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 81
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
Luke Perdue married Miss Susan Bowsman, of Franklin County, Va., and after giving birth to OHN P. FARRANT. This well-known mer- chant of Blue Rapids, took up his abode in this county March 27, 1869, on which day he arrived at Irving, now in Blue Rap- ids Township. He was born in Liverpool, England. eight children she died in Sumner County, Tenn. These children were named respectively, Elizabeth, Catherine, Mark, George, John, Daniel G., Eli and Mary. Daniel G., our subject, was the sixth child of the family and spent his early years in his native | Sept. 12, 1828. The family were for many genera.
632
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
tions residents of Devonshire. Their ancestors came from Normandy with Duke William, or as he is generally known, William the Conqueror, in 1066, and for centuries were people of note in Dev- onshire. One of them was a baron during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, and several were killed at the battle of Naseby. Some lost their heads on the scaffold during the reigns of Charles I and Charles HI.
The paternal great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch was one William Farrant, a Devonshire man whose son, William, Jr .. the grandfather of our subject, was engaged in the shipping business and was captain of a vessel. sailing to all parts of the world. He became the father of a son. Henry. the father of John P .. of this sketch. Henry was likewise a native of Devonshire. and adopted the profession of a sailor. becoming commander of a vessel. and in the course of his life visited every part of the world. He had the reputation of being a thorough seaman and followed his chosen calling until two or three years before his death, having been a captain for thirty-one years.
As was customary in those days the ship of Capt. Farrant carried both passengers and mail as well as freight. His life was full of adventure. and his recollections were very interesting. Upon his last trip to Constantinople he received the usnal "fir- man" entitling him to pass the ports, and knowing that he would not again visit that port, he decided to run past without stopping to give it up. Hle accomplished the feat, although he was fired upon by the Turks, and the "firman" is now in the pos- session of the subject of this sketch, by whom it is naturally highly valned.
In 1813. while Capt. Farrant was on his way homeward his vessel was captured by a French privateer, and he was taken to Harfleur, France, and imprisoned with officers of other vessels. They by strategy succeeded in getting their jailors in- toxicated, and making their escape reached the coast after enduring many hardships. It being the historically severe winter of 1813. they were en- abled to cross the rivers on the ice. They traveled by night alone, hiding themseves in snow mounds during the day. Finally, in pitiable plight, they were received on board a friendly vessel and con-
veyed to England. Capt. Farrant, during his many voyages, accumulated curiosities from different parts of the world. His collections embraced Chinese gods, articles of rare workmanship; and other things curious in art and nature. A box which he brought home from the Orient, and con- sisting of not less than 5,000 pieces, is now in pos- session of his son, the subject of this sketch. Like most men following the sea, he was in disposition cheerful and bnoyant, kind but firm in the exaction of duty from others, and withal had a vein of stern- ness running through his composition. He was both loved and respected by his children, and was uni- versally esteemed by all who knew him.
Capt. Henry Farrant was born in 1796, and died in 1852, aged fifty-six years. In 1822 he was mar- ried to Miss Mary Ann Farrant, a cousin, also of Devonshire, who was born in 1799 and died in 1875, aged seventy-six years. They had a numer- ous family, several of whom died young, and one son, Frank, who died at the age of sixteen years in Rio Janeiro, of yellow fever. He had been designed to follow in his father's and grandfather's footsteps, and that was his first voyage. Another son, Will- iam, who also followed the sea. was lost with his vessel, which was never heard from after leaving port. Those who lived to maturity were John P., Ann and Caroline. The sisters came to America some years ago to visit their brother. They are now residents of Lancashire and unmarried.
John P. Farrant was educated in his native county, and at an early age engaged in mercantile pursuits, dealing principally in teas at Liverpool. Ilis health was delicate from boyhood, and later he became subject to fits. which necessitated a change of climate. Ile had in the meantime been married. and in 1854. with his wife and one child, crossed the Atlantic, landing in Boston, and thence went to Philadelphia where the wife had relatives. In that city Mr. Farrant engaged in the pickling and pre- serving business. A few years later he embarked in general merchandising. In 1869. selling out his business, he left Pennsylvania and started for Kan- sas, arriving at Irving. in this county, in the latter part of March. He took up a homestead, upon which he lived until 1875. That year he removed to Barrett and resumed business as a tea merchant.
633
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
He was also appointed Postmaster, and soon became the ticket and freight agent of the Missouri Pacific Railroad, likewise agent of the Pacific Express Company at Barrett. In 1887 he resigned the po- sitions of agent, and he lost the office of Post- master on account of "offensive partisanship" under the Cleveland administration. after having held it eleven and one-half years. About the 1st of No- vember, 1887, he embarked in his present business at Blue Rapids.
Mr. Farrant was married in Liverpool England, March 1. 1853, to Miss Lilly Cunningham, daugh- ter of John and Elizabeth (Calhoun) Ralston. Mrs. Farrant was born in that city, Aug. 16, 1836. The record of their eight children is as follows: Henry Wesley is farming in the Pan-Handle, Tex .; Lilly Cunningham is the wife of Charles A. Cook, a farmer and fruit grower of Wells Township. this county; Alfred Kellogg is farming in Clear Fork Township; Laura Elizabeth is the wife of Frank Allen, who is engaged in business in Oketo; Fanny died in Philadelphia, aged two years and seven months; Frank is engaged in the mercantile business in partnership with his brother-in-law in Oketo: Oscar Molan Frederick and William Gustavus Ed- win are still under the parental roof.
On the formation of the Republican party Mr.Far- rant joined its ranks, being an ardent advocate of freedom in all proper forms, and has since supported its presidential candidates from Abraham Lincoln to Benjamin Harrison. In the spring of 1873 he, at the solicitation of the leading men of both par- ties, consented to become their candidate for Jus- tice of the Peace and was duly elected. lle held the office until his removal to Barrett. In 1882 he was appointed a Notary Public by Gov. St. John, and in 1886 was re-appointed by. Gov. Martin. His present commission expires in 1890. He was the first man to receive a nomination for office on a distinctive temperance issue in this county, run- ning independently in 1880 for the office of Pro- bate ,Judge.
Carefully trained in the doctrines of the Episco- pal Church, Mr. Farrant remained one of its com- municants until 1858, when he joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, with which he has since been identified. Five months after uniting with this he
was licensed as an exhorter and later became a local preacher. In 1869, at the Philadelphia Conference, he was ordained by Bishop Thompson a local Deacon. Upon coming to Kansas, much to his ma- terial inconvenience, he took charge of the work in Marshall County east of the Blue River, a work which had been standing idle for six months. He devoted himself to this nearly two years, and since that time has always been ready to respond to calls upon his services, cheerfully giving of his time and means to the furtherance of the Master's cause. While in the ministry he officiated at the marriage ceremony of seventy-three couples in this county. He and his estimable wife are at present members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Blue Rapids. Mr. Farrant still preserving his office of local Dea- con.
Mr. Farrant is a strong advocate of temperance in all things, not only in the use of liquor and to- bacco, but everything where excess is injurious to mind, health or morals. Ilis convictions are strong and he does not hesitate to advance the ideas which he believes are right. Independent, upright and trustworthy, he is universally respected in the com . munity, and is held in the highest esteem by those who know him best.
OHN MORTON ABBOTT. This gentleman first set foot upon the soil of Kansas in 1871, and one year later, in the spring, established himself upon a tract of wild land in Clear Fork Township, within whose limits he has since made his home. He came to this section comparatively without means, and his history since that time is not widely different from that of many others around him who possessed the hardy and adventurous spirit, coupled with great resolution and perseverance, which was indispensible to suc- cess in their undertaking. Mr. Abbott is now the owner of 485 broad aeres, all but five acres of which lies on section 27, and the greater part of which has been brought to a good state of cultivation. When he settled upon his first purchase not a fur- row had been turned, and the country was princi.
634
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
pally peopled by wild animals, and not a great while prior to this by Indians.
Mr. Abbott is essentially a Western man, his na- tive place having been in Whiteside County, Ill., where he was born March 25. 1850. The offspring of a good family, he is the son of Asa M. and Sarah (Sperry ) Abbott. the former a native of Ver- mont, and the latter of Trumbull County, Ohio. The Abbott family is of English ancestry, and was first represented in America as early as 1643, in which year they settled in Massachusetts. The Sperry family traces its ancestry to Wales and some of them crossed the Atlantic in 1620. They also settled in the Bay State.
.
The maternal grandmother of our subject was a Lamonte, and a descendant of the French Hugue- nots who emigrated to America early in the seven- teenth century, and settled in the South. The paternal great-grandfather of our subject was one Benjamin Abbott, who was a commissioned priva- teer during the Revolutionary War, and took several prizes for gallant services. He finally de- stroyed his vesssel by fire in order to prevent its capture by a British man-of-war. He fought at the battle of Bunker Hill, and the gun which he used upon that occasion is still in the possession of the family.
The subject of this sketch was reared to man's estate in his native county, in which his father was an early settler, locating there in 1845, and where he died April 8, 1889. The mother is still living there. Jolm M. received his education in the com- mon schools, which he attended principally during the winter season, while in the times of plowing, sowing and reaping he was required to make him- self useful on the farm. All the boys of the pa- rental family grew up efficient and intelligent men. Charles, the eldest of the family, is conductor on a railroad in Utah. One brother, Theodore S., is Chief Engineer of the Mexican National Railroad in Mexico; Edward L. is a civil engineer and a mem- ber of the firm of Louie, Smith & Co., of New York City; William L. is a mechanical engineer and pro preetor of an electric light plant in Chicago, Ill. ; another brother, Alfred, is the owner of a farm in Illinois.
In his political views Mr. Abbott is fully in
sympathy with the principles of the Republican party, to which he gives his uniform support. He has been a member of the School Board in his dis- triet for a number of years, and takes considerable interest in local politics. Socially, he belongs to the Masonic fraternity, being a member of the lodge at Irving. lle has a very pleasant family, consisting of his wife and six children-Alfred M .. Ruth M., Myra A., Bessie M. and Bernard V. (twins) and Ivy P. The wife of our subject, to whom he was married Dec. 2, 1871, was formerly Miss Han- nah E. Knight, daughter of Porter Knight, of Northport, Me. Mrs. Abbott was born March 16, 1853, in Massachusetts.
ONATHAN M. FROST, a farmer on sec- tion 36, Walnut Township, had some thrilling experiences while quite a young man, and a complete record of his career, were it ever written, would make a volume, interesting and exciting. When sixteen years old he left Jackson County, Mo., the home of his birth, and entered the Confederate Army, being compelled to take that course or fly the country, as his sentiments were favorable to the Union. Ile spent six months in the service, during that time taking part in many engagements, among them those at Independence, Lone Jack, and Boston Mountain. At the last- named battle, which occurred Nov. 28, 1862, his horse was shot under him. From there he went to visit an uncle, who resided near Fayetteville, Ark., and who was a strong supporter of the Union.
After the battle of Prairie Grove, our subject went to the scene of the conflict and began teaming for a division quartermaster of the Union Army, and later drove a team for the medical directors. Thence lie went to Cape Girardeau, and took boat for St. Louis and Nebraska City. From the latter point he crossed the plains to Ft. Laramie, trading with the Sioux Indians for a couple of years. Hle then came to this county, and at Marysville hired a horse to bring him to the home of his brother-in- law, in the vicinity of his present home. Upon his arrival he was met by Union soldiers, accompanied
-
RESIDENCE OF GEO. MOSER, SEC. 9. MARYSVILLE TOWNSHIP.
RESIDENCE OF J. M. FROST, SEC. 36. WALNUT TOWNSHIP.
637
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
by two citizens, Jefferson Cox and Mr. Casey, who arrested him on the charge of being a rebel soldier and spy. Having been conveyed to the home of Mr. Burnett, he was searched and his valise opened and examined. He was then taken across the Blue River to the home of Mr. Cox, where he was guarded until the next morning, and then told by his captors that if he would enlist in the Union Army freedom would be granted him. A soldier acting as commissioned officer, administered the oatlı, the act being a mere farce, however, as he was not an officer. The next day one of the sol- diers went to Ft. Riley, while the other accompa- nied our subject to the vicinity of Irving to see his mother. Here they spent a day, and upon their return to this neighborhood our subject gave the horse which he had hired in charge of a messenger to convey back to Marysville. The weather was in- tensely cold and the river full of ice, and before the village was reached the horse was frozen to death.
Our subject with the soldier started for Wild Cat Creek, the prisoner walking while his captor rode. After traveling some distance he was allowed to ride, and now, having possession of the soldier's small arms, he took the back track. He spent some days in the neighborhood where he had been arrested, vainly endeavoring to elude the company of men pursuing him. In an attempt to ford the Blue River, the heavy floating ice made it impossible for his horse to cross, so he left the ani- mal and managed by means of a log to cross the stream. During his attempts to swim the horse his clothes had become quite wet, and as he walked along the stream they rapidly stiffened in the severe cold. It was very late when the light of a distant cabin appeared to his view, and thither he hurried, although impeded by frozen feet and heavy ice-laden garments. In this lonely refuge he was given some supper and warmed sufficiently to be able to take off his boots. He made inquiry as to the way to Marysville, but was careful when leaving to take the opposite direction. Early the next morning he reached the cabin of Mr. Van Iloosier, whom he had once known, and there he obtained much needed bodily nourishment and a short rest. Mr. Van Hoosier furnished him an ox,
upon which he rode some distance in order to pre- vent leaving his own tracks in the snow. Getting onto the prairie, where the snow was blown off the ground, he lay down in the cold, with the earth for a couch, and with nothing to eat exeept buffalo meat and corn bread. It was his intention to re- main on that desolate spot until the darkness of night would protect him from the bullets of a pur- suing foe. In the meantime the Union soldiers reached Mr. Van Hoosier's house. Ilere the trail was lost, and after hunting through the house and failing to find trace of him they sought, they threatened to hang Mr. Van Iloosier, suspecting him of knowledge of the young man's whereabouts. They promised to give our subject a fair trial, and Mr. Van Hoosier put them on his track. They soon captured him, and kept him under guard in Mr. Van Hoosier's house until the next day, then conveyed him to Mr. Casey's, where he was put into the hands of a company from Ft. Riley, taken to that fort and put in the guard house. He was given a trial, during which the little he had done for the Confederate cause, and his sympathy with the Union, were stated by him, and being proved true, secured his relcase.
Returning to this neighborhood, Mr. Frost made a short sojourn, and in the spring of 1864, went West by a stage line to Cottonwood, Neb., again entering upon trade with the Sioux. He learned to converse in the Sioux language, and is still fluent in its nse. After making two trips to Salt Lake, and spending one winter in herding cattle on the Platte River at the foot of the Rockies, he re- turned to his native county in Missouri. After- ward he bought 886 head of Texas cattle, and drove them to Junction City, Kan., for sale. Re- turning to Missouri, he married Miss Sarah I. Long, a native of North Carolina, and a lady held in high esteem by all who know her. Believing this county to be the only place where his reputa- tion was below par, he chose it for his home, and has proved his loyalty to his country, at the same time building up an enviable reputation. Ile now owns 320 acres of fertile land, and on the spot where his original cabin stood, has erected a sub- stantial stone house. On these broad acres he pro- secutes successfully the work of farming and stock-
1
638
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
raising, being chiefly interested in Clydesdale horses, of which he has a fine grade.
The father of our subject, John Frost, was a na- tive of South Carolina. When a young man he went to North Carolina, and there married Miss Rebecca York, a native of that State. After living there several years, in 1818 they removed to Jack- son County, Mo., where the father died. The mother later married again, her second husband, David Daily, being by a previous marriage the father of twenty-six children. In the fall of 1863 she with two sons came to Kansas, bringing what goods could be hauled by one yoke of oxen; and locating in this county, where she passed to her last rest. though in the interim she spent a few years in Missouri. Our subject was one of a family of ten children. seven of whom now survive.
Mrs. Sarah Frost. wife of our subject. is the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Donb) Long. of German ancestry and natives of North Carolina. where they married and reared a family of six chil- dren. In this home the mother died, and there the father still lives. She has borne her husband one living child. a son, John ; one child, died in infancy.
Mr. Frost is a member of the Congregational Church, while his wife holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a believer in and supporter of the principles of the Republican party. He is a man of progressive ideas, keeping well abreast of the times in matters pertaining to his occupation. as well as in all topics of general information. and is a reliable citizen and prominent in his community.
On another page in the ALBUM may be found a lithographie engraving of the pleasant home of Mr. and Mrs. Frost.
G EORGE MOSER. The homestead of this gentleman is observed with admiring eyes by the traveler passing along the central line of Marysville Township. The farm, 700 acres in extent. has been brought to a high state of cul- tivation, and is embellished with neat and substan- tial modern buildings. while the live stock, farm machinery. groves, apple orchard, and trees of the
smaller fruits, indicate in a marked manner the in- dustry and enterprise which have been employed, no less than a generous outlay of hard cash. In Marshall County, as in most parts of the great West. the thrifty German has made a lasting impression, and Mr. Moser, as a leading representative of this nationality, is worthy of more than a passing no- tice.
Our subject was born in what was then the king- dom of Wurtemberg. Germany, Aug. 26, 1833. and lived there until a young man of twenty years. In the meantime he received a practical education. being placed in school at an early age, and continu- ing his studies, until a lad of fourteen years. Later he occupied himself mostly at farming. All these years his mind had been busily at work, and not being satisfied with the progress he was making financially. he determined upon emigrating to America. Accordingly, in the spring of 1853. he embarked in a sailing vessel at Antwerp, and after a voyage of forty-three days landed in New York City. Thence he proceeded to Toledo. Ohio, and secured employment on a farm about three miles from the city. After working there two months he repaired to Chicago, Ill., and for about two years thereafter, was variously employed on the canal and railroad, and at other labor. We next find him in the vicinity of Paris. Edgar Co .. III .. where he worked on a farm two years. In 1857 he crossed the Mississippi into Henry County. Mo .. where he was employed at farm work and other oc- cupations until the spring of 1859. Ile then pro- ceeded to Pike's Peak, but in the fall returned to Marysville this county, bringing with him as his sole earthly possessions, three yoke of oxen and a pony. his Pike's Peak enterprise not having been very profitable from a pecuniary standpoint.
In the fall of 1859 Mr. Moser preempted 160 acres of land. six miles east of the present site of Marysville, upon which a village had just been begun. He settled upon his land the following spring, and gave his attention to its cultivation and improvement until 1865, when he traded it for 320 acres in Marysville Township, where he now lives. Later he added to his landed estate, and has now 700 acres, all of which has been brought to a productive condition. lle has made a specialty of
639
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBITM.
stock raising, an industry which has yielded him handsome returns.
Soon after coming to this county, Mr. Moser was married, July 1, 1860, to Miss Mary Schmid, who was born in llohenzollern, Germany, July 4, 1843. She lived there until a child of ten years, and then came to America with her parents, with whom she remained until becoming the wife of our subject. Of this union there were born thirteen children, eight of whom are living, namely : Rosa, who is the wife of Anton Iluber, Jr., of Her- kimer Township; Amalia, who became the wife of John Huber, and died Sept. 21, 1889; Minetta, John, Frank, Matilda, Katie, George and Andrew are at home. One little daughter, Annie, was drowned in the Big Blue, when five years old. Elizabeth, Freddie and William died in infancy. The mother of these children departed this life Sept. 14, 1888. She was a lady possessing many estimable qualities, was a devoted wife and mother, and her death was greatly mourned by her husband and children.
Upon becoming 'a voting citizen. Mr. Moser identified himself with the Democratic party. He keeps himself posted npon current events, and is a man whose opinions are highly respected. A fine. lithographie view of the handsome farm and resi- dence of Mr. Moser is shown on another page of this volume.
R REDERICK WAGNER. The farming and stock-raising interests of Murray Township, acknowledge a worthy representative in Mr. Wagner, who owns and operates a snug farm of eiglity acres on section 9. He located here on the raw prairie in 1879, and by the exereise of great industry and good management has brought the soil to a thorough state of cultivation and erected good buildings, besides making fences, set- ting out fruit and shade trees, and gathering about himself and his family all the other eomforts and conveniences of farm life. He makes a specialty of live-stock and avails himself of modern methods and modern machinery. keeping himself well posted
upon the improvements which are constantly oc- curring in connection with farm work as with other industries.
A native of the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg, Germany, our subject was born March 17, 1842, and lived there until emigrating to America, upon whose shores he landed Feb. 19, 1872. He re- mained a resident of the Empire State one year, then coming westward located in Livingston County. Ill .. of which he was a resident six years. Thence he came to this county and is now num- bered among the reliable and prosperous men of Murray Township. There descended to him from his substantial German ancestry those elements of character for which his nationality is noted, and by which he has been enabled to attain to a good position socially and financially among his fellow- men.
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.