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 52
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of the west half of that section. Later, he pur- chased 160 acres additional. three miles east, in Noble Township. John P. followed teaming in St. Louis for several years, but accompanied the family to Kansas. On the 19th of August. 1884, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Carney, and they are now the parents of three children, viz: Ellen. Lizzie and Michael. Our subject is of small stature and almost boyish in appearance, but with a great deal of muscle and of that active temperament which will never permit him to be idle either in mind or body. He is a first-class farmer, and what- ever he undertakes is sure to be well done. Ile was trained to habits of industry from boyhood. and, with his brothers, has long been looked upon as one not to be scared by a hard day's work. In his farm operations he is assisted by his brother Ber- nard. They are considerably interested in live stock, and each year adds something to their snug bank account.
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P ETER A. OLSTON. The mercantile in- terests of Axtell are worthily represented by the subject of this notice, who is located on Maple Avenne. and has a full supply of all the articles adapted to country trade. He es- tablished himself in business at this point in the winter of 1887, after having carried on a farm since 1868, in Murray Township. His first pos- sessions there were forty acres of land, in the cultivation and improvement of which he was en- gaged for some time, after which he sold out and purchased 120 aeres in the same township, this also unimproved at the time of purchase, and located on section 32. Finally he traded it for city prop- erty. and transformed himself from a farmer into a merchant.
Mr. Olston was born Oct. 31. 1848, in Sweden, of which his ancestors had been natives for several generations. He lived there until a young man of twenty years, and then, in 1868, crossed the Atlan- tie, and located in Henry County, Ill. Ile lived thereafter in some of the principal towns of Rock Island and Warren counties, and later was a resi-
dent of Davenport. lowa, probably eighteen months. Later he removed to Boone County, Iowa, where he improved a farm, and resided there three years. and until coming to this county.
The father of our subject was Olagus Johnson. an honest and industrious Swedish farmer, who still sojourns in his native land, and is now past sixty years of age. Monsteras Kalmare Lan Sweden. is his post-office address. He is quite wealthy in his native country, and has held a position under the Government for fifteen years. Both he and his wife were members of the Lutheran Church. The mother died when Peter A. was only two years old, and be is consequently not familiar with her family history. He lived with his father in Sweden until a youth of twenty years, then set out alone for the United States. When ready to establish a home of his own, he was married in Rock Island, Ill., to Miss Emma G. Nelson, a native of his own country, and born in 1851, not far from the home of her husband. She lived there until a maiden of sixteen years, and in the meantime her father died. She then came to America with her mother, and lived in Moline and Rock Island, Ill., until coming to this county. Of her union with our subject, there have been born five children, viz: llerman, Theresa, Alice, Arthur, and Victor; they are all at home with their parents, and form a remarkably bright and interesting group. Mr. Olston. politi- cally, votes independently, voting always for the best man, regardless of party. Our subject's moth- er's name was Maria Christina Nelson, from Ram- sas, Kalmare, Lan Sweden. Our subject's wife's mother was Christina Parson, and her father was Nels Olsen. He has pursued the even tenor of his way as an honest man, and a good citizen, and finds friends wherever he is known.
P ETER S. BURNETT. Among the large land-owners of Waterville Township, place should be given to the above-named gen- tleman, who, with his brother Hiram, owns 547 acres of as fine land as Marshall County pro- duces. The estate is well-improved and adorned
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with good barns and other outbuildings. and a handsome stone residence. It is pleasantly situ- ated on section 12, and is a standing testimony to the energy. prudence and good management of its owners.
Jesse Burnett, father of our subject. was born in North Carolina, where he married and continued to reside until 1838. He then removed to Putnam County. Ind., where he died in 1880, having reached his three score years and ten. He was en- gaged in agricultural pursuits during his entire life, and succeeded in accumulating considerable property before his death. He was from early manhood a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In politics he was a stanch Democrat. llis father was Thomas Burnett, a native of North Carolina. Jesse Burnett married Mary Stoner, a native of the same State as himself. She bore him twelve children, of whom our subject was the second.
Peter S. Burnett was born in Randolph County, N. C .. Oct. 20, 1835. Being scarcely more than an infant when his parents removed to Indiana, he passed his boyhood and youth in that State. receiv- ing a common-school education and the usual training of a farmer's son. In 1861 he joined the ranks of the defenders of the Union, enlisting as a private in Company G. 30th Illinois Infantry. Ile was afterward promoted to the office of a Ser- geant, in which eapacity he served until the elose of the war. Mr. Burnett participated in many of the principal battles, among them being Belmont, Mo .. Fts. Donelson and Henry, the siege of Cor- inth, Miss .. Britton's Lane, Ft. Gibson, Miss., Jack- son, Raymond, Champion Hill, and the forty-seven days' siege of Vicksburg. At the latter place he re- enlisted, and thence went home on a thirty-days' fur- lough. On his return to the army, he participated in the siege of Atlanta, all the battles of the Georgia campaign, and was one of the gallant foree who made with Sherman the mareh to the sea. He was present at the surrender of Johnson's army near Raleigh, N. C., and took part in the grand review of Sherman's army at Washington, D. C. He sub- sequently returned to Louisville, Ky., where he was mustered out of service, having received an honorable discharge. He went to Mercer County,
Ill.,but in the same year. 1865, came West and home- steaded some land, which forms a part of his pres- ent estate.
In 1867 Mr. Burnett became the husband of Miss Margaret J. Stout, daughter of Elbert and Nancy ( Williamson ) Stout, of Marshall County. She has borne her husband one child, a daughter, Belle, now aged eighteen.
Our subject is an earnest Republican, though he has always declined office at the hands of his party. He is a member of the G. A. R. Mrs. Burnett is a member of the Baptist Church. in which she has high standing. As an intelligent citizen, a good neighbor, a kind husband and father, and a man of exeellent principles, Mr. Burnett enjoys the re- spect of his fellow-eitizens.
R OBERT COOPER, one of the younger farm- ers of Wells Township, being still on the sunny side of forty, is numbered among the rising men of his community, and is prosecuting agriculture successfully on 121 acres of land, occupying a portion of section 20, where he makes a specialty of stock-raising. He is a native of England. and was born in the city of London, March 15, 1851. Ilis parents were Robert and Barbara (Newington) Cooper, who were likewise of English birth and parentage, and the father a marble cutter by occupation.
In 1855, when the subject of this notice was a little lad of four years, the Cooper family resolved upon emigration to America, and first -landed in Montreal, Canada. Thenee they made their way via Toronto to Buffalo, N. Y., and later proceeded to Portage County, Ohio, where the father pur- chased property in what is now known as the town of Kent. Ile died there in 1889. The mother had passed away a short time after the arrival of the family in America. Robert, when about twelve years old, was taken to Herkimer County, N. Y., where he lived until reaching his majority, reeeiv- ing a common school education, supplemented by a brief attendance at one of the seminaries. Most of this time he lived upon a farm, then went to
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Buffalo, N. Y., and for seven years was employed in the Terrapin Lunch House, at No. 178 Main street.
Mr. Cooper, while a resident of Buffalo, N. Y., was married, March 24, 1878, to Miss Ann Beard. Mrs. Cooper was born in Ireland, and came to America with her parents. Of her union with our subject there have been born seven children, only five of whom are living, viz .: Henry, Daniel. William, Mary and Nellie. The deceased are two sons-Robert and Frank. Mr. and Mrs. Cooper after their marriage made their home near Vermill- ion, this county, where Mr. Cooper purchased land, of which he retained ownership about four years, then, in the spring of 1883. settled where he now resides.
The farm of Mr. Cooper embraces 121 acres of good land, which he has brought to a productive condition, and where he has effected good improve- ments. He is a man who makes a specialty of at- tending to his own concerns, and has meddled very little with outside matters, although interested in the general welfare of his community, and willing to contribute as opportunity offers to aid in its worthy enterprises. He has served as a School Director in his district, and votes the straight Re- publican ticket. He commenced in life without means, his present possessions being the result of his own industry and perseverance.
G EORGE W. WILLIS. The above-named gentleman has been for some years a resi- dent of Marshall County, and owns a beau- tiful farm on section 4, Wells Township. The 160 acres of fertile land are highly cultivated, and sup- plied with all the adequate farm buildings. The pleasant home is the result of industry and perse- verance on the part of its owner, who was a man of but limited circumstances on his arrival in Kansas.
Our subject was a son of William C. and Georg- iana B. Willis, and was born in Woodford County, Ky., Aug. 5, 1839. His father was a native of the Blue Grass State, where he died some years since.
The mother subsequently married John W. Johnson, who has since died, and she is now living with our subject. Captain W. T. Willis, the grandfather of the gentleman named above, was a soldier in the Mexican War, under Gen. Taylor, and was killed in the last charge at the battle of Buena Vista.
George W. Willis was the oldest son in his father's family. He received a thorough education in his youth, which he has since supplemented by general reading. When about sixteen years of age he went to Illinois, and worked as a farm hand in Champaign County, for about three years. He then returned to his native State, where he remained until after the breaking out of the Civil War. Ani- mated by the spirit of patriotism, which led so many of the sons of America to offer their lives in the defence of the Union, he enlisted in the 22d Kentucky Infantry and was assigned to Company F. The regiment became incorporated with the Army of the Gulf, and participated in many hard fought battles. At Cumberland Gap, the siege of Vicksburg, Port Hudson, in the Red River Expe- dition, at Champion Hill, Thompson's Hill, Ft. Gibson, Black River Bridge, and numerous conflicts of minor importanee, Mr. Willis bore a gallant part. Having faithfully served his country until January 1865, he received an honorable discharge and re- turned to Kentucky. There he was married and continued to reside until 1873, when with his fam- ily he came to this county. Here he homesteaded the farm on which he now resides, the land being at the time very nearly in the condition it had been left by the Indians. Here the family shared in the labors and privations of a thinly settled country, and witnessed the gradual growth of the county to its present prosperous conditions.
March 1, 1866, Mr. Willis was united in mar- riage with Margaret Gorbutt, a sister of Joseph Gorbutt, of Wells Township, whose sketch ap- pears elsewhere in this volume. A number of children have been the result of this union, of whom the following survive: - Phobe, wife of Joshua Chapman, of Wells Township; Georgi- anna, wife of William I. Riley, of this county; Madge, and William C.
Mr. Willis is a Republican and an earnest advo- cate of the principles of the party. He is a public
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spirited citizen, identifying himself with every movement which tends to advance the interest of the county. He is a member of the Christian Church, but as there is no Christian organization near his home, he is serving as Class-Leader and Sunday-school Superintendent in the Methodist Protestant Church of his neighborhood. Intelli- gent, upright, and trustworthy as man and citizen, Mr. Willis commands the respect of all with whom he comes in contact.
OSEPII P. SCRIBER, Treasurer of Wells Township, and an old settler of Marshall County, is a native of Delaware County, N. Y., where he was born Feb. 26, 1830. He was a son of Abraham P. and Charity (Shaver) Scriber, both natives of New York State. The father is a descendant of one of the early colonists who settled on the Hudson River. When our sub- ject was about three years old, his parents removed to Ogle County, Ill., where the mother died eighteen years later. The father died in 1863, in Carroll County.
Our subject is the eldest son in a family of six children. He grew to manhood amid the scenes of pioneer life in Illinois, and was the recipient of but limited educational advantages in the way of schooling. He has made use of the other facilities, which are open to one who desired to obtain knowl- edge, and is a man of intelligence in general topics and current events. In Illinois he was married Oct. 15, 1854, to Maria Sutton. In 1863, he re- moved with his family to lowa, and was for six years a resident in Chickasaw County. In the spring of 1870, he removed to this county, and homesteaded eighty acres of land on section 6, Wells Township. This land he has changed from an unbroken prairie to a productive farm, adding to it other land until he now possesses 120 acres. His estate is thoroughly cultivated, and bears such improvements as are usually made by an enterpris- ing farmer.
Mrs. Scriber was born in JoDaviess County, Ill., and was the daughter of George and Mary Sutton,
who were among the pioneer settlers of that county. Her union with Mr. Scriber has resulted in the birth of nine children, seven now living. The survivors are. George; Mary, wife of William Stoddard. of Washington; Mathew; Daniel; Etta, wife of Albert Gillespie. of Washington; A. Lin- coln and Jennie.
Mr. Seriber has served several years as School Director. In 1886 he was elected Treasurer of Wells Township, has been twice re-elected, and is now serving his third year. He is a believer in and supporter of the Republican party. He is a public-spirited citizen, taking an active interest in the upbuilding of the county and the improvement of society. Mr. and Mrs. Scriber have been wit- nesses to the growth and development of this county, and rejoice in the results of the labors in which they have borne their part. They have a large circle of acquaintances by whom they are held in high esteem.
UGUST LANN, now deceased, was born in Sweden, May, 1847. He was reared in his native country upon a farm, and learned the trade of a furniture-maker. At the age of twenty-two he came to America. where he found employment with a firm in Chicago. and there remained one year. His mother died in Sweden in the year 1869, in the prime of life. The following year, the father, John Swanson, came to America and settled in Riley County. Kan., to which place our subject accompanied him. They took a homestead in that county, and upon it the father still lives with his second wife, whom he married in this country. lle has been a successful farmer, and now at the age of seventy is peace- fully enjoying the fruits of his labors.
After spending two years upon his father's home- stead in Riley County, Kan., the subject of this sketch returned to Chicago, Ill., where he lived seven years in the employ of Clark Bros. & Com- pany. furniture manufacturers. In that city was celebrated his marriage to Miss Emma S. Peterson. the ceremony taking place Nov. 26, 1876. Mrs.
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Lann was born in Smolin, Sweden, December, 1852. Her father, Peter Larson and his wife are yet liv- ing in their native country, and attaining to ripe years. When nearly twenty years of age Mrs. Lann came with friends to the United States, lo- cating in Chicago, where she resided until after her marriage. In the spring of 1880, she with her hus- band came to this State, locating on section 6, Murray Township. Here, Mr. Lann first obtained eighty aeres of land, and after thoroughly improv- ing it, increased the amount to 120 acres, the whole being improved previous to his death, which occurred at his home, Oct. 29. 1880. Since Mr. Lann's death, Mrs. Lann has taken charge of the farın, and has proven herself a capable manager. being free from debt and prospering. She is the mother of two children-Frank W. now living and Johann A. who died when three years of age.
Mr. and Mrs. Lann were worthy members of the Lutheran Church, in the faith of which the widow now finds consolation for her loss.
UDOLPH E. MOSER. A cursory view of the business portion of a town gives a stranger a better idea of its prosperity and and activity than any other adjunct. So the visitor to Marysville notes with surprise and pleasure the large number of business houses en- gaged in the successful pursuit of their legitimate object. Prominent among these mercantile firms is that of Moser & Thompson, who conduct on Broadway. a large business in shelf and heavy hardware. This firm is well established, is now well known and is constantly augmenting its trade.
Mr. Moser the senior member of this firm has inade his home here for four and one-half years. He was born near Peoria, Ill., March 6, 1861, and at the age of five years his parents moved to Du- buque, Iowa, and there Mr. Moser remained until 1880, acquiring his education, and afterward learning the tinner's trade with J. C. Payne. He tontinned working at his trade until 1885, princi- pally at Mitchell, Dak, and Nora Springs, Iowa.
In 1885, Mr. Moser came to Marysville and en- tered the employ of A. M. Judson, with whom he remained until January, 1889, when in com- pany with his present partner he opened the store wherein he may be found to-day. In the brief time since he has entered into business for himself, he has by strict attention, honorable methods and a pleasant manner enhanced the bright prospects for future success, which those who know him best most cheerfully predict. He belongs to the ranks of self-made men, who even under unfavorable circumstances are sure to win. Mr. Moser votes with the Republican party. and enjoying as he does, the respect and confidence of the community. might have somewhat of a politi- cal career before him, if he so elected. He is a respected member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
John Gottlieb Moser, the father of our subject, was born in Thun, Canton Berne, Switzerland in 1831, and while quite a young man, in company with his wife. Miss Margaret Muller, left his native land, erossed the ocean and finally set- tled on a farm near Peoria, Ill. He afterward removed to Dubuque, Iowa, and now lives a re- tired life, having giving up farming some few years ago. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Moser, of whom only two are living-Rudolph E .. our subjeet, and John Gottfred, who makes his home in Dubuque and is with the business firm of J. C. Payne.
W ILLIAM A. THIERSTON was born Jan. 25, 1827, at Wolfsborough Bridge, N. II., at the foot of Lake Winipiseogee. Ile was the son of Charles and Martha (Lucas) Thurston, both of English ancestry and natives of the Granite State. The father was a plasterer and bricklayer. The mother passed away when our subject was nine years old, and his father subsequently married again, his second wife being Miss Priscilla Lord. The result of the first marriage was five children, our subjeet being the youngest. The oldest, Eliza A., died at home in 1878. She was unmarried.
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Mark resides in Chicago, Ill .; he followed plaster- ing and bricklaying for years, but is now retired. He married Nancy Budge, and they have two grown children. Charles S. is now living in Ash- land, Aroostook Co., Me .; he is a plasterer and bricklayer. During the late war he served as ser- geant in Company C., 15th Maine Infantry. His wife, formerly Miss Mary Gordon, has borne him ten children. Martha married John Nichols. who was Captain of Company C, 15th Maine Infantry, was taken prisoner and confined in Libby prison three months. She died in Kenduskeag, Me., leav- ing three children. By his second marriage, Mr. Charles Thurston became the father of five daugh- ters, Mary Clarinda, Sarah L. M., Orvilla, Esther and Marilla. The oldest passed from earth at the age of nineteen, and the others are now living in the East.
When seven years of age, our subject removed with his father to Corinth, Me., eighteen miles from Bangor. After receiving the educational advant- ages of the common schools, he spent two years in the East Corinth Academy. He then became clerk in the general merchandise store of P. I'. Pearson. of Corinth. lle next went to Bangor. and after a sojourn of six months went to lower Massachusetts, where he worked at a sawmill for one year. lle then went to Lawrence, Mass., where he spent two years. He was subsequently employed for thirteen years in Ashland, Me., scaling lumber for Coe & Pingrey. Thence he went to St. Anthony's Falls, Minn., where he remained during 1866-7. Return- ing to Maine, he abode in that State until the winter of 1869, when he came to this county, and on" Christmas day took up a homestead of forty acres, on section 10, Vermillion Township, where he has ever since resided, and where he has a very cosy home.
Our subject was married in Aroostook, Me., Aug. 29, 1855, the bride being Miss Elizabeth Dodge, a refined and intelligent young lady of English and Scotch descent. She was born in Salem, Me .. and was the daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Curtis) Dodge, who were natives of the same State. She has borne her husband seven children-Ida L., Isadore M., Carrie V., Clarence W., Ida E., Nancy B. and one infant who has gone before. Ida L.
passed away when seven years old; Isadore M. be- came the wife of Clark Pennington, and lives in Paradise Valley, Nev. Carrie V. is the wife of Charles W. Hawes, a farmer in Washington County, Kan., and is the mother of one child. The remain- ing members of the family are still at home.
Mr. Thurston was a member of the A. F. & A. M. He casts his vote with the Union Labor party, and has been a delegate in county conventions. His cordial, courteous manners are indicative of careful training in his early years, and his wife also has the manners of a well bred lady. Mr. Thurs- ton is a strong believer in Christian Science, and a thoroughly honest and conscientious man. As husband, father and citizen, he fulfills his duties with all the conscientious earnestness of the New Englander, and in the spirit that insures him the re- spect of those with whom he comes in contact.
LEG T. VICKERY. This gentleman owns and occupies one of the most beautiful homesteads in Marshall County, and which is finely situated on sections 27 and 28, in Cottage Hill Township. He is one of the bright lights of his community. a man intelligent, pro- gressive, liberal-minded and public-spirited, and · possessed of refined tastes and ample means. He has for many years been closely identified with the most important interests of his township, and has contributed his full quota to its advancement. He has been a life-long farmer by occupation, and his landed possessions embrace 314 acres, which have been brought to a fine state of cultivation, and em- bellished with substantial modern buildings.
The subject of this notice was born in Rensse- laer County, N. Y., May 29, 1837. His father, Thomas Vickery, was a native of the same county. and born about 1807. He followed farming and lumbering, and spent his entire life near the place of his birth. He accumulated a moderate property, and was one of the substantial men of his commu- nity, taking an active part in politics, and constitu- ting one of the pillars of the Methodist Episcopal Church, with which he connected himself in early
RESIDENCE OF JAMES FITZ GERALD, BEATTIE, KAN.
RESIDENCE OF N.T. WATERS, BEATTIE, KAN.
RESIDENCE OF R. Y. SHIBLEY, SEC. 29. MARYSVILLE, KAN .
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manhood. The paternal grandfather of our sub- ject, Eli Vickery, was born in England, and emi- grated to America at an early day, settling in New York State, where he likewise prosecuted farming and lumbering. His wife, Susan, was born in the New England States, but was of German parent- age.
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