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 62
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IRAM L. ROUNDS. JR., after having trav- eled over a large portion of the United States, finally made his way to Northern Kansas, and is now numbered among thie leading citizens of Blue Rapids Township. He is a man who has kept his eyes open to what is going on around him in the world. and his career has been one of more than ordinary interest. Born in the province of Kingston, Lower Canada, Aug. 30. 1838, he is the son of Hiram L. Rounds, Sr .. who was born in Rhode Island, in 1800. The latter served in the War of 1812 from its beginning till its close, having entered the army when only twelve years old. His two brothers also fought in the ranks, together with the father.
The paternal grandfather of our subject was Amos Rounds, a native of Glasgow, Scotland, a man of great force of character, and who was a gen- eral in the Scottish Rebellion. Ile was captured, imprisoned, and sentenced to be beheaded for trea- son. He escaped from the third story of the building, with six others, and gaining the seaboard embarked on a vessel for America, being put on the ship in a hogshead. A reward of £1,500. had been offered by the English Government for his head. He arrived safely in America, and re- mained hiding in the woods for one year prior to the outbreak of the Revolutionary War. Ilis fight- ing propensities did not leave him notwithstanding
the stern experience which he had encountered. and he cheerfully assumed charge of a squad of men at Boston, who became famous by throwing a cargo of tea overboard.
Grandfather Rounds in due time was appointed a Colonel by the American Congress, and served until the close of the war, most of the time doing duty as Acting Brigadier General. lle was in many engagements. and seventeen bullets were lodged in different parts of his body. The old hero, however, survived all these vicissitudes, and passed away at the ripe age of eighty-four years. Hiram L. Rounds. Sr., was married in early man- hood, to Miss Elinor Conklin, a sister of the late well-known Roscoe Conklin, of New York State, one of its ablest and most eloquent men, and a United States Senator. The father pursued his trade of a mason, and there were born to them five children, four of whom are living, and of whom Iliram L. was next to the youngest. One brother served with distinction in the late Civil War.
The subject of our sketch attended school in Cleveland, Ohio, but at the age of ten years left home and went to sea, following the fortune of a sailor for about fourteen years. Then resuming life on terra firma, he learned earpentering, which trade he followed until 1888. Since that time he has given his attention to agricultural pursuits. While a resident of New York he was married, in 1863, to Miss Ellen Harn. Their only child, a son. George, is now a promising young man of twenty- three years, and makes his home with his father.
Mr. Rounds, on the 26th of May, 1883, con- tracted a second marriage with Miss Chloe, daughter of Franeis Bruso, a native of Canada, and whose parents are deceased. Mrs. Rounds was born in St. Luke, Lower Canada, and was the third child in a family of seven. When she was seven years old her parents removed to New York State, where they spent their last days. Mrs. Rounds has been a resident of Kansas about eight years.
After the outbreak of the Civil War, Mr. Rounds enlisted for three months, in the spring of 1861, in the 7th Ohio Infantry. At the first battle of Bull Run he was taken prisoner, but soon escaped. At the expiration of his first term of enlistment he re- entered the ranks, as a member of the 67th Ohio
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Infantry, and with his comrades met the enemy in battle at Manassas Gap and Winchester, Va., be- sides many other important engagements. At Win- chester he received a sabre cut on the arm, and a ball in his right hip. On account of this he was obliged to accept his honor ible discharge. Upon leaving the army he went to Miebigan, then visited Kansas, was thereafter at Chicago. Ill., then in Ohio, and Birmingham, Ala., remaining in the latter State nearly five years. He found no coun- try finer than Northern Kansas, to which he finally returned, and has since been a resident of this county. During his emigrations he made one trip to California, and spent two years in the Rocky Mountains.
While in Cleveland, Ohio, Mr. Rounds officiated as Constable and Detective. The duties of the lat- ter position took him through the States of Mis- souri, Arkansas, Texas and Kansas. He has met all kinds of people, and seen many strange things during his journeyings, and has kept his eyes open to what is going on around him. As an ex-soldier he belongs to the G. A. R., Post No. 49, of Birm- ingham, Ala. Ile is in full sympathy with the working men of America, and belongs to the K. of L., and the Carpenter's I'nion. He is conservative in polities, and usually votes the straight Republi- can ticket.
OIIN J. McLENNAN. The pioneer firm of Summerfield, is composed of J. J. MeLen - nan and E. J. Smiley, two young men of excellent habits and good standing. They opened up for business the 20th day of November, 1888, in a private house on the present site of Sum - merfield, before the railroad had reached this point, and before the town was platted, and two months prior to the opening of any other store in the place. The town at this writing, August, 1889, contains six general stores, four hardware, one grocery, two furniture, one millinery, one feed store, State bank, three lumber yards, five restaurants, one hotel, one newspaper, two meatmarkets, one bakery. three blacksmith shops, three livery stables, one photo-
graph gallery, three barber shops, one shoe shop, one billiard hall. three places where farm machinery is sold, and two grain dealers with scales, cribs, etc. The stocks are generally well assorted and well housed. The bank occupies a brick building. Sum- werfield is the present terminus of the Kansas City, Wyandotte & Northwestern Railroad, and is sur- rounded by a rich prairie country. Mr. Smiley is the son of J. S. Smiley, proprietor of the town site, whose sketch may be found in another part of this volume. He is a native of Mon month, Ill.
Mr. McLennan is of Scotch parentage and an- cestry. His father was Finley MeLennan, and his mother Isabell McLennan, both members of the well- known Scotch family of that name, although not immediately related. The parents removed from Rosshire, Scotland, to Livingston County, N. Y., in 1857, and there our subjeet was born, Nov. 27, 1860. When he was seven years of age, his par- ents removed to Ontario, Canada, where they still reside. There he was reared upon a farm, and re- ceived an education which fitted him for almost any position, but especially qualified him for the profession of teacher, which he has since success- fully followed in several States. At the age of eighteen, he left home and went to Chippewa Falls, Wis. There he followed his profession and mas- tered both the carpenter and brick-maker's trades. He afterward worked at both trades in various places in Minnesota and Dakota. In 1883 Mr. Me- Lennan came to Kansas, and settled in this county, where he has followed teaching successfully. IIe has also at times busied himself at his trades in the capacity of contractor and builder.
Mr. MeLennan is a single man, of temperate hab- its, and of a religious turn of mind, being a mem- ber of the United Presbyterian Church. While in Canada, he was a great student of the history of his native country, and when in young manhood he returned to the United States, he esponsed the cause of the Republican party, believing it to be the party of progression, and the one that embodied the principles of "the greatest good for the great- est number." Since coming to Marshall County, he has been of great service to that party, being an active participant in political affairs. He has been a member of every County Convention since his
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arrival in the State, and is at present an active member of the County Central Committee. When the village of Summerfield was organized, he was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace for the village and township. The latter is strongly Demo- cratic, and the cleetion of our subject is conclusive proof of the esteem in which he is held.
Mr. McLennan has recently been highly compli- mented by an uncle whom he has not seen for years. The uncle is a very wealthy resident of Victoria, British Columbia, and principal stock-holder in a large mining company of that place. He has re- cently written to his nephew, offering him the posi- tion of secretary of the company, at a salary of $1,200 a year, and placing a good block of shares to his credit. Our subject will visit his uncle this fall, though it is doubtful whether he will accept the tempting offer made, as his ties are strong in Marshall County. Should he conclude to remove, he will be followed by the best wishes of all who have liad business or social relations with him.
G EORGE W. WALLS, owner and occupant of a fine farm of 160 acres on sections 34 and 35, Wells Township, has been a resi- dent of this county from his boyhood. He was born in Huntingdon County, Pa., March 8, 1849. His mother Nancy (Smith) Walls, died when he was about eighteen months old. His grandfather Walls was a soldier in the War of 1812. James Walls, the father of our subject removed from Pennsylvania to Marion County, Iowa, in 1851. and in the fall of 1857, came with his family to Kansas. He spent about three years in Pottawato- mie County, whence he removed to this county. Ile bought 160 acres of land in Clear Fork Town- ship, and subsequently purchased additional tracts until his present estate amounts to about 700 acres. The land upon which James Walls settled, was raw prairie, with but a few acres broken, and he had little means when he arrived. That he has been a successful farmer, the amount of his property will attest. lle is the father of three children, two of whom still survive, George W. and James. He is
a Republican in politics, and has always as a citi- zen favored publie improvements and measures for the good of the locality.
George W. Walls, the subject of this notice was abont eight years of age when his father removed to this county. Here he was reared amid the scenes of pioneer life. and has watched the development of the county from its then primitive state to its present prosperous state. The school-house in which he received his early education was built of logs, with puneheon seats and desks, and the edu- cational advantages received there, were but limi- ted. Like many another man of native intelligence, Mr. Walls supplemented his schooling by reading and observation, becoming a well-informed man. On Christmas Day, 1874, he was united in mar- riage with Miss Mary McClure, daughter of N. J. and Rebecca McClure, and a native of the Blue Grass State. The union has been blessed by the birth of three children: Bessie May, born Jan. 3, 1877, and died Aug. 12, 1879; Irena, born March 13, 1884; and Ida April 13, 1887. Mr. Walls' farm is under excellent cultivation, and supplied with all necessary improvements, and ranks among the best farms in the township.
Our subject is a Republican, and beartily sup- ports the principles of his party. For six years he has served as Treasurer of School District No. 7. Mrs. Walls is a member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church. of which her husband is also an at- tendant. Both take an active interest in the social affairs of their locality. As a man of honor and uprightness. and an intelligent and publie-spirited citizen, Mr. Walls is justly esteemed by those who know nim.
G EORGE B. LANDRUM was born Septem- ber 9, 1850, in Buchanan County, Mo., two miles northeast of the town of DeKalb. He is a son of Edward B. and Priscilla Landrum, both of whom were natives of Owen County, Ind .. and of German descent. The father removed to Mis- souri in 1849. The parental family consisted of nine children, of whom the eldest, Ephraim, died
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at the age of seventeen. William H. is engaged in agriculture, in Atchison County, Kan. He has been twice married; his first wife, Rebecca Brock, died over thirty years ago, leaving four children. His second wife, Elizabeth P. Stone, died in Atchi- son County, in 1874, leaving two children. Eliza- beth A. is the wife of John Graves, a farmer of Atchison County, and has three children; Joel D. resides in Pottawatomie County, Kan .; he has been married twice. His first wife, Elizabethi May. died in Buchanan County, Mo., in 1852, leaving two children. His second wife, Mary Osborne, is the mother of three children. Margaret S. resides in Atchison County; she has been twice married. Her first husband, John Bohanan, was killed by lightning in 1859. Her second husband, Thomas F. Cook, is a farmer. By her first husband she became the mother of one child, and six children have been the result of her second marriage. Ben- jamin L. is a carpenter, unmarried, and living in Arizona; Stephen is a jeweler, is unmarried, and engaged in business in Netawaka, Jackson Co., Kan .; Isaac E. is a foreman in Armour's Packing House, in Kansas City. He has been married twice; his first wife, Mary Cotter, dicd in 1880, leaving four children. Ilis second wife has borne him three children.
When our subject was five years of age, his par- ents removed to Atchison County, Kan., where he grew to manhood upon his father's farm, receiving such education as could be acquired at the com- mon schools, and a practical knowledge of agri- culture. At the age of twenty. two he began life for himself. His present residence was on April 23, 1876, the scene of a notable event of his life, the occasion being his marriage to Sarah E., daugh- ter of Charles and Helen ( Duvall) Vaughn, who were at that time occupants of the place. Mrs. Landrum first saw the light in Knox County, Ill., in 1859. . Her paternal grandfather was a native of Kentucky, while France was the birthplace of her maternal grandfather. Her parents removed from Illinois to Kansas some years ago, first settling in Pottawatomie County. Thence after two years' residence, they removed to this county, settling in the northeast quarter of section 6, Vermillion Town- ship. There our subject is now operating eighty
acres of well-cultivated and productive land. in general farming. llis modest, but pleasant home, is presided over by a bright intelligent woman, and two interesting children, Claude G., and Charles Il., brighten the fireside.
Mr. Landrum is progressive, enterprising. indus- trious and intelligent. Ile is a member of Westmoor- land Lodge No. 57, A. F. & A. M., in Pottawatomie County. He and his wife are worthy members of the Christian Church.
G ODFREY LODHOLZ. All over the West, as in all other parts of the United States. the enterprising German citizen is to be found pushing his way ahead, and almost uni- formly industrious, reliable and well-to-do. The subject of this sketch is a true son of the Father- land, having inherited the best traits of his sub- stantial German ancestry, and was one of those characters most needed during the early settlement of this county, to which he came over thirty years ago, and located upon the land which he now owns and occupies. Ile has one of the finest farms in Richland Township, 820 acres in extent, and located on section 26. Ile preempted half of this from the Government while it lay as the Indians had left it, a wild uncultivated tract, which had been subjected to no improvements whatever. The task before him was very great, but he at once set about it, and after a series of years, could look around with a feeling of satisfaction at the result of his labors.
Mr. Lodholz is one of the oldest settlers of Rich- land Township, and is considered one of its leading men. He has wisely retired from the more arduous labors of life, and aside from the care of his live- stock, takes life easily. Many and great have been the changes he has witnessed since coming to North- ern Kansas, and he may reasonably feel that he has borne no unimportant part in the elevation of Marshall County, to its present position. He has paid into its treasury a handsome sum of money upon his taxable property, while his example of thrift and industry bas proved a stimulus to many
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a man about him, and thus results have been pro- duced, which are far reaching and beneficial to the entire community.
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Our subject was born in the Province of Wurt- emberg, Germany, July 10, 1830. He lived there until a youth of seventeen years. acquiring a good education in the common school, and being trained to those habits of industry and economy, which have followed him all through life. He was a youth, thoughtful and ambitious beyond his years. and not being satisfied with his surroundings or prospects in the Fatherland, set out alone in 1847, for America. His first stopping place was in Spring- field, Mass., where he became an employe in a manufacturing establishment, and remained three years. After spending one winter in Albany, N. Y., he returned to New England, and lived in Connec- ticut,from 1851 until 1858, working at the trade of a locksmith, which he learned in that State. In Connecticut he was married, Dec. 14, 1854, to Miss Christina Seitz. In 1858 they started for the Southwest, going by rail to St. Louis, Mo., and thence by boat to Atchison. this State, where they arrived about the 1st of April. At this point Mr. Lodholz purchased a team and drove through to this county, camping and cooking by the wayside. There were very few people in this region, and Atchison was the nearest trading point, but to this he went only once or twice a year, as it had to be performed with an ox-team, and consequently was a long journey, occupying ten days or two weeks. At the little hamlet of Marysville he could obtain some, but not all of his supplies.
The first business of our subject upon locating his land, was to provide a shelter for his family. He then put in his first season's crops, began mak- ing fences and planting trees, and erecting the buildings most needed. He met with loss in 1861, his dwelling being destroyed by fire, but he rebuilt six miles northeast of the city of Beattie, and has now a fine residence, a view of which is a feature of added interest to our ALBUM. As one of the first settlers, and a man of more than ordinary in- telligence, he was appointed to some of the first offices, and has served as Township Treasurer, As- sessor, Justice of the Peace, and School District Clerk. lle assisted in organizing district No. 19,
and was its first Clerk. IIe believes in compulsory education, and is in favor of everything to build up the county, and elevate society. Upon becom- ing a voting citizen, he identified himself with the Democratic party. and in his religious views. coin- cides with the doctrines of the Protestant Church.
Five children came to bless the union of our sub- ject and his estimable wife, the eldest of whom, a daughter, Mary, remains at home with her parents; Anna is the wife of Gustave Segenhagen, and they live in Marshall County, Kan .; Christina married William II. Seip, of Richland Township, this county ; Rosa married Peter Gurtler, of Guittard Township; Sophia is unmarried, and remains at home with her parents. Mrs. Lodholz was born in Germany, in 1827, and emigrated to America alone, in 1854, settling in Connecticut, where she met her future husband.
Joseph F. Lodholz, the father of our subject, was born in Germany, and spent his entire life upon his native soil. He married Miss Anna M. Schill, who after his decease. came to America in 1854, and settled in Connecticut. She joined her son in this county, and died in this township in 1861.
R EV. JOIIN A. HURLEY, pastor of St. Bridget Roman Catholic Church, of Murray Township, and the Church of St. Michael, at Axtell, is of Irish parentage. His father. John Hurley, was a native of Cork. White yet a young man, in 1856. he determined to try his for- tune in the United States. and immediately after his arrival located in Leavenworth, Kan., where he died in 1882. He was a faithful member of the Catholic Church.
Our subject was born in Leavenworth in 1858. He was reared in his native city, and there re- ceived his preparatory education. Before coming of age he entered the St. Francis Catholic School of Milwaukee, Wis., and after graduating for the priesthood, returned to Leavenworth, where he was ordained in 1883, Bishop Fink officiating. The young priest was immediately assigned to a pastor- ate at Ft. Leavenworth, and at the State Prison at
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Kansas (the latter situated three miles south of Leavenworth). which he held until 1884. At that time he came to St. Bridget Township, entering upon the pastorates which he now holds. He has in each church about seventy families.
Father Hurley has given considerable attention to the history of the Roman Catholic Church of St. Bridget Township, Marshall Co., Kan., which is one of the oldest religious institutions in this part of the State. He furnishes the fol- lowing facts, which will be interesting to mem- bers of the church: In the year 1858, this section of the county being new and sparsely settled, Father Fitzgerald, now deceased, came to this place. By the help of a few of the oldest settlers he organized a church with a charter membership of seven, and built an unassuming frame structure in which to hold meetings. After some years Father Fitzgerald was succeeded by Rev. Father Suit- bert, who was rector four years. In 1873 the lat- ter erected a large and substantial stone church, with a seating capacity of over 400, to which has since been added a vestry. Father Suitbert was succeeded by Father Timothy, who during his ministry erected a commodious and well-con structed parsonage. A few years later, Father Williams, now deceased, took charge of the church, and upon his withdrawal, our subject took the pas- torate.
Father Hurley is a man of brilliant mind and kindly manners, and is very popular, not only with his charge, but with the people in general.
In connection with the biographical sketch of our subject, we present elsewhere in this volume a fine engraving of the church, with whose interests Father Hurley is identified.
E BENEZER MILLS is one of the old settlers of this county, to which he came in 1856. He is also a prominent business man of Bar- rett Station, where he is engaged in mercantile business, his stock consisting principally of grocer- ies. He was born near Belmont, Ohio, Oct. 15, 1830, and is the son of John and Frances (Mitchel-
tree) Mills. His paternal ancestry were English and Irish, and his father a native of New Hamp- shire. His mother was born in Ohio. His father belonged to the Democratic party, and was a mem- ber of the Presbyterian Church. The paternal family consisted of six children, named respect- ively: John, Samuel, Ebenezer, Elizabeth, Mary and Jane.
Our subject was reared upon a farm, and was the recipient of such educational advantages as were afforded by the common schools. In addition to a thorough knowledge of agricultural pursuits, which he learned upon his father's farm, lie became thor- oughly acquainted with the carpenter's trade. On June 30, 1853, he celebrated his marriage to Caro- line, daughter of Nelson and Elizabeth (Taylor) Barcus. His wife is an estimable lady, and a na- tive, like himself, of the Buckeye State. In 1856 our subject removed to this county, settling on a quarter section of land, one-half mile southwest of Barrett Station, on which he remained until 1877. He was the first carpenter in this part of the county, and helped in the building of Barrett's mill, the first edifice of the kind in Northeastern Kansas. Animated by the spirit which led so many thousands to leave home and friends in their country's service, Mr. Mills enlisted on Sept. 1, 1862, as a member of Company G, 13th Kansas Infantry. He took part in engagements at Prairie Grove and Cain Hill, Ark .. against the forces of Price and Quantrell, and did frontier duty in In- dian Territory. He proved himself an excellent soldier, and when mustered out, on June 26, 1865, well merited the honorable discharge he received. Cold and exposure during his service so injured the optic nerve as to leave him almost blind. Af- ter his return from the army, our subject entered upon his former occupations, and continued a resi- dent of his farm until 1877, when he removed to Barrett. In the fall of 1884 he went into his pres- ent business, building up a good trade. in which he has since that time been continuously engaged.
To Mr. and Mrs. Mills nine children have been born, the first two of whom died in infancy. His daughter Lottie is the wife of Robert Tudor, a stoek dealer living in Frankfort; she is the mother of three surviving children. Alice is the wife of
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