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 77
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Thus for a period of almost twenty years Mr. and Mrs. Huber have been residents of this county, and have, by the uprightness and purity of their lives, merited and received the respect of those with whom they have been associated. To them there have been born ten children, two of whom died in infancy. The living are: Charles, John. Anton, Christian. Edward. Pauline, Joseph and Julia. They all reside in this county except Chris- tian, who lives in Salina. Kan. The three eldest boys and Pauline are married.
Mr. Huber, in matters political, is a supporter by word and vote of the Republican party, while in religious affairs be affiliates with the Catholic Church. toward the support of which he contrib- utes liberally. His wife and children are members of the Lutheran Church. Mr. Huber has been Township Treasurer, and also School Director, and endeavors in every way possible to raise the stand- ard of education, and promote the moral and social
condition of the county, where he is an honored resident.
We invite the attention of our many readers to the fine lithographic view of the handsome farm residence on Mr. Huber's place, to be found on another page of this work.
HILIP MILLER. Justice of the Peace in Richland Township, is also numbered among its practical and successful farmers, and prosecutes his chosen calling on ninety acres of land, occupying a part of sections 1, 3, and 9. He purchased the property in 1879, and re- moved to it the following year. It was destitute of improvements, and he set to work with charac- teristic energy to subdue the soil and build up a homestead. He made fences, planted fruit and shade trees, erected the necessary buildings, and is now with his family surrounded by all the comforts of life. As a man and a citizen he stands high in his community.
Mr. Miller is a native of Germany, and was born Sept. 15, 1850. When he was a lad of eight years his parents emigrated to America and settled in Burlington, Iowa, where his father, Erhard Miller, engaged in agricultural pursuits, and where Philip attained to man's estate. He had in the meantime assisted his father in the opening up of a farm, and remained a member of the parental household until twenty-four years of age. On the 20th of Decem- ber. 1878, he was united in marriage with Miss Laura Tanner, and settled with his young wife on a farm in Pawnee County, Neb .. to which he had gone sometime previously. Not being satisfied with his condition or his prospects, he in 1880, came to this county, of which he has since been a resident.
To Mr. and Mrs. Miller there have been born three children-Anna M .. Edwin and Frances. Mrs. Miller was born in Kentucky, in 1856, and when quite young came with her father, George Tanner. to the West and settled in Pawnee County. Neb .. where they were among the earliest pioneers. and where she lived until her marriage. Her par- ents were natives of Kentucky and are now de-
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ceased. The parents of our subject were of pure German stock. and reared a family of five children. The father died in Gage County, Neb .. March 14, 1876. The mother is still living and a resident of Holmsville, Neb.
OHN STEGELIN was born in Prussia July 22, 1840, being educated under the compul- sory laws of his country and serving an ap- prenticeship at farming. In the spring of 1869 he left Hamburg on the German steamship "Bornfir" for America, and after a voyage of thir- teen days landed at New York on the 19th of May. From the Empire City he came to Chicago. Ill., and thence to Marysville, iu this county. where he engaged himself as a farm hand for the summer. During this time he filed a claim for a homestead of 160 acres in the southeast quarter of section 9, Walnut Township. In payment for his summer's work he had some of his land plowed. and during the next winter built of cottonwood boards a house 14x16 feet in dimensions. He was married, &t Marysville, Dec. 6, 1869, to Emma. daughter of John and Mary ( Arthur) Frances, and moved into his humble home. He has at various times repaired and added to the original house until now it pre- sents a very different appearance to the external view, and in its internal arrangements is very com- fortable and quite adequate to the needs of his growing family. The farm now consists of 240 acres, all but fifty of which are under thorough cultivation. He has 130 fine fruit trees, which pro- duces an abundant supply of fruit. The orchard and house are enclosed by a neatly trimmed hedge, and the entire east line of his farm, together with a part of the southern boundary is also marked by a fine hedge. He has a good barn and other farm buildings, altogether making up a farm home of very attractive appearance, and all the result of the industry of himself and wife.
Our subject's father, James, and mother, Char- lotte ( Wichman) Stegelin, were natives of Prussia. the mother of Swedish ancestry and the father of old Prussian stock. The ancestors of both. with
themselves and family were members of the Luth- eran Church.
Mrs. Stegelin was born in Lawrence County, Ohio, of which State her parents were also natives. The family removed to Vigo County, Ind., in 1856. and there the father died. The mother with a fam- ily of six children, removed to this county, where she still lives. She is a member of the Baptist Church. Mrs. Stegelin has borne her husband three sons and one daughter, named respectively, John W., Edward, Sylvia and Arthur F.
Mr. Stegelin is a man of fine moral principles. intelligent, energetic and of genial manners, hold- ing a high rank in the esteem of his neighbors and fellow-citizens.
ENRY C. HORR. Prominent among the business houses of Frankfort, is the general merchandising establishment which bears the firm name of O. C. Horr & Sons, and in which the subject of this sketch is now senior partner. The firm carries on business in an elegant two-story stone edifice. with plate glass front, the main portion of which occupies a space of 38x100 feet, and the two additions being 15x80 and 20x30. The buildings represent an outlay of $12,- 000, and contain a stock costing over 825,000. The latter consists of dry goods, boots and shoes, bats and caps. gentlemen's furnishing goods and groeer- ies. The establishment is in a very prosperous condition. and the members of the firm, H. C. and T. C. Horr, both of whom are popular as business men and citizens, are proving themselves worthy successors of their honored father, whose name is still retained by the firm.
The grandfather of our subject was Robert Horr, a general merchant in Boston, and also in Me- elanicsburg, Ohio. As the name indicates, he was of English aneestry. During the war of 1812 he was Colonel of a New York regiment, which served in the campaign against the British in Lower Canada. During the later years of his life he lived at Danville, Ill., and was engaged in the stoek busi- ness. His son. O. C. Horr, father of our subject,
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was a native of Lewis County, N. Y., and was but twelve years of age when his father removed to Illinois. When but sixteen years old he began life for himself, by engaging as a drug clerk with Dr. Fithian, in Danville, and continned in that employ- ment for two years. lle next engaged in the stock business, driving cattle and horses to Cincinnati, which was at that time the great stock market of the West. After two or three years spent in this way, he turned his face westward, arriving in St. Joseph, Mo., in 1837. After remaining a short time, prospecting with a view to locating, he went back to Illinois. He soon returned to Missouri, however, and located at Platte City, Platte County. Shortly after settling there, he secured a contract for outfitting Government trains, preparatory to journeys over the almost unexplored wilderness west of the Missouri, and he also engaged in freighting. At that time Ft. Leavenworth was an important frontier military post, and Mr. Horr's business brought him into familiar contact with Gen. Leavenworth, Col. Doniphan. Gen. Atchison, and other leading military men and civilians of the then Far West.
During his residence at Platte City, in July, 1847, O. C. Horr was married to Elizabeth Jane. daughter of T. O. Rader. She was a native of Pennsylvania, and of Pennsylvania Dutch deseent. In 1856 he moved to Atehison, where he continued in the business of outfitting Government trains. and also furnished emigrant outfits. After a so- journ of four years he came to the then recently established town of Marysville, now the county seat of this county. He was one of the earliest and most prominent business men of the place, in which he remained until 1868. At that time he trans- ferred his business of general merchandising to Frankfort. He began business in a frame building, where the State bank is now situated. It was a one-story structure, 22x80 feet. After a year spent in that location he erected a frame building 20x60. on the site now occupied by his sons, and in 1887 that edifice gave way to the present beautiful build- ing. lle continued to reside in Frankfort until his death. which took place Aug. 7, 1887. at the age of seventy-four. llis widow still survives him. Mr. Horr was a very successful man, and during
his life maintained a high reputation for upright- ness, integrity, and honorable business methods. His prosperity was the result of his own efforts and good judgment. lle was a Mason and an Odd Fellow. a member of the School Board, and was Postmaster of Frankfort during the latter part of Johnson's administration, and all of Grant's first term. He was prominently identified with every enterprise calculated to advance the interests of the city.
Mr. and Mrs. O. C. Horr were the parents of seven children. The two eldest are members of the firm before alluded to. Anrelia M. is single, and lives with her mother; Elizabeth J. is the wife of W. W. Lane, a salesman in the dry-goods estab- lishment of D. C. Newcomb, at Atehison, Kan .; Lillian E. is the wife of T. H. Lainhart, a merchant in Albany, Mo .; Orwell S. is unmarried, and re- rides in Frankfort, participating in the business of the firm; Adell is single, and living at home.
Henry C. Horr, the subject of this sketch, was born in Platte County, Mo., Sept. 14, 1848. His boyhood and youth were passed in Platte City. and Atchison, Kan., in the common schools of which he received the greater part of his educa- tion. After his parents' removal to Maryville. this county, he finished the Iligh School course in that place. It might almost be said of him that he was raised behind the counter, as he early began assisting his father in the store. When he was twenty years of age his father gave him and his brother, Thomas C .. each a share in the business. In that year (1868) they adopted the firm name under which the business is still continued. On Jan. 23, 1877, the marriage of our subject took place, the bride being Amanda E., danghter of Amos and Harriett (Wolf) Flin. (See sketch of Amos Flin, which occupies another page in this ALBUM). The young lady was a native of the lloosier State, where she first saw the light June 19, 1854. She is a consistent member of the Presbyte- rian Church.
Thomas C. Horr, brother and partner of our sub- ject, was born in Platte City, Mo .. Oct. 22. 1849. and his boyhood and youthful history is similar to that of llenry C. In Frankfort, June 22. 1873, he celebrated his marriage to Ella, daughter of T. J.
hrm thompson
Mary J Thompson
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and Mary E. Snodgrass. The bride was born in Ohio, Aug. 26, 1856. To Mr. and Mrs. T. C. Horr have been born two children. The parents are members of the Presbyterian Church.
Both the present members of the firm are to be found in the ranks of the Republican party. They are gentlemen of courteous address and cordial manner, of excellent business habits. prudent yet liberal. and stand high in the regard of their fel- low-citizens.
W ILLIAM THOMPSON. The people of Blue Rapids City and vicinity, regard Mr. Thompson with warm interest as being the oldest settler now living within Blue Rapids City Township. He came to Northern Kansas in 1858, arriving in this county on the 4th of March, and on the following day located a claim on section 20, a part of it comprising the present site of North Blue Rapids. At the time of his settlement here, there were but a few families in this part of the county. The widow Oliver and her son William lived on Fawn Creek, now in Waterville Township. Thomas C. Palmer lived on section 19. Sterns Ostrander was located on Coon Creek, one and a half miles from where Waterville now stands, and his nearest neighbors were the Ship family, below Game Fork, south of the present village of Irving. With the exception of Thomas Ship, who lives in Waterville Township, all passed to rest many years ago.
Mr. Thompson was born in Crispin County, Ky., April 3, 1809, and in December. 1824, removed to Hamilton County, Ill. He was left fatherless at the age of three years, and as soon as old enough was obliged to make his own way in the world. His three elder brothers had emigrated to Illinois. and when he had reached the age of fifteen years hie prevailed upon his mother to allow him to fol- low them. He sojourned in Hamilton County one winter, and the following spring joined his brothers in Madison County, Ill., where he remained until 1832. In the meantime, in the fall of 1825, he was joined by his mother, with whom, in 1832, he re-
moved to Rock Island, and worked at wheelwright- ing, millwrighting and chairmaking until 1845. During this time he was married and his mother had died. In the year mentioned he removed to Richland County, Wis., where he built a mill and operated it until 1857. Then selling out, he re- moved to Kansas Territory, thus having been a pioneer in one new State and two Territories.
Upon coming to Kansas to look for a location, Mr. Thompson was accompanied by his son-in-law, Jackson Taylor. Their outfit consisted of two horses and a covered wagon, in which they carried provisions for themselves and their team. They crossed the Missouri at Atchison, this then being considered but a trading village, and notwithstand- ing offers of land and lots elsewhere, continued on to the Blue River, where Mr. Thompson had de- termined to settle, his objective point being Marys- ville. On the 4th of March they reached that place, then consisting of two log houses, one of them being an outfitting store for parties making the overland trip, and in it, he says, there was plenty of whisky and tobacco to be had, likewise plenty of customers for both.
A council of the stockholders of Palmetto Town- ship, as Marysville was then called, was in session, and great efforts were being made to induce the emigrants to settle there. One man, Bill Oliver, so eloquently set forth the beauties of Marble Falls, as he called the Blue Rapids, that Mr. Thompson and his partner decided to investigate that section of country. The next day at noon they arrived at a house situated near the banks of the Little Blue, and Thomas C. Palmer, who lived there and ope- rated a farm, walked with them to a place where they found a spring of excellent water. There Mr. Thompson drove his claim-stake, and there he yet owns a farm of 100 acres, which has since been in his possession. The following day, Sunday, he walked with a neighbor for a considerable distance, to see if a more desirable location was possible, but concluded he could do no better, and the very next day began preparations for building his house. ITis companion, Mr. Taylor, took up a claim on the east side of the Blue.
When he had decided to remove to Kansas, Mr. Thompson and Mr. Taylor, who had married his
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eldest daughter, journeyed as far as Sugar Lake, Mo., five miles from Atchison, where they wintered. As soon, therefore, as they had selected their claims they returned to Missouri; Taylor and a part of the family at once came back to " squat" on the claims, but Mr. Thompson in the meantime went to Wisconsin to settle up his business there. Upon his return he found that his claim had been " jumped," but he went ahead and put up his cabin regardless of that, filed his claim, and had no further trouble. llis house was then in the height of fashion in those parts. mother earth furnishing the only floor. He went to work with a will, plow- ing and planting, and within a short time had a fine vegetable garden, setting before visitors from Marysville on June 24, three months after settle- ment, a dinner which included vegetables raised on his own land.
That log cabin was the dwelling of Mr. Thomp- son until 1866, when he built a frame house into which he removed, making it his home until it was destroyed by fire in October, 1880; that fall and the following spring Mr. Thompson was employed in building the house which was his home up to the time he accepted the position of Postmaster of Blue Rapids, in 1885, and there be again expected to make his home and to end his days. In the time he has lived in Kansas he has seen great changes. The country was then but a wilderness and unsettled, with deer and antelope thick among the hills. Not a fence had been built in the county. except, possibly, what was called a "shanghai " fence. The only houses were log cabins, and vil- lages and cities were things of the future.
Our subject, by an unfortunate accident, lost the use of his left arm permanently and almost com- pletely. In the spring of 1866, in company with Andrew Scott, James Hynes, his son. Joel Henry, and three others, he started for the west side of the Republican River on a buffalo hunt. They had reached Clifton, situated on the south line of Wash- ington County, when it was reported that a party of six men, who were out on a similar errand, had overstayed the time when they were expected to return, and it was feared they had met with hos- tile Indians. Mr. Thompson's party went on their way to the hunting grounds, intending to look
for the missing men. They soon met a party of friendly Otoes. who had been driven in by a band of hostile Cheyennes. The Otoes joined forces with the white inen and all turned back. Next day they were overtaken by a party out hunt- ing for the missing men, and Mr. Thompson, with his companions, joined in the search.
Finding no trace of those for whom they were looking, Mr. Thompson and his party soon reached the hunting grounds, and killed enough game to furnish the requisite supply of meat. ['pon join- ing the other party and learning that the Cheyennes were coming that way on the war path, they hur- riedly made preparations to return home. Mr. Thompson was sitting on a pile of dry buffalo meat, and his son was endeavoring to draw his gun out of its covering, when the weapon was accidentally discharged, and the load entering Mr. Thompson's left arm tore away the sinews above the elbow and lacerated the flesh in a dreadful manner. Since then he has had the complete use of but one finger of his left hand, and only the partial use of his arm. This was a great, drawhack to the hardy pioneer, upon the labor of whose hands so much depended, but he made the best of circumstances. and has ac- complished much during his long and useful life. It may be mentioned here, that the men whom they sought in vain were afterward found, murdered.
One incident of the early career of Mr. Thomp- son occurred in 1831. While a resident of Madison County, Ill., he enlisted as a soldier in the Black Hawk War, but the troubles were brought to a tem- porary settlement before he was permitted to go into active service. Upon the outbreak of hostili- ties the following year he re-enlisted, and served as a scout until the surrender of Black Hawk, and the close of the war.
On the Ist of April, 1838, Mr. Thompson was married in Rock Island County, 111., to Miss Mary Jane Ohlhausen. This lady was born Dec. 4, 1821, in Lynchburg. Campbell Co., Va., where her par- ents had emigrated from Germany. The father died in Lynchburg, Oct. 3. 1825, and her mother subsequently came to Kansas and died on the farm of Mr. Thompson. July 11, 1867, in her seventy- eighth year. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson are the parents of eight children. all living: Julia, the wife
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of Jackson Taylor, is a resident of Independence Mo .; Levy A. is the wife of A. J. Palmer. a farmer of Waterville Township, this eounty ; Emma mar- ried William H. Lee, a farmer of Blue Rapids City Township; Joel Henry is a farmer and carpenter and a resident of Cottage Hill Township; Mary J. is the wife of W. R. Moore, a farmer of Colorado; William H. is farming in Blue Rapids City Town- ship; Margaret I. is the wife of Charles Lee, a butcher in the city of Blue Rapids; Inez II. is un- married and lives with her parents.
Mr. Thompson has always taken a warm interest in the affairs of his community. While in Illinois he served as Constable in Madison County, and later he was the Deputy Sheriff of Rock Island County, and Constable there also for two years. In Wisconsin he was elected Assessor of Richland County, and for five or six years he served as Jus- tice of the Peace. Ile was also elected to that office during a temporary residence in Missouri. In 1855 he was appointed Postmaster at Ashland. Wis., under the administration of President Pieree, holding the position until he came to Kansas. In this county he was chosen Township Clerk at the first election held within its limits. The following year be was made Probate Judge, which office he held until the Territory became a State. His next office was Justiee of the Peace of Blue Rapids Township, which he held for two years, being at the same time Township Trustee. He was also the first Postmaster of Blue Rapids, and the third in the county.
After a short interval Mr. Thompson was elected Trustee, and in 1885 was appointed Postmaster under President Cleveland's administration, dis- charging the duties of the office for four years. In every position to which he has been called, he has discharged the duties entrusted to him in a manner creditable to himself and satisfactory to the people. One of the most pleasing events of his life occurred on the 1st of April, 1888, when he and his estimable wife celebrated the fiftieth an- niversary of their wedding-a golden wedding which was attended by a large number of their descendants. It is hardly necessary to say that it was an oeeasion greatly enjoyed by all concerned, and in which the venerable pair were tendered
many wishes for their continued health and happi- ness. They are not only among the oldest, but are also among the most highly respected people of this county. In noting the career of those men and women who ventured upon the frontier in ad- vance of civilization, the pioneers, William Thomp- son and his estimable wife, deserve to be placed in the front rank, and it is therefore fitting to perpet- uate their features by presenting their portraits to the citizens of Marshall County, through the me- dium of the ALBUM.
OHN M. WINTER, residing on section 32, Wells Township, has been a resident there since 1872. He is the possessor of 400 aeres of land, all under excellent cultivation, and has been the pioneer in his neighborhood, in the introduction of thoroughbred stock of all kinds, except horses, and also improved varieties of grains. He now keeps thoroughbred Hereford cattle, and Poland-China hogs, and is engaged in stock-raising and general farming.
Mr. Winter was born in Washington County, N. Y., May 21, 1832, and is a son of Moses and Abigail Winter. His father was a native of Mas- sachusetts, and his mother of Vermont. Both his grandfathers were members of the Continental army during the Revolutionary War, and his maternal grandfather also took part in the War of 1812. Our subject was but young when his parents re- moved to Warren County, N. Y., and he was reared on the shores of Lake George. He received his early education in the public schools of Warren County, and later attended the State Normal School at Albany. He subsequently attended and was graduated from V. M. Rice's Commercial Col- lege, at Buffalo, N. Y. He accepted a position as bookkeeper for the wholesale lumber firm of I. S. & L. G. Newton, of Buffalo, and retained the situa- tion some sixteen years.
In 1856 our subject was united in marriage with Sarah B. Goodman, a native of the Empire State, and a daughter of Samuel C. and Lovice Goodman,
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of Warren County. To Mr. and Mrs. Winter have been born three children-Nancy, Burton M. and Catlin G. From New York State, Mr. Winter re- moved, in 1872. as before stated, to this county. Ile selected the southern part of Wells Township as his location, and there homesteaded eighty acres of land. A few acres of the land had been broken, and there was a cabin on it. From that rude be- ginning has grown his present estate.
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