Democracy. lle is not only the owner of the fine farm mentioned but also of val- uable property in the city of Marysville. That he is an enterprising man speaks for itself in the posi- tion he occupies among the stockmen of the see- tion. He is a very affable and pleasant gentleman, one with whom it is a pleasure to meet, an honor- able man in all his dealings in society, and enjoying the hearty esteem of all who know him.
OHN T. BURKE. The future of our country depends upon the young men of to-day, and as they are trained and reared. so will the nation grow in enterprise, wealth, and honor. or the reverse. It is then with pleasure that we can observe the worth and scrupulous honesty of these young men who are to be the presidents. governors, congressmen, and magis- trates of our nation. They are to be law makers and law observers, otherwise perils will attend the years to come.
Ile with whose name we introduce this sketch is
291
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
one of those residents of Marshall County, who will in time be in authority over others; for pos- sessing those qualities which bring a man to the front, and that enterprise which will make him prominent among his fellow men, he will assist in developing the vast resources of Marshall County, so that she will continue to be as she has been in the past, one of the grandest and most fruitful of all those in the State.
Mr. Burke is a resident of section 6, in Cleveland Township, where with his mother he has a fine, commodious stone house, with a large barn and everything essential to the conducting of a farm on the modern scale. Politically, our subject is a strong Democrat, but refuses official honors. He has however served as Township Clerk four years. two being in this township, and two while it was a part of Vermillion Township.
Born May 28, 1861, to Edward Burke, a native of County Roscommon, Ireland, our subject is thus still in his early manhood, and has before him the prospect of a bright, happy and useful future. It may be well to preface the sketch of our subject by first stating a few important facts in the history of his father. Edward Burke was born in 1826, and the first years of his life were passed in the Emerald Isle. whence he emigrated to the United States in 1851. For a few years after his arrival on these shores, he resided in Providence, R. I., then located in Wheeling, W. Va .. and worked on the great White Sulphur Railroad Tunnel near Wheeling. In 1858 he removed to this county, settling on section 6, in Cleveland Township, where his family now live. Ilere he bought 160 acres of Government land at $1.25 per acre, and upon it built a homestead where he lived and died. It was a wild country during the first years of his residence here, being inhabited by Indians and wild animals, deer, turkey and wolves being numerous.
The wife of Edward Burke, and the mother of John T., is deserving of more than passing notice, as she was a faithful companion to her husband during his lifetime, a sympathizing friend to all around her in times of trouble, a sharer in every joy, and a devoted mother, anxious only for the happiness and welfare of her children. Her maiden
name was Margaret Dolan, and she was united in marriage with Edward Burke, April 8, 1860. Her father was Martin Dolan, who died at his home in Ireland about 1869. She came to the United States when a girl, and to her present home April 15, 1860. The first years of the married life of Edward Burke and his wife were passed in hard work, untiring labor. Their home was a round log cabin with one room, 20 x 16 feet. The first school ever taught in the district in which our subject resides, was under the supervision and per- sonal instruction of Mrs. Edward Burke, and was conducted in the summer of 1862. At the time of his death the father had by his enterprise and business ability become the owner of 640 acres of land. They had only one child, John T. Burke, the subject of this notice. Edward Burke passed to his final rest April 26, 1889, having attained the age of sixty-three years. Ile was a man uni- versally respected, sincere, honorable, living a life above reproach, and charitable with the failings of others as well as benevolent and philanthropic. Ile was a member of the Catholic Church. The first mass ever said in this locality by a resident Catho- lic priest was in the house of Mr. Burke, by Father Fitzgerald.
Mrs. Burke in early times cooked in the old Dutch ovens, and has three of them in her posses- sion, prizing them as souvenirs of happy days for- ever gone. Were they gold-lined they could not be more precious in her sight, and she will hand them down to the next generation as heirlooms, and relics of the pioneer days of Kansas. She also has among other treasures the picture of " The Last Supper," which was a gift to her and hung on the wall of the old log cabin for ten years. In those times the Indians would often prowl around in their vicinity, sometimes even visit them, when she would make them presents of such little trink- ets as would delight their fancy and please their eyes. Often too she would give them meat or other articles of provision; indeed she feared to refuse them anything they asked for, thinking that were she to do so, they might take her only child. Mrs. Burke is at present a hale, hearty, cheerful, and loveable lady of fifty-six years.
Amid such scenes the youth of our subject was
292
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
passed, his education being received in St. Mary's College, in Pottawatomie County, Kan .. after which he engaged in teaching school two terms in the home district. Then the management of the farm fell to him and he had to abandon teaching. When John Burke was a lad the people used to freight goods to Denver, and he would hitch his dog to the wagon and haul corn from the old log cabin to the house. This dog was a cross between Newfoundland and shepherd, and seemed to pos- sess almost human intelligence, attending John to and from school and working in harness like a horse. When John was in his third year he was one day playing in the garden. and knowing that the tea canister was almost empty. and seeing his mother making a flower bed in the garden, he took the last tea leaf that remained and planted it in his flower bed. observing to her that she would soon have plenty of green tea.
In their pleasant residence our subject and his mother live happily and cosily, and there they welcome their many friends with gracious hospi- tality, extending to all the welcome which is so pleasant to receive and which they so well know how to offer.
LEXANDER McMILLAN occupies a farm on seetion 22. Logan Township. The land is nearly all fenced, and the entire 160 aeres under cultivation or in pasture. Though not so large as some farms in the town- ship, the place is one of the most attractive, the fields evincing careful tillage, while an excellent house and adequate farm buildings, together with a fine orchard of 200 trees, give evidence that its owner is a progressive and painstaking agricultur- ist. In addition to the usual products of a Kansas farm, this one produces choice varieties of apples, peaches, plums and cherries, together with various small fruits.
The blood of patriots throbs warmly in the veins of our subject, whose ancestors fought on many a hotly contested field for the inalienable rights of "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," Before
entering npon his own history,a few words regarding his family will not be amiss. Glancing backward four generations we find John McMillan, who was either of Scotch birth, or of direct Scottish ancestry. He served in the Revolutionary War, having at that time a son, Arthur, who was old enough to carry dispatches and make bullets for the soldiers. This Arthur McMillan was born in Washington County, N. Y .. and there married to Martha Duncan, also of Scotch ancestry. He spent the most of his life in his native State, both he and his wife dying, however, in Illinois, when considerably past three- score years and ten. Hc had been a soldier in the War of 1812, as was his son James, the father of our subject. James E. McMillan was a native of Washington County, N. Y. He married Elizabeth Haswell, a native of Vermont. They resided in New York State for a number of years, and in that State their family of eight children, with the exception of the youngest, were born. From the em- pire State they removed to Illinois, thence to Min- nesota, and thence to Howard County, Iowa, where they died, aged eighty-four and eighty-five years respectively. Of the mother's ancestry little is known, as her parents died when she was but six- teen years of age, and she left Vermont soon after. Her father had published the first newspaper in Bennington County, Vt., the sheet being called The Farmer, which name was afterward changed to that of Vermont Gazette. After his death his son and son-in-law continued the publication for several years.
Alexander McMillan, the subject of our sketch, was the eldest of his father's children, and was born in Franklin County, N. Y., Sept. 28, 1821. 1Ie was reared in the Empire State until near the age of eighteen, when his parents removed to Kane County, Ill. In that county our subject was mar- ried to Charlotte, daughter of Jonathan and Sallie llinsdell, a native of Tompkins County, N. Y .. who had come to Illinois with her parents about the year 1837. The result of this union was three children : Sopronia E., now Mrs. M. C. Calhoun, whose home is in Dakota; Lavina J., who married William McKean, and died in Kingman County, Kan., leaving seven children; and Sophia C., now Mrs. W. E. Clark, who lives in DeKalb County,
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.