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 70
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In Springfield, Ohio, on the 7th of March, 1849, occurred the marriage of Thomas J. Thompson. with Miss Amanda, daughter of John Cundiff, the latter of whom was a native of Northumberland County, Va., where the paternal grandfather, John Cundiff, Sr., was also born and operated as a far- mer. He served in the Revolutionary War seven years, and subsequently carried a musket in the War of 1812. Ile became blind before his death, which occurred when he was eighty years of age. Ile was a man of property, operating a large plan- tation with slaves, and died in Hampshire County, Va. The paternal great-grandfather of our sub- ject was a native of England.
John Cundiff, Jr., farmed in Virginia during his early manhood, and then in 1807 emigrated to Clark County, Ohio, where he was a pioneer and settled among the Indians. Afterward he removed to Marshall County, Ill., and died at the residence of his son, near llenry, in 1857, when seventy-five years old. Politically, he was an Old Line Whig. His wife was in her girlhood Miss Susannah Lo- vett, a native of Alleghany County, Md. Grand- father Jonas Lovett, was a native of New Jersey, whence he removed to Maryland, where he operated as a farmer. One of his sons was prominent in politics and a member of the State Senate. Mrs. Cundiff died in Hampshire, W. Va., in January, 1840. She had been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church since childhood. The parental
household included five children, the oldest of whom, a daughter Susan, is deceased. Amanda, Mrs. Thompson, was the second horn; Emily, Mrs. Allen, is a resident of Wenona, Ill .; John lives in Talmage, Dickinson Co., Kan .; Ellen is deceased.
Mrs. Thompson was born near Ridgeville. Va., Oet. 17, 1826, and lived there until a young lady of nineteen years, becoming familiar with all nse- ful housewifely duties and acquiring her education in the subscription schools. At the age mentioned she went to Clarke County, Ohio, and lived with an aunt until her marriage. Her union with our sub- ject resulted in the birth of eight children, the eld- est of whom, a son, Jolin S., is a prominent farmer of La Salle County, Ill. Susan has been occupied as a teacher for a number of years; Thomas F. is a great lover of fine horses, and indulges his tastes in this respect on a farm near Melvin, in Ford County, Ill. Lucy A. is the wife of H. Batterson, a blacksmith of Home City; Isaac C. is in Iowa, employed in a lumber yard; Charles II. is farming in Balderson Township, this county; Eva B. is the wife of F. Lewis, and they live on a farm in Center Township; William W. remains at home.
Mr. Thompson is a man who has made a great deal of money, and lias likewise lost considerable. Col. Elsworth, of Lacon. Ill., at one time said of him that "he wielded a large influence and was looked up to as an adviser in the community." Ile was a member of the School Board of his district for a term of six years, and served as Township Trustee one year. Politically, he affiliates with the Democratic party, believing in equal rights and just laws. Ile is at present a member of the Dem- ocratic County Central Committee, and has been frequently sent as a delegate to the County and State conventions.
AVID HIEISSE, now a highly-esteemed resident of Rock Township, is a man of large experience and one who has seen much of life in the Great West. During his early manhood he was for a period of nineteen years in the employ of the United States Govern-
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ment. and was considered one of the best guides and seouts on the plains. Ile has faced danger in many forms since a boy of fourteen years, and is well versed in Indian and border warfare, which for a number of years mingled much with his other occupations. When returning to the bounds of eivilization he in 1877 established himself on a tract of wild land in Rock Township, where he has eighty acres under a good state of cultivation and finely located on section 2.
In reverting to the parental history of our sub- ject we find that his father. . Jacob Heisse, was a native of Germany and a stone-mason by trade. He emigrated to America when a young man and settled in Luzerne County, Pa., where he lived until 1852; then going to Buffalo. N.Y., he engaged in the hotel business. Two years later he set out for the West, and in Leavenworth, this State, began work at his trade, being the fourth stone-mason to locate in that city. He lived there until removing to a farm of 160 acres, which he operated a few years, then, pushing still further westward to Den- ver, Col., again became " mine host," and died at his hotel in 1860. He was an honest and industri- ous man and supported the principles of the Re- publican party.
The mother of our subject was a native of Penn- sylvania, and emigrated to America with her parents when a child, settling with them in Penn- sylvania. She died at Buffalo, N.Y., in 1852. The parental family included four children, viz: David, our subject; Henry, a resident of Montana; Jacob, the Postmaster of Salt Lake City, and Louisa, Mrs. Beohme, a resident of Leavenworth. Henry dur- ing the late war enlisted in the 8th Kansas Infantry in 1861, and served until the close; he is now a member of the G.A.R.
The subject of onr sketch was born near Wilkes- barre, Luzerne Co., Pa., Dec. 9, 1840, and remained there until removing with his parents to Buffalo, N.Y. In July, 1854, he accompanied his father to Kansas, locating in Leavenworth, where he lived one year, then entered the employ of the Govern- ment as a teamster, hauling supplies to different points. He drove a six-mule team until the outbreak of the Rebellion, in the meantime was in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and various other
parts of the west and southwest. Soon after- ward at Denver he enlisted in June, 1861, in Company A, Ist Colorado Infantry, which was the first company going from that State. He served nine months and was in several skirmishes and as- sisted in taking a number of prisoners. At the expiration of his term of enlistment he received his honorable discharge, but continued in the army as a teamster from Leavenworth, out on the plains. In June. 1863, he enlisted in Company A, 14th Kansas Cavalry, and was one of the body-guard of Gen. Blount. The company was mustered into service at Leavenworth, whence they were soon sent to Ft. Smith, engaging in the battle of Honey Springs and Baxter Springs, where occurred a reg- ular massacre in which all bnt eight of the com- pany were killed.
Afterward with twenty-four others Mr. Heisse was sent out as a scout along Waldron Creek, hunt- ing up stray rebels. Our subject was detailed with a party of four men, and while eating dinner in a double-log house were surprised by Texas rangers, who opened fire upon them. Mr. Heisse was wounded in the arm above the wrist, and while his companions escaped he was taken pris- oner. In a spirit of malice his captors amputated his arm four inches below the shoulder with a handsaw and butcher-knife. He was then taken to Camp Ford where he was confined twenty-eight days and then paroled. As soon as sufficiently re- covered from the shock produced by this outrage, he presented himself for duty and was under com- mand of Gen. Thayer, in Arkansas and Missouri, and spent several months in Arkansas. He re- mained in the service nntil Deeember, 1864, when on account of his misfortune he was obliged to accept his honorable discharge.
Afterward, notwithstanding the loss of his arm, Mr. Heisse resumed teaming on the plains between Leavenworth and the frontier until 1868, when he engaged with Gen. Custer as a scout in the Indian country for two years longer. Afterward he re- entered the employ of the Government as teamster, remaining thus occupied until 1874. He traveled all over the Western States and Territories and made the acquaintance of many famous characters, including the celebrated guides, Bridges, Kit Car-
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son, Buffalo Bill, Wild Bill, and was with them most of the time. Subsequently, upon the out- break of the troubles in Kansas he shouldered his musket and under Capt. Dixon and Col. Jim Lane, routed the border ruffians several times. In 1874 he was again in Leavenworth and spent sev- eral years thereafter in travel, having plenty of money and taking his ease.
Mr. Heisse came to this county in 1878 and set- tled on the land which he now owns and occupies and which had been homesteaded by his wife in1 869. Upon it he has instituted all the improvements which are to be seen. Ile has brought the land to a thorough state of cultivation, put up a house, barn and other buildings, enclosed his fields with fences. set out a grove and orchard, and in the meanwhile prosecuted agriculture successfully. The farm lies about three and one-half miles from Beat- tie. Mr. Heisse keeps a goodly assortment of live- stock, making a specialty of Poland-China swine. He and his amiable wife are among the most re- spected and loved of all Marshall County's worthy corps of farmers. They have an attractive resi- dence, and we direct the reader's attention to a view of it, which will be found elsewhere in this work.
In September, 1878, our subject was married in Rock Township, to Miss Mary Wolfgang, a native of Pennsylvania, and a resident of Kansas since about 1868. Her father, Jacob Wolfgang, was a native of Clarion County, Pa., and born May 1, 1826. Her paternal grandfather, Theodore Wolf- gang, was likewise a native of the Keystone State, born near the city of Philadelphia, of German parents, who emigrated to America in the early days. Jacob Wolfgang cleared a farm of 125 acres in Pennsylvania, where he lived until the fall of 1870. Then coming to this county he homesteaded eighty acres of land in Roek Town- ship, and later added to his possessions until he now has a fine farm of 164 acres, where he still lives. The maiden name of the mother of Mrs. Heisse was Sarah Schwartz. She was born near Harrisburg, Pa., and is still living. The parental family included eight children, of whom Miss Mary was the eldest. Her sister, Lavina, Mrs. Hunt, is a resident of this county; Barbara, Mrs.
Allsbaugh, lives in Axtell; Lydia, Mrs. McClen- house, is a resident of this county ; Priscilla, Mrs. Weaver, lives in Barnston, Neb .; Jacob H. is at home with his parents; Elizabeth and Sarah are deceased.
Mr. and Mrs. Heisse are the parents of six chil- dren, viz., Amos, Jacob, Thomas, Henry, Flora and a babe unnamed. Our subject politically is a decided Republican and was one of the strongest advocates of the Union cause. lle has officiated as Road Supervisor and is a member of the G.A.R. lle also belongs to the I.O.O.F. and the A.O.U.W. at Beattie. and is an active member of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church.
LBERT J. MOHRBACHER, photographer in the growing young town of Summerfield, is one of the rising young men of this sec- tion, and a man who evinces a desire to occupy a front rank among the members of his call- ing. The biography of the father of our subject is shown on another page. He is the second in a family of fourteen children, and was born in Elm Creek Township, Nov. 5, 1863. He was one among the first children born in the county. Ile received his education in the district schools, which were among the best in the country. In January, 1888, he engaged in his present employment with Mr. II. S. Ilover, of Marysville. A few months later he had the building, which he now occupies, erected pur- posely for a photographic gallery, and in March, 1889, began business for himself. Ile is well equipped for doing first-class work, and takes es- pecial pride in so doing. He has established a good trade, and laid the foundation for greater prosperity hereafter.
The grandparents of our subject were Jacob and Elizabeth Mohrbacher, who emigrated from Ger- many to the United States, and settled south of Milwaukee, Wis. Their son, Jacob, who was born in the province of Bavaria, Germany, left the old home with his parents. He was educated and grew to manhood in Wisconsin, and in 1859 went to Nemaha County, this State. In 1860 he was mar-
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ried at St Joseph. Mo., to Kate, daughter of John and Kate (Sheild) Joerg, the bride with her par- ents having come from Prussia. After his marriage Mr. Jacob Mohrbacher removed to this county, settling in Elm Creek Township, where he opened up a farm, and where he reared his large family, all of whom survive.
Our subject is a Democrat, but takes no active part in political life. He is a member of the Catho- lic Church of St. Bridget. lle is a man of firm principles, enterprising in business, honorable in his dealings, and of courteous manners.
OHIN I. DUNTZ. This enterprising and prosperous young farmer has worked his way up from a modest beginning and is evi- dently now on the highway to prosperity. His industry and good judgment have maintained him in the possession of a good farm on seetion 9, in Balderson Township, to whien he is giving his best efforts with most excellent results. Ilis landed possessions aggregate 3333 acres of land, all in one body and 270 acres yielding abundantly of grain and other produce. He keeps about sixty head of cattle, nineteen head of horses and seventy-five swine. The cattle are mostly graded Short-horn, and upon the place is one thoroughbred Clyde, "John L. Sullivan", together with another Clyde and Percheron named "Iowa Duke." In glancing at the parental history of our subject we find that he is the son of Peter and Margaret E. (Lawrence) Duntz, natives of New York State, and the father born in Columbia County. After marriage they settled not far from the place of their birth, where they lived until 1868. They then moved across the Mississippi into Jones County, Iowa, and after- ward to Nebraska whence they came to Kansas about 1883 and settled in Balderson Township, this county. Their thirteen children are all living, and the eldest, John H., our subject, was born in Columbia County, N. Y., Feb. 14, 1856. He at- tained his education mostly in the Ilawkeye State, and began life for himself at the early age of fifteen years, choosing farming for his vocation,
which he has since followed. He came to Kansas with his family in 1884.
Mr. Duntz had been married in Iowa, Dec. 30, 1878 to Miss Sarah J. daughter of Andrew and Melissa (Cole) Ballou. The parents of Mrs. Duntz removed from Ohio to Jones County, Iowa, where they now live and in which the father is a land- owner to the extent probably of 1000 acres. The parental family included seven children of whom Mrs. Duntz was next the eldest. She was born July 25, 1858, in Jones County, Iowa.
Mr. and Mrs. Duntz have three children-Edna May, John and Ethel. Our subject has served as Treasurer of the School Board of his district and was at one time identified with the Grange. He takes an active interest in politics and usually votes with the Republican party. On another page of this volume appears a fine lithographie engrav- ing of his present residence, which he put up in 1884, and he has other good buildings. An orchard of 140 apple trees will in time yield an abundance of fruit for the family and some to spare. The popular picture of quiet and content, usually assigned to a country homestead, seems to be thoroughly realized in the home and surround- of Mr. Duntz and his family.
G EORGE W. TARVIN, a well-to-do farmer of Marysville Township. and a min- ister of the United Brethren Church, is widely and favorably known throughout his com- munity as a man possessing all the qualities of a first-class citizen. Ile has a very pleasant home and a charming family, and is apparently sur- rounded by all which makes life attractive and desirable. His farm embraces 180 acres of land on section 19, which, under a course of skillful cultiva- tion has become highly productive and is the source of a generous income.
Mr. Tarvin comes from a good family, being the son of Squire G. and Sallie (Dix) Tarvin, who were natives of Kentucky and were there reared and married. They settled in Campbell County, and spent the remainder of their lives in the home
TENANT HOUSE
OLD HOME.
SCHOOL HOUSE
RESIDENCE OF G. W. TARVIN, SEC. 19. MARYSVILLE TOWNSHIP.
IOWA DUKE.
JOHN L. SULLIVAN .
RESIDENCE OF JOHN H. DUNTZ, SEC. 9. BALDER SON TOWNSHIP.
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they established there. Their family consisted of nine children, of whom our subjeet was the second born. The survivors, five in number, are residents of Kentucky, Indiana and Kansas. George W. was born in Campbell County, Ky., Sept. 14, 1824. Ile there spent the days of his childhood and youth, and upon reaching man's estate, was married and settled upon a small farm, which he operated until the spring of 1865. Then selling out he came to this county and rented his present homestead. In the fall of that year he returned to the Blue Grass State, but in May, 1866 came back to Kansas and purchased his present farm. Upon this he has effected excellent improvements including a set of substantial buildings, together with other modern appliances requisite for the successful prosecution of his calling. For two years he was the agent of an insurance company, and has been in the ministry for the last eight or ten years.
The marriage of our subject with Miss Ann S. Hicks, was celebrated at the bride's home near Carthage, Campbell Co., Ky., Oct. 14, 1850. Mrs. Tarvin was born in Fleming County, Ky., July 25, 1828, and is the daughter of John G. and Martha (Tarvin) Hicks, the former of whom was a native of Virginia, while the latter was born in Kentucky. The father was for about forty-two years a preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Church and died in Fleming County, Ky., while the mother passed to rest in Campbell County. To our subject and his estimable wife, there have been born seven chil- dren, namely : Lewis S., Martha H., Willie G., John M., Charles H., Sallie H. and George W., Jr., Willie died at the homestead, when an interesting lad of eleven years.
Mr. Tarvin was a resident of Kentucky during the Civil War, and had a full experience of what it cost to be a supporter of the Union. He is a staneh adherent of the Republican party, a man of decided views, and one who does his own thinking. Both he and his wife, identified themselves with the United Brethren Church soon after its organ- ization in this part of the county. During the Grange movement, Mr. Tarvin withdrew from the church on account of its decided opposition to secret societies. His son, Lewis S., took up the mantle of his father as a minister, being connected
with the Kansas conference; he married Miss Mary Ellen Riddle. One daughter, Martha is the wife of T. C. Randolph; John married Miss Hester Bart- low; Charles was first married to Miss Monnie B. Strictler, who died, and he was subsequently mar- ried to Miss Cora Tays.
We invite the attention of our many readers to the handsome lithographie view of the home place and farm residence of Mr. Tarvin on another page of this volume. There may also be noticed in con- nection with the engraving of the present residence, a view of the old stone house, which Mr. Tarvin and his family occupied when they first came to this county.
E LI MARKS. It sometimes occurs that the euphony of a man's name corresponds with his makeup, and the short, decided title by which this gentleman is known seems to be fully in keeping with his character. Independent in thought, progressive in his ideas, active and decided, he has, by his resolute industry become well-to-do, and is numbered among the leading men of his community. He is active in the Methodist Epis- copal Church, and foremost in the various enter- prises set on foot for the general good of the people around him. A self-made man in the best sense of the word, he began life lependent upon his own resources, and has unquestionably made of it a success. We find him located on a valuable homestead in Rock Township, comprising 320 acres of land, occupying a portion of sections 17 and 18, the dwelling being on the former.
The branch of the Marks family to which our subject belongs originated in Germany, and the first representative upon coming to America estab- lished himself, it is supposed, in the Old Dominion, where the paternal grandfather spent his last days. There also John Marks. the father of our subject, was born, and when a boy was pressed into the ser- vice when the British came up the Potomac, and made to do teaming for the American army. In 1824 he emigrated to Ohio, making the journey overland by team, and for a time operated on rented
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land in Perry County. Later he removed to Dela- ware County, where he purchased a small farin, upon which he lived a few years, then pushed on farther westward to Illinois. He spent his last days with his son Eli, our subject, dying in Grundy , County, Ill., at the age of eighty-two years. Ile was a Democrat, politically, and in his religions views coincided with the doctrines of the Baptist Church.
Mrs. Lydia (Mellen) Marks, the mother of our subject, was born and reared in Virginia on a farm and died in Perry County. Ohio, in 1826. The parental household included eight children, viz .: Mary, Elizabeth, Sarah, Nancy, Hannah, Thomas, Elisha and Eli. Our subjeet, the youngest born, first opened his eyes to the light in Londoun County, Va., Oet. 26, 1820. He was a child of four years when his parents removed to Ohio, where he spent his childhood and youth, acquiring his education during the winter season in the log school-house with its puncheon floor, seats and desks of slabs. and greased paper for window panes. Ile was taught to make himself usefnl on a farm at a very early age, and was fourteen years old when the family removed to Delaware County, where he re- mained until a man of twenty-five years, assisting in the development of the new farm.
At this time Mr. Marks commenced farming on his own account on rented land, and thus operated until 1850, when he purchased a tract in the forest, from which he felled the trees, grubbed out the stumps and prepared the soil for cultivation. He lived there nntil 1859, then resolved to seek his fortunes in the farther West. He set out over- land by team for Illinois, and in the vieinity of Morris, Grundy County, purchased eighty acres of land. This, however, he sold soon afterward and purchased 105 acres, where he lived until 1882. That year he crossed the Mississippi to this county, and purchased his present farm, which was only partly improved and for which he paid $19 per acre. He has built a large amount of fencing, set ont an orchard of 200 trees, including apples, cher- ries and peaches. and makes a specialty of fruit raising. He has several fine groves and a com- fortable dwelling,- together with all the necessary outbuildings for the accommodation of grain and
stock. Besides his own domicile there are two other houses on the farm, each comprising a little home by itself, with fruit trees and other comforts and conveniences. There is an abundance of running water furnished by Mosquito Creek, and a goodly area of native timber. Besides his fruit operations Mr. Marks is a successful breeder of graded Holstein cattle, Poland-China swine, and Percheron horses, of which he has three teams. lle rents a portion of his land.
The marriage of our subject with Miss Mary Irvin was celebrated at the bride's home in Dela- ware County, Ohio, March 28, 1847. Mrs. Marks was born in Licking County, that State, in March, 1827, and is the daughter of Richard Irvin, a prominent farmer of Delaware County. Of her union with our subject there have been born nine children, the eldest of whom, a son, Elisha, is the Postmaster and Justice of the Peace in Garrison, this State. Benjamin is the owner of 200 acres of land in Rock Township, where he operates success- fully as a farmer. Olvin died when abont two years old; Elizabeth is the wife of Leander Button, and is a resident of Beattie: Eliza J. is the widow of Nelson Wing, and makes her home with her parents; Lovina is the wife of James Bowman, of Beattie; Perry is farming in Rock Township; Almira is the wife of Frank James, a farmer of Rock Township; Charles and Irvin are at home with their parents. Mr. Marks is a strong Repub- lican, politically, and has been the Director in his school district for a number of years.
R. WILLIAM STRAYER. Occasionally we encounter a medical practitioner who makes an art and a science of his profes- sion, and labors with the worthy ambition to excel. Dr. Strayer has only been a resident of Axtell since February, 1887, but he has fully established himself in the esteem and confidence of the people. He removed to this place from Beattie, in September, 1882, during which year he had be- come a resident of this county. For two years prior to this he was traveling salesman for a New
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York Medical Library. Before associating himself with this concern he had practiced medicine at Royalton, Fairfield Co., Ohio, where he had spent the earlier years of his life. He was born at Roy- alton, Jan. 8. 1852, and lived there until attaining his majority.
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