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 82
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John F. Wagner, the father of our subject, was also of German birth and parentage and a farmer by occupation. He died prior to the birth of his son, Frederick. The mother, Mrs. Catherine ( Nangle) Wagner, also a native of the Fatherland. lived to be sixty-three years of age. Both parents were members of the Lutheran Church. Frederick was the youngest child of the family, only two of whom came to the United States, himself and his sister Mary, the latter of whom became the wife of Frederick Fuger, and is now deceased.
Mr. Wagner lived in his native Germany until a man of thirty years, and after coming to Illinois, was married in Livingston County, to Miss Sophia Shultz -she dying shortly after their marriage; he afterward married Miss Mary Clinsman. Mrs. Wagner was born in Pennsylvania, March 21, 1857, and removed with her parents to Peoria County, Ill., where they lived until 1873. They then changed their residence to Livingston County, where they still reside. To our subject and his estimable wife there have been born eight children, four of whom are deceased, namely, Minnie, Frank, Jesse and a babe unnamed. The survivors are, Ilarry, John, Lewis and Irena M., all of whom are at home with their parents.
Mr. Wagner, upon becoming a voting citizen, identified himself with the Republican party and later served as a soldier in the late Civil War two
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years. Both he and his good wife are members of the German-Baptist Church. They have a com- fortable and pleasant home, live at peace with their neighbors and enjoy the society of many friends.
E RASTUS CUTLER. one of the leading men of St. Bridget Township, may be usually found at his well-appointed farm on section 7, where he has effected good improvements and is successfully prosecuting agricultural pursuits. The commonwealth of Missouri finds a worthy representative in Mr. Cutler, who was born in Ray County, that State, March 10, 1838, and is the sou of Thaddeus and Lemira (Scott) Cutler, who are still living, making their home in Ness County, Kan. The parental household included eight chil- dren, five of whom are living. The paternal grand- father of our subject was Alpheus Cutler, who served as a captain in the War of 1812. The grandfather of our subjeet settled near Fredonia, N.Y. Ile spent his last days in Iowa; he with his two brothers, one of whom was named William, became quite famous in the Indian wars. He was a man of powerful frame and great courage, and had many a hand-to-hand encounter with the sav- ages, in each of which he came out victorions.
Our subject removed with his parents to Illinois and later to Iowa, and when twenty-two years old commenced farming in the latter State for himself. That same year he was married to Miss Martha J. Whiting, daughter of Charles and Martha (Hurl- but) Whiting, and who was born in La Fayette, Ind. Two of the Whitings served under Gen. Winfield Scott in the Mexican War, and one at an earlier day served under Gen. Washington in the Revolutionary War.
Mr. and Mrs. Cutler after their marriage settled in Fremont County, Iowa, where our subject fol- lowed farming for a time, then removed to Mis- souri. Thence in the spring of 1881 he came to this county and settled on section 7, St. Bridget Township. The farm comprises 115 acres and lies three-fourths of a mile south from the growing town of Summerfield, About 100 acres is under
cultivation, and one-half mile away is the site of the contemplated $3,500 school-house, upon which the citizens of this region look with pardonable pride. Politically Mr. Cutler votes with the Union Labor party. He was formerly identified with the Democracy.
Two of the seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Cutler died in infancy. The survivors are re- corded as follows: Jennie Louisa is the wife of Her- bert Rouse, and they reside on a farm in Richland Township; they are the parents of three children living; Anna Belle is the wife of D. L. Wandling, they have two children, and live on a farm in Richland Township. Mina Cordelia obtained a thorough education and occupies herself as a teacher ; Emma Jeanette, a bright and interesting young lady remains with her parents at home, as also does the youngest son, George Walter.
C APT. JESSE R. SITLER, Mayor of Axtell, is one of the leading business men of the town, and has been closely connected with its growth and development. Ile has for the last seven years been a leading grain dealer of the county, and in the meantime has erected a large ele- vator with a capacity of 10,000 bushels, which he sold later to other parties. He employs two buyers, one of these being stationed at Mina, and the other at Kearney on the Northwestern Railroad. Ile is the owner of a large amount of real estate both in this and Nemaha counties, including 400 acres of land which at the time of purchase was mostly a raw prairie, and which he has brought to a good state of cultivation.
Capt. Sitler came first to Kansas in 1870, but did not settle permanently in this county until 1877. Prior to this he had lived in different parts of the West, and for some time operated as a contractor in Iowa, on the Illinois Central Railroad, also the Santa Fe in Kansas, the Missouri, Kansas & Texas in the Indian Territory, the Texas Central in Texas, and others. He has lived west of the Mississippi River since the close of the late Civil War, and most of the time west of the Missouri as far as
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Idaho. He was in Cheyenne, Wyo. Ty., when that now flourishing city was a hamlet of a few houses. and had some experience with the Indians. Upon the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted in the 86th Pennsylvania Infantry as a private, and at once went South to his regiment, operating first in South Carolina, after which occurred the engage- ment at Bermuda Hundred, Va., under command of Gen. Butler. Later our subject was present at the battle of Cold Harbor, after which the 76th was made a part of the 18th army corps, and assigned to the command of Gen. Grant, going with him in the Petersburg campaign. In October, 1864, he was present at the taking of Fort Harrison, then was present at the battle of Chapin's Farm, remained there on picket duty, and was then ordered to ac- company the expedition to Ft. Fisher under Gen. Butler. The regiment remained on shipboard about thirty days prior to returning from the un- sucessful expedition. In January, 1865. our sub- ject was in command of a detachment of the regiment that was left on Chapin's Farm on garrison duty, while the balance of the regiment went to North Carolina, his detachment following in Feb- ruary. He witnessed the taking of Wilmington, N. C., and was present for duty in all the service of the regiment, with the exception of ten days. After hostilities ceased, he was on provost duty at Raleigh, N. C. Later this regiment became a part of the army of the Tennessee, fighting under Gen. Sher- man until the surrender of the Rebel General John- ston. This was the last active engagement of the war, and occurred the latter part of April, 1864. Our subject in the meantime had received a Cap- tain's commission, commanding Company A, and was mustered out with this title, receiving his hon- orable discharge at Raleigh, N. C., July 19, 1865. He had arisen from a private through the various grades, being first a Corporal, then Sergeant-Major, Oct. 25, 1864; was made Second Lieutenant Nov. 10, following, and a First Lieutenant at Wellington, N. C., March 10, 1865. IIe assumed the duties of Captain, April 15, 1865. During the siege of Petersburg he was slightly wounded, but aside from this escaped unharmed.
Capt. Sitler was born in Meadville, Crawford Co., Pa., Sept. 14, 1834, and is the son of George Sitler,
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a Pennsylvania farmer. The paternal grandfather was Jaeoh Sitler, a native of Berks County, Pa., and one of the first men to settle in the wilderness of Crawford County. In the latter he spent the last days of his life, dying at the ripe age of eighty- four years. He was of the regular old Pennsylva- nia stock, and in his conversation always used the patois adopted by that class of people. He mar- ried a Pennsylvania lady, Miss Catherine Foust, who was of similar ancestry to her husband, and who, like him, lived to a good old age.
The father of our subject was born in Berks County, Pa., and when about eight years old, went with his parents to Crawford County, where he was reared to manhood and married Miss Sarah Robins, a native of New Jersey, but reared in New York State. Her father, William Robins, was of New England birth and parentage, and the family re- moved from New York to Crawford County, Pa .. where grandfather Robins in due time settled upon a farm and spent his remaining days, dying when quite aged. The son, George, learned the trade of a carpenter, which he followed for some years after his marriage, but finally turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, which he followed until his death in Crawford County. He was born Feb. 20. 1798, and departed this life May 8, 1883, at the ad- vanced age of eighty-five years. The wife and mother survived until October 1886. She was born Nov. 12, 1805. Both were members of the Presbyterian Church.
The subject of this sketch was one of six chil- dren, who grew to mature years, and lived to be married. Five of these are yet living. Those be- sides Jesse R. ,are residents of Kansas, Iowa and Pennsylvania. The latter, like his brothers and sisters, acquired a practical education in the common schools, and later followed the profession of a teacher until the outbreak of the Civil War. He was married near his old home in Crawford County, Pa., March 5, 1877, to Miss Mina Beatty, who was born in Harmonsburg, May 2, 1844. The parents of Mrs. Sitler were John and Mary (Ilope) Beatty, likewise natives of Pennsylvania, and reared in Crawford County, of which their ancestors had been residents for probably several generations. Joseph, the father of John Beatty, was born in the
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vicinity of Leesburg, Va., July 2, 1771, but was reared and married in Pennsylvania. His wife was Susan Lintner, a native of the latter State, who was born March 23, 1779. They lived there some time after their marriage, then changed their residence to Crawford County in the summer of 1806. There they spent their last days, each attaining to about three-seore years.
John Beatty and his estimable wife, after mar- riage, were residents of Crawford County, Pa., until their decease. The father of Mrs. Sitler departed this life May 10. 1885, having survived his wife a period of eighteen years, her death taking place March 24, 1867. Both were members of the United Presbyterian Church. They were the parents of three children only, of whom Mrs. Sitler is the only survivor. Of her union with our subject no chil- dren have been born. Both the Captain and his wife are members in good standing of the Presby- terian Church, in which he has officiated as Elder for some years. He was the first Mayor of Axtell, and in polities is a stanch Republican. Both he and his estimable wife are great favorites in their com- munity, being intelligent. genial and hospitable, extending to both friend and stranger that courteous treatment which never fails to bring its reward.
AMES O. WHEELER. The farming and stock-raising interests of Blue Rapids City Township, acknowledge a most worthy rep- resentative in Mr. Wheeler, who may be usually found at his well-regulated homestead, oc- eupying eighty acres of land on section 7. He may be properly ealled a self-made man, one who in early life was thrown upon his own resources and had many difficulties to contend with. The true state of affairs may be appreciated, perhaps, when it is known that upon the day he became of age he was the possessor of only seventy-five cents in money and was $30 in debt. He is now well to-do and a man of standing in his community.
The native place of Mr. Wheeler was in Wabash County, Ind., and the date of his birth Feb. 11, 1845. llis parents were Milton and Charity 1
( Beroth) Wheeler, the father a native of North Carolina and the mother of South Carolina. His paternal grandfather is believed to have been a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and he also served in the War of 1812. James O. Wheeler was reared to manhood in his native State and bred to farm pursuits. He acquired his education in the schools of his native county and as may be sup- posed, his advantages in all respeets were far in- ferior to those enjoyed by the youth of to-day. He was deprived of a father's care by death when a lad of seven years and shortly afterward was wholly orphaned by the death of his mother.
Being thus left alone in the world, Mr. Wheeler was bound out to a farmer of his native county, with whom he remained until reaching his majority. In the meantime during the progress of the Civil War, he entered the ranks of the Union army, en- listing Aug. 4, 1863, when a youth of eighteen years, in Company C, 118th Indiana Infantry as a private. Ile met the enemy in battle at Walker's Ford, Forest Springs, and other engagements, and at the expiration of his term of enlistment received his honorable discharge in March. 1864. He en- dured the ordinary hardships and privations of life in the army and made for himself a good record as a brave and faithful soldier.
Upon retiring from the service Mr. Wheeler re- turned to his native county in Indiana, and was there married March 13. 1866, to Miss Sally A. Stewart. There was born of this union a son and daughter, William Harrison and Henrietta M. Mr. Wheeler remained a resident of Indiana until 1870, then erossing the Mississippi came to Kansas, and located first in Washington County. After a resi- dence there of six years, he in 1876 came to this county, having disposed of the 160-acre farm which he had homesteadel in Washington County. The 80-aere tract of land of which mention is made. was improved about as we now see it. Ile is a man who meddles very little with public affairs, but keeps himself posted upon events of general interest to the intelligent eitizen, and supports the principles of the Republican party. lle has seen much of pioneer life in Kansas, witnessing with warm interest the growth and development of a region, which comparatively a few years since, was largely the home of wild ani-
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mals and Indians. Aside from serving as School Director in his district, he has never held office. Socially, he belongs to the G. A. R., Robert IIale Post, at Blue Rapids. Mrs. Wheeler is a member of the Methodist Church.
UGUST FRAHM. This gentleman bears the distinction of being one of the first to settle on the present site of Waterville. Of German birth and ancestry, he first opened his eyes to the light in Mecklenberg-Schwerin Dee. 24, 1823. His father, John J. Frahm, was a native of the same province, followed gardening all his life and died in his native Germany. He was an honest and upright man and accumulated some means although not becoming wealthy.
'The maiden name of the mother of our subject was Ellinor Erdman. She likewise was a native of Germany where she spent her entire life. There were born to her and her husband five children, of whom August, our subject, was the third. He continued a resident of his native province until a man of twenty-five years, receiving a good educa- tion and working with his father at gardening until 1850. Then he decided upon emigrating to America and for a year thereafter was located in Louisiana. In 1851 he came North to Iowa, where he sojourned until 1860, then changed his residence to Leaven- worth, Kan. He subsequently removed to Atchison County, and was engaged in farming until 1867. During the three ensuing years he sojourned in Waterville. In 1870 locating his family at Denison, Tex .. he assisted in building the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad, through the Indian Nation, a work which oceupied his time until the middle of 1879. During that time and the following years he went to the Chickasaw Nation and established an academy for the Indians.
In July, 1880, our subject returned to this county and established himself at Waterville, where he has since remained, engaged as an Insurance and Col- lection Agent, also Justice of the Peace. After the outbreak of the Civil War, Mr. Frahm, in 1862. joined the Union ranks as a color bearer for the
13th Kansas Infantry and served in that capacity until late in 1865. Being taken prisoner by the Confederates at Big Cabin Creek in the Indian Territory, he was held as such until the close of the war.
In 1850, while a resident of Louisiana, Mr. Frahm was united in marriage with Miss Sophia Kroger, who, like her husband, was born in Ger- many. Their only child, a son. William, died when a promising young man of twenty-three years. Our subject, politically, is a sound Repub- lican, and takes an active part in local affairs. IIe is one of the leading members of the G. A. R., and a man highly respected by all who know him. He commenced the battle of life dependent upon his own resources and while he may not be called wealthy he is well situated financially, with suffi- eient to provide for him in his old age. For many years he has been connected with the Masonic fra- ternity in which he has always manifested a warm interest.
Elsewhere in the ALBUM may be found a fine engraving of the home of Mr. and Mrs. Frahm.
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OHN J. MOFFITT, a farmer and stock-raiser of Wells Township, where he owns and oc- copies a well-improved farm of eighty acres on seetion 4, is a native of Washington County, l'a. He was born Sept. 28, 1857, and is a son of Dr. George W. and Elizabeth B. Moffitt. Dr. Moffitt removed with his family to this county in 1869, settling on section 4, Wells Township. He there homesteaded eighty acres of land, upon which he still resides. IIe is a dentist of experi- ence, and one of the first in this eounty, having also had three years' practice in Topeka, this State. Dr. Moffitt and his wife were the parents of six children: Charlotte, wife of Herman McKee, in Frankfort; Martha M., wife of John Shearer, on section 1, Wells Township; Minnie M., wife of James Montgomery; Lizzie, Georgia, and our sub- ject. Mrs. Moffitt died Jan. 25, 1879.
The gentleman of whom we write, was about twelve years of age when the family removed to
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Kansas. He was reared to manhood partly in town and partly upon a farm, and received his education in the public schools of the county. When but eight years old, he began his investigations in the dental profession in his father's office, and during the next ten years acquired a practical understand- ing of the profession. Ile then began practice for himself, and has since followed dentistry. He now has an office in Frankfort, and enjoys a good pat- ronage. He also carries on his farm, and raises a good grade of both Ilereford and Durham cattle.
Mr. Moffitt was united in marriage Feb. 18, 1885, with Alice D. Barrett. She is a native of Iowa, and daughter of Jolm K. Barrett, now of Center Township, this county. The result of the union has been one son, John J., born April. 1, 1887. Mr. Moffitt is at present Treasurer of the School District in which he resides. IIe is a Republican in politics, and an earnest advocate of that party. He is an industrious and enterprising man, and has accumulated all his present possessions since the age of twenty-seven. He is a man of honor and integrity, intelligent and public-spirited, and has many friends in the locality whose growth he has witnessed, and to which he has contributed.
ANFORTII FAIRBANKS, of Blue Rap- ids, has been a resident of that place for seventeen years, having arrived here March 13, 1872. He was born in Catta- raugus County, N. Y., April 3, 1839, his parents being David and Elmira (Johnson) Fairbanks. The father was a native of Vermont, whence he went to New York State when quite a young man. Ile settled on a farm in Cattaraugus County, which was then new and unsettled, and there he died in 1863. Ilis wife is still living in that county, and is now eighty-two years of age. Mr. Fairbanks passed a quiet and uneventful life, engaged in the occupation of a farmer. Ile and his wife were the ! parents of ten children, all born in Cattaraugus County. They were: Cynthia, who was the wife of Allen L. Nichols, and who died in her native
county; Artemus is still living there; Polly is the wife of Moses Lowe, living near Meadville, Pa .; Daniel is in San Diego, Cal .; Ladacia is the widow of Noble L. Reed, and lives in Cattaraugus County; Adelia was wife of James Darling, and died in her native county; Hannah, wife of Lores- tin Foss, of Kane County, Ill., died while in Massa- chusetts on a visit; Danforth came next; Mary Jane was the next born, and is now living in her native county, and is married to Ira Ruland; Ephraim is a resident of San Diego.
The subject of this sketch was brought up to the occupation of a farmer, and lived at home until he was of age. Ile then began for himself, and was employed at farm work until August. 1862, when he joined the Union army, being enrolled in Com- pany A, 154th New York Infantry. The regiment was attached to the Army of the Potomac, and Mr. Fairbanks with it took part in the battles of Chan- cellorsville and Gettysburg. At the latter place he was taken prisoner, July 1, 1863. with almost all of what was left of his regiment. He was first taken to Richmond, Va., and spent eight months at Belle Isle. From there he was taken to Ander- sonville, where he was kept until the close of the war, except during the time the prisoners were taken away for fear that Sherman might suceor them. At that time they were taken to Savannah, Millen, and other places to keep them out of the way of the Union troops. The hardships endured in the rebel hell broke down Mr. Fairbank's con- stitution, as it did that of many another brave sol- dier, besides killing thousands ontright, and when on April 28, 1865, the prisoners, with a refinement of cruelty, were turned loose about twenty miles from Jacksonville, Fla., be was in a truly bad plight. He reached the lines of Jacksonville after a painful tramp, and was from there taken on a transport to Annapolis, Md. Thence he was sent to New York City, receiving his discharge at Elmira, June 20, 1865.
As soon as his health was partially restored, Mr. Fairbanks carried on a farm as best he could for two or three years. But the condition in which his imprisonment had left him, made it impossible for him to do much hard work. In 1870 he sold his farm in New York, and the following year came
H. P. Gil christ 4
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to Blue Rapids, where his brother Danicl was then located, to see what the country looked like. Lik- ing its appearance, he removed to that place the following spring, and has ever since made Blue Rapids his home. For ten years he and his wife kept the Riverside House, a large boarding-house at the bridge over the Blue River. But of late years he has had to give up all thought of work, for which he is totally unfitted by the state of his liealth.
In Cattarangus County, N. Y., Dec. 17, 1865, Mr. Fairbanks was united in marriage with Eliza- beth S. Myers, daughter of George and Maria (Streeter) Myers. The father was a farmer in Cattaraugus County, where the mother died, and he subsequently removed to Harlan County, Neb., where he died. Mrs. Fairbanks was born in Smith- field, Madison Co., N. Y., Feb. 20, 1836. Mr. and Mrs. Fairbanks have one child, a son, named Glenn W., who makes his home with his parents.
Since his residence in Blue Rapids, Mr. Fairbanks has been three times a member of the Council, and has several times refused to accept official positions. He is a member of Robert Hale Post No. 328, G. A. R., of Blue Rapids. Mr. Fairbanks has been a .nartyr to his patriotism, and he bears the life- long suffering caused by rebel barbarity, with a patience and fortitude which does him infinite credit. An upright and just man, and a citizen of irreproachable character, he is justly esteemed by everyone who knows him.
RS. HARRIET P. GILCHRIST, who owns and carries on an extensive stock- ranol. on section 3, Blue Rapids City Town- shi was born in the city of New York, June 20, 1 3, and is the daughter of Jeremiah and Sarah (Myc"s) Eames. Her father was a native of New Hampshire, and a well-educated and intel- ligent man. In early life he learned the trade of a cabinet-maker, and on arriving at years of man- hood established himself in this business in New
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York City, and was quite prosperous until the great fire of 1835. This devastated a large por- tion of the city, and Mr. Eames' business place was likewise destroyed.
Leaving the scenes of his misfortune, Mr. Eames, in 1837, removed with his family to Rock Island, Ill., which was then but a small village, and ten months later he was seized with illness and died, and his remains were laid to rest in the ceme- tery at that place. The mother of Mrs. Gilchrist was born and reared in New York City, and was the daughter of John and Mary Myers, who were natives of Holland. and among the earliest settlers of Manhattan Island. They were of old Knicker- bocker stock-people who were held in high esteem. Mrs. Eames, after the death of her hus- band, was a second time married and continued to reside in Rock Island until her decease which oc- curred in 1869.
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