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 78
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96
Mr. Winter is a Republican, and during his resi- dence in the East took considerable interest in polit- ical matters. He served for several years as Clerk of the 8th Ward Republican Club, of Buffalo, and was quite active in the political work of the ward. Ilaving been residents of the county for nearly a score of years, Mr. and Mrs. Winter have not only participated in its development, but have witnessed much of the labor which has made it a standing monument to the energy and perseverance of its pioneer settlers. Mr. Winter is upright and hon- orable in his dealings, and is held in high repute among the citizens of the county.
ENRY C. FOLLETT. It is conceded that Mr. Follett is the owner of one of the best farms in Walnut Township, and one which is conspicuous among the many fine home- steads of the entire county. He has been a resident here since the fall of 1869, when he purchased a tract of wild land, and in the spring of 1870 home- steaded eighty acres, and purchased eighty acres additional, the two lying on sections 22 and 27, the dwelling and its appurtenances being on section 22. The residence is a neat and substantial building. while there is a good barn and all the other neces- sary structures for the storage of grain and the shelter of stock. The land is devoted to general agriculture and pasturage, and reflects great credit upon the proprietor. There is a goodly assortment of live stock, including some very fine Clydesdale horses.
The subject of this notice was born March 18, 1845, in Williams County, Ohio, and lived there until 1863. During this year the Civil War being
in progress. he enlisted in Company II, 38th Ohio Infantry, in which he served as a private until the close. lle participated in many active engage- ments, was at Missionary Ridge. Buzzard's Roost. Big Shanty and Jonesboro. At the latter place he was taken ill of the typhoid fever, and suffered therefrom about two months. being confined in the hospital first at Nashville and later at Camp Deni- son. In the the meantime his company rested at Atlanta, and upon recovering strength he joined them in Chattanooga, whence they went with Sher- man on his march to the sea. After the surrender of Lee at Appomattox, our subject with his com- rades went up through the Carolinas to Washing- ton where he was present at the Grand Review, and later received his honorable discharge July 12, 1865. at Louisville, Ky.
In the meantime, while Mr. Follett was in the army, his parents, Robert and Julia A. (Turner) Follett, removed to Doniphan County, this State. Henry C. after visiting his friends and relatives in his native county, joined his parents in this State, and here took up his abode. Ile was married Jan. 16, 1868. to Miss Aure E., daughter of Louis and Julia (Carr) Rose. Mrs. Follett was born in the town of Bryant, Williams Co., Ohio, July 5, 1850. Her union with our subject has resulted in the birth of three children-William H., Louis E. and Florence Mabel.
The parents of our subject were natives of Mas- sachusetts, whence they emigrated to Ohio at an early day, prior to their marriage. They died in Doniphan County, this State, each having attained to the ripe old age of eighty-five years. Mrs. Fol- lett's father was a native of New Jersey, while ber mother was born in Dayton, Ohio. Her father died in Ohio, during the month of February. 1865, but her mother is still living, and makes her home in Blue Rapids this county. While Mr. Follett probably has not been the hero of any thrilling event, he is fulfilling the duties of an honest man and a good citizen, and is a uniform encour- ager of the various enterprises set on foot for the good of the community. In politics, he is a stanch supporter of the Republican party. His well-tilled fields yield him a comfortable income, and his chief interests are centered in his family and his farm.
RESIDENCE OF H. C. FOLLETT, SEC. 22. WALNUT TOWNSHIP.
Yd
-
RESIDENCE OF NICHOLAS KOPPES, SEC.17. MARYSVILLE TONWSHIP.
609
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
He may be properly named as a representative cit- izen, worthy of mention in a work designed to perpetuate the names of men who have been in- strumental in developing the best resources of Marshall County. A fine engraving of the home- stead of Mr. Follett appears on another page of this volume, and is a good representation of one of Marshall County's most cultured homes.
ICHOLAS KOPPES. Marysville Township has no more worthy citizen than the subject of this notice, who is widely and favorably known to the people as one of the early residents of the township and one who assisted largely in its growth and development. The surroundings on his homestead are indicative of intelligence and in- dustry, the chief object of interest being a hand- some modern residence with the buildings adjacent calculated for the successful prosecution of agri- culture. Mr. Koppes is a man prompt to meet his obligations, is serupulously honest and one whose word is considered as good as his bond. Not the least among his excellent qualities is his uniform support of the principles of the Republican party. Ile is in favor of education, morality and all those elements which tend to build up the community socially and financially, and is universally respected for his uprightness of life and consistent character.
Our subject was born June 11, 1833, in what was then the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg, Germany, and lived in the Fatherland until about fourteen years of age; then going to France he worked on a farm about seven years. At the expiration of this time, in March 1854, he set out for America on a sailing- vessel and landing in the city of New York, pro- ceeded in the latter part of June to Chicago, Ill., and thence two or three days afterward repaired to Port Washington, Wis .. remaining in that vicin- ity about two years. In the fall of 1855 he went to New Orleans, but finding no employment re- turned as far as Vicksburg, where he sojourned un- til the following February. In March, 1856, he came up the Mississippi to St. Louis, Mo., and thence by the Missouri to Leavenworth and at that
point set out on foot for this county, halting near the present site of Marysville. For six weeks thereafter he was employed by Mr. Marshall on a farm, then returning to Wisconsin via St. Louis, for two months was employed in a harvest field near Kenosha. Afterward he went into Ozaukee County, that State, and remained until the spring of 1859.
We next find our subject upon Lake Superior in the copper mines, where he was employed about three months, and later he drove a team for a con- tractor for about nine months. About that time he once more struck out for this county, and near the hamlet of Marysville, was in the employ of dif- ferent individuals until after the outbreak of the Civil War. In July, 1862, he enlisted as a Union soldier in Company E, 13th Kansas Infantry, for the three years' service. He participated in many of the important battles which followed, namely, Pea Ridge, Prairie Grove, Forts Smith and Van Buren, as a member of the 7th Army Corps. With the exception of being thrown from a mule which he was riding rapidly, he escaped injury, and received his honorable discharge at the close of the war, being mustered out at Leavenworth. The German soldiery did most efficient service in assist- ing to preserve the Union and to them their adopted country owes a weighty debt of gratitude. Mr Koppes was in no wise behind his countrymen in performing his duty during this conflict, and his war record is one of which he has reason to be proud.
Upon leaving the army our subject returned to this county and in the fall of 1865 took up a homestead of 160 acres in Marysville Township. Ile first put up a small cabin, which in a few years was abandoned for a frame house, and he occupied the latter with his family until 1885. That year he erected his present residence, which is con- ceded to be one of the finest in the township and which is represented elsewhere in the ALBUM by a lithographie engraving. It is faultless in point of architecture and fitted up with modern conve- niences, while the interior decorations indicate in a marked degree the exercise of cultivated tastes and ample means.
Mr. Koppes from year to year invested his sur-
610
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
plus capital in additional land, until he is now the owner of 380 acres which, having been brought to a fine state of cultivation, is devoted to general farming and stock-raising. The toils and struggles of his earlier years have been richly rewarded and he has an ample competenee for his old age.
Our subject was married in Ozaukee County, Wis., Sept. 28, 1865. to Miss IIelena Klas, a native of the kingdom of Prussia and born on the line be- tween Luxemberg and the latter. Feb. 18, 1844. She lived there with her parents until about ten or eleven years of age, and then the family, consisting of the parents. two daughters and a son, emigrated to America. They landed in New York City, whence they proceeded to Wisconsin, where Miss Helena made the acquaintance of her future hus- band. They became the parents of the following children, namely. Nicholas, George S., Mary A., Margaret. Lizzie F., Jacob F. and Katie F. The latter died when about two years old.
As an ex-soldier of the Union Mr. Koppes is identified with the G.A.R., and with his excellent wife and their children, is a member in good stand- ' ing of the German Catholic Church, attending ser- vices at Marysville.
ACOB H. BARLOW. This gentleman has made his home in Blue Rapids, since Aug. 10,1872, on which day he first arrived there. He is a native of Fairfax County, Va., born Sept. 3, 1846, his parents being James P. and Maria L. (Haight) Barlow. They were of English de- scent, and the great-grandfather of our subject lived and died in Dover. Dutchess Co., N. Y., where his son, Elisha, grandfather of our subject, was born, over 100 years ago. Elisha Barlow was a farmer during his entire lifetime. IIe was married to Charlotte Palmer, a native of Westchester County, N. Y., who was somewhat younger than her husband, and who died at their New York home in 1866, aged over eighty years. Her hus- band died some years prior to the date of her own death. They were plain people, well-to-do for their station in life. and were looked upon as good,
substantial citizens. They, like their ancestors, were members of the Society of Friends. They had four sons and four daughters, the eldest but one "being James P., the father of our subject.
James P. Barlow was born in Dutchess County, N. Y., June 15. 1813, In his youth he was a clerk in a mercantile establishment in Buffalo, remaining there several years. and gaining an insight into the wholesale grocery business. Later "he went to New York City, and there entered into the same business, in which he remained engaged for a number of years. During his residence in New York he was married, and his wife's father having removed to Chantilly. Fairfax Co., Va., they determined to fol- low him. Mrs. Barlow's father had purchased a large estate of 750 acres. formerly owned by Rich- ard Bland Lee, and on this place Mr. Barlow and his wife lived. At the death of her father, Mrs. Barlow inherited half of the estate, on which she continued to make her home until the fall of 1869. They then sold all but a small part of the estate, on which Mr. Barlow built a mill. This he operated until 1873, at which time they determined to make their home in Blue Rapids, this county, with our subjeet, who was their only child. This they did, and here Mr. Barlow died on April 14, 1879, being then nearly sixty-six years of age. He was a man of marked honesty and uprightness of character, a snecessful farmer, although not brought up to that occupation, and an excellent man of business. Ilis trustworthiness made him many friends, by whom he was greatly respected and esteemed, and he in a marked degree inherited the sterling qualities which have been characteristics of members of the Soci- ety of Friends.
James P. Barlow was married Oct. 5, 1839, to Miss Maria L. Haight, who was born in Dutchess County, N. Y., March 11, 1819. Her parents were Jacob and Amy (Clement) Haight, the one born in Dutchess County, and the other on Long Island. The Haight family had been among the earliest set- tlers of the county, to which they had come from Long Island, and had been members of the Society of Friends for many generations, being counted among the early followers of George Fox. Mrs. Haight was likewise of the Society of Friends, and her daughter, Mrs. Barlow, yet retains her birth-
611
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
right among them. They were the parents of four children, one son, Dr. Charles Haight, still living in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., at the age of eighty-four years. James P. Barlow and wife had but one child, our subject, with whom his mother makes her home in Blue Rapids.
Jacob H. Barlow, the gentleman of whom we write, was brought up on the Virginia farm, where he lived until the outbreak of the late war. He re- !
ceived his education in the schools of his native county and a noted institution in Loudoun County, which was under the charge of the Society of Friends, by whom it had been founded, and in a select school in Norristown, Pa. During the war he was employed in the Government shops at Alexandria, and on the military railroads in Vir- ginia, remaining in that employment nearly three years. After the war he returned to the farm in Virginia, and there worked on a sawmill with his uncle, in connection with the farm. After the sale of the farm, he went into the milling business, which he carried on until he came to Kansas.
Our subject came to Blue Rapids to take an in- terest in a woolen factory, then just getting ready to start in that place, in which he helped to place most of the machinery. This mill did not prove a success, and Mr. Barlow, after a connection with it of over four years, retired a poorer man than when he engaged in the enterprise. He next worked for several years at various employments, and in the spring of 1886, in connection with Har- land McGrew, he bought the mill property on the west side of the river at Blue Rapids. This they ran as a custom mill, under the firm name of Bar- low & MeGrew, until the fall of the same year, when Messrs. M. L. Duncan and David H. Miller each purchased a quarter interest in the mill, which was then operated under the firm name of Barlow, McGrew & Co. In the fall of 1889, Mr. McGrew sold his interest to Mr. Dunean, the firm name being changed to M. L. Dunean & Co., under which it is now carried on. Below will be found a short sketch of the mill and its business.
When Mr. Barlow first came to Blue Rapids, he bought the lot on which his house now stands. It was then but a piece of bare prairie, without a tree or shrub on it, and the large trees and shrubbery
with which it is now beautifully shaded, were all set out by himself and wife. The large and comfort- able home was built in 1887, and is in a sightly loca- tion on an elevation close to the river.
In Washington, D. C., Sept. 13, 1870, Mr. Bar- low was united in marriage with Mrs. Nettie Barnes, whose maiden name was Shear, the ceremony being performed by the Rev. Dr. Tustin, who had been Chaplain of the United States Senate for many years. Mrs. Barlow was born in Seneca County, N. Y., May 13, 1844. Her parents were Peter and lIenrietta (Wilkins) Shear, both natives of the Empire State, the father born in Albany County, and the mother in Greene County. Her father is a farmer and cattle dealer, and is yet living on the old home in Seneca County. His wife died when Mrs. Barlow was an infant. These people were likewise Friends, and Mrs. Barlow was reared in their faith, attending meeting with her grandfather. with whom she lived after her mother's death. By her first marriage, Mrs. Barlow had one child- Gertrude A. Barnes, who makes her home with her mother. Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Barlow have one child, named J. Carroll.
Our subject is a member of the Presbyterian Church. He is no politician, and has never held any public office, but votes the Democratic ticket. As a man of integrity and uprightness, he stands high in the community, and in every relation of life he bears an excellent reputation.
THE GEM CITY ROLLING MILL was origi- nally built for a paper mill in 1873, and was rebuilt and refitted as a full roller flour mill in 1886-7. Our subject and his partners began operations there in March, 1887. The mill is situated on the north side of the Blue and is run by a magnificent water power, which supplies all the mills in that place, on both sides of the river, and which is capable of running many more, and will in time undoubtedly be fully used. The firm name is M. L. Duncan & Co., the partners being M. L. Duncan, Jacob H. Barlow and David H. Miller. They use the centri- fugal system, and the mill with a capacity of 100 barrels in twenty-four hours, is run day and night. They also use two runs of burrs for meal, with the
612
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
usual capacity of thirty barrels of bolted meal or 120 bushels of corn per day, sometimes, however, grinding much more. They also. of course. mann- facture buekwheat flour, bran and other mill prod- ucts. They make three grades of flour, known as "Our Best," "Straight" and "Good Luck," which are well known in this part of the country, nearly all they can make being consumed in local trade. Whatever they can manufacture above the home demand is shipped to Kansas City and elsewhere.
-
G EORGE W. MOFFITT. The subject of this sketch settled on a farm in Wells Town- ship, in October, 1870, having removed from St. Louis, Mo., a few months previous with his family. He is the father of six children, one son and five daugthers, named Charlotte, John Jar- dine, Martha, Minnie, Lizzie and Georgia. His son and the three eldest daughters are married, and are settled within the neighborhood of the pa- ternal homestead.
Our subject was born near Harrisburg, Pa., July 5. 1833. When about three years of age his par- ents emigrated to Canton, Ohio, where his father entered the Pittsburg Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as a minister, and from that event on. his youth was passed as became an itiner- ant minister's child. About the year 1846 his father bought a residence in the suburbs of Cadiz, Ohio. His early education was pursued in the pub- lic schools. with a two years course at Bethany Col- lege. Bethany, Va. He was married Feb. 15. 1854, in Cadiz, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of William and Phoebe Barrett. She was a graduate of Pleasant Hill Seminary, in West Middletown, Pa., and of Quaker origin, her grandparents having been Quakers who emigrated from Eastern Virginia about the year 1800, and settled in llarrison County, Ohio, where they lived and died. Her father was a prom- inent and successful politician in Harrison County, along in the forties.
Our subject is the eldest of a family of seven sons. His father, the Rev. John Jardine Moffitt, 1).D., was born in Trenton, N. J., in 1810, llis . where he has since resided,
paternal grandfather was a Scotchman, who came to America at an early day, settling in Trenton. His mother, Charlotte (Epley ) Moffitt, was of Ger- man deseent, born in Danphin County. near Har- risburg, Pa., in the year 1810.
W ILLIAM H. ELLIOTT. Lying on seetion 18, Franklin Township, are 127 acres of fertile land, upon which is the home of the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He is one of the enterprising farmers of the township, having since his residence here, brought his farm to a good state of cultivation, erected good build- ings and made for himself a comfortable home.
Mr. Elliott was the sixth in a family of nine chil- dren, six of whom grew to maturity, and five of whom are now living, three sons and two daugh- ters. Ile was born in Bradford County, Pa., May 23, 1831. (For history of his parents see sketch of J. M. Elliott, which occupies another page in this volume.) He grew to manhood in his native county. but at the age of twenty-three came to Ogle County, Ill., where he engaged in farming. After five years' residence there, he returned to his native State and county.
Animated by the spirit of patriotism which in- duced thousands of his countrymen to leave their homes for fields of battle, in October, 1862, Mr. Elliott laid aside the peaceful implements of the farmer to take up arms in this country's defense. Ile was enrolled in Company D. 17th Regiment Pennsylvania Cavalry, and served faithfully until the elose of the war. While engaged in a raid near the Rappahannock River, he was taken prisoner by Stuart's Cavalry, and held ten days. He was then paroled, and as soon as he could be exchanged, again joined his regiment. He escaped without he- ing seriously wounded, though his health and hear- ing were greatly impaired while in the service. At the conclusion of the war he received an honorable discharge, and returned to his native county, where he remained until the spring of 1869; then coming to Marshall County. Kan., he settled upon the farm
RESIDENCE OF WM. H. ELLIOTT, SEC . 18 . FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP.
RESIDENCE OF G. STAUSS, SEC: 26& 35, MARYSVILLE TOWNSHIP.
615
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
Although formerly a Democrat, Mr. Elliott is at present an advocate of the principles of the Union Labor party. He is a member of Lyons Post No. 9, G. A. R. Mr. Elliott is a man of worth. per- forming all the duties of the honorable and reliable citizen, with the exception of having remained a single man. A fine lithographie view of the farm and residence of Mr. Elliott, drawn by our special artist, is shown elsewhere in this work.
G USTAVE STAUSS. This gentleman belongs to that constantly growing class of retired farmers, who are permitted to enjoy the fruits of their early labors in a quiet way. In a neat brick cottage on Elm street, Marysville. sur- rounded by a large. pleasant lawn, Mr. Stauss lives quietly and comfortably. He is one of the promi- nent Germans of this county who have amassed a competency.
Mr. Stauss was born in Germany, Aug. 7, 1825, and there lived until thirty years of age. Ile mar- ried Miss Minnie Engle, Sept. 29, 1851, in the city of New Trebben, Germany. He early learned the blacksmith trade and has followed it since coming to America. In 1855. in company with his wife and two children. August and Augusta, he came to Mil- waukee. Wis., and there remained for three years. In this city his sons, Charles and Henry, were born. The family came to Brown County, Kan., in 1858, settling in Hiawatha, and a year later located in Marshall County, where they have since resided.
Mr. Stauss worked as a mechanic until 1870, when he bought a fine farm of 440 aeres, erecting extensive buildings upon it, including a fine stone house (a view of which appears in this volume), a good barn, and corn-cribs which will hold 8,000 bushels. In addition he has made the usual improve- ments of the enterprising farmer, including a fine windmill. Mr. Stauss has accomplished all this under serious disadvantages, as in 1862 he lost what he had through a severe illness. For twenty- two years the farm was his home.
Mr. Stauss is the oldest man now living who set- tled on the present site of Marysville. At the time
of his arrival but one log house stood where is now a thriving city, and the only habitation on the Blue was a small dugout. Ile first took up a little claim on the Blue River,and there the entire family became ill and Mr. Stauss was unable to work until 1862; fort- unately he had retained his tools and was thus ena- abled to open a little blacksmith shop on his farm, and in that manner managed to live. It is impos- sible to relate the sufferings endured by this brave pioneer family. They were obliged to go to Table Rock for wheat flour and to the Missouri River for the necessities of life. In 1861 Mr. Stauss planted thirty-five acres, but did not harvest sufficient pro- duce for one meal. During the same year he lost his last horse and ox. When he had corn to sell it brought but ten cents a bushel, and other products were sold equally low. However, Mr. Stauss man- aged to rise above disaster, and with an improve- ment in the general condition of the country, success rewarded his efforts and he finally attained to independence and prosperity. He has not only a fine home on the farm but a pleasant one in the city.
Mr. Stauss voted at the first election wherein Marysville was proposed for the county seat, and for all of the county officers, and has been present at every election since, contributing his quota to- ward upbuilding Marysville and Marshall County. He was the first settler on the prairie who improved his claim. In politics he is an adherent of the Republican party, but he is not an office-seeker, generally voting for the candidate whom he thinks the best qualified for the position. He is a member of the Lutheran Church. Of his children, August married Miss Charlotte Bloker, by whom he has one child-Dora; they reside on a farm of his own in this township. Augusta, who married William Meinecke, resides on a farm in this county, and is the mother of five children-Minnie, Rosa, William, Carl and Mary, three having died; Charles, who is a resident of Newcastle, Wash., is married and has one child, Mabel; llenry. who married Emma Mil- ler, is living on the home farm and is the father of three girls; Emma, Lillie and Coka. All of the children are in good circumstances. Mr. Stauss is considered a representative citizen of Marysville, and is honored and respected by all who knew him.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.