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 85
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The maiden name of the mother of our subject, was Emily M. Richmond. She was born in Gene- see County, N. Y., May 11, 1820, and is still liv- ing. The result of her union with Seth Talbot, was two children only, the elder of whom was Mary
A., now the wife of John H. Tront, of Axtell, this county. William T. was reared mostly in his na- tive county, where he attended the common school, and prepared himself for the higher branches of study. Later he repaired to Huntsville, Mo., and entered Mt. Pleasant College, where his studies were completed. In 1883 he came to this county, and settled in Waterville Township, of which he has since been a resident. His possessions embrace 880 acres of fine farming land, admirably adapted to the raising of grain and stock, which industry he prosecutes on an extensive scale. He usually keeps on hand from 100 to 250 head of high-grade Short-horn cattle, with numbers of good horses and swine. His farm buildings are all that could rea- sonably be desired in point of convenience and architectural beauty. He rates A, No. 1 as a busi- ness man in this community, and occupies a high position with the I. O. O. F.
A marriage ceremony performed Nov. 1, 1877, united our subject with Miss Mary A. Ingalls, daughter of Nathaniel W. and Elizabeth (Anger) Ingalls, who were at that time residents of Tre- mont, Ill. Mrs. Talbot was born March 29, 1858, in Tremont, Ill. She received careful parental training, and a good education in the common school. Mr. and Mrs. Talbot have not been blessed with children, but they have hosts of friends, and their hospitable roof seldom fails to shelter some one with whom they hold pleasant social intercourse. Mr. Talbot, politically, is a straight Republican; he has never sought office, but whenever opportun- ity occurs, gives his aid and influence in support of his principles.
ACOB MOHRBACHER. For solid worth, reliability, industry, enterprise, and perse- verance, there is no Nation upon the face of the carth which has made for itself a bet- ter record than that emanating from the Father- land. Germany for centuries has distinguished herself both in times of war and peace, ever main- taining her independence and dignity. To her is America largely indebted for the development of
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her rich resources, as her sons were soon found up- on the soil of the new Continent. delving out for themselves an honest living, and identifying them- selves with her best interests. In the settlement of the Great West. the German-born citizen has made for himself an admirable record, and the sub- ject of this notice has not been in any degree be- hind his countrymen in this respect. A self-made man, he began without means upon a stranger soil, but is now in the enjoyment of a comfortable home, and a competence. He came to the frontier in the pioneer days, and encountered the usual hardships and difficulties incident to that time, but steadily persevered through them all, and is now in the en- joyment of his reward.
Our subject was born in the Kingdom of Bavaria, Dec. 26, 1836, and is consequently in the prime of life. His parents, Jacob and Elizabeth (Latterner) Morbbacher, were likewise natives of Bavaria, where they were reared and married, and where they lived until the spring of 1845. They then set out for America when Jacob was a lad of eight years. After quite a lengthy ocean voyage on a sailing-vessel, they landed in New York City, on July 1, thirty-six days after embarking. Thence they at once proceeded to Milwaukee County, Wis .. and settled on the lake shore, eight miles south of the present site of the Cream City. The latter. it is hardly necessary to say, was then a mere hamlet. The Mohrbacher family watched the growth and development of the Badger State. contributing their mite to its prosperity, and our subjeet re- mained there with his parents until the spring of 1859.
At this time, bidding adieu to his parents and friends. young Mohrbacher, then twenty-two years of age, crossed the Missouri, and made his way into Doniphan County, Kan., where he spent the sum- mer employing himself at whatever he could find to do. In the following December he returned to the parental roof, and in the spring of 1860. ac- companied by his parents, came to this county, and taking up a tract of wild land on section 18, Elm Creek Township. settled upon it. There the latter spent the remainder of their days, the father pass- ing away April, 1872. and the mother. June 8, 1873. They were the parents of thirteen children, eight
sons and five daughters, of whom Jacob was the eldest born. The survivors are residents of Kan- sas, Missouri, and Washington.
Mr. Mohrbacher has thus been a resident of this county for the long period of nearly thirty years. He has been engaged in agricultural pursuits all his life, and it is hardly necessary to say, is fully posted as to the best methods of tilling the soil. He is now the owner of 330 acres in Elm Creek Township, and 160 aeres in Richland Township. The whole has been brought to a good state of cul- tivation, and yields in abundance the rich erops of Northern Kansas. The live-stock upon his farm, the fat cattle, horses, and swine, are typical of the German farmer, who has made for himself a repu- tation in this respect. Our subject makes no pre- tentions to elegance in his surroundings, but there is an air of comfort and plenty about him and his family, indicative of ample means and a large amount of enjoyment.
The marriage of our subject with Miss Catherine Joerg, was celebrated at the home of the bride at St. Joseph, Mo., Nov. 10, 1860. This lady is a sister of John Joerg, of Marysville, and the daugh- ter of John and Catherine (Schild) Joerg, the former of whom died at Marysville, Feb. 15, 1884. The mother is still living, making her home in Marysville. and is now past eighty years of age. The parental family consisted of four sons and one danghter. Mrs. Mohrbacher is a native of Prus- sia, and was born June 15, 1844. She came with her parents to America in 1852, and they, like the Mohrbacher family, settled in Milwaukee, Wis. Thence they came to this county in January, 1874, settling in Marysville.
To our subject and his estimable wife there have been born fourteen children, who make a very bright and interesting family, and who are all, ex- cepting three, at home with their parents. They are named, respectively: Elizabeth. Albert .J., Emma K., Frank O., Katie, Oscar. Walter. Mary, John, Rudolph, Carrie, William, Norah, and Jo- seph. It is seldom the lot of the biographer, to encounter a more pleasing spectacle than this fam- ily of sixteen persons mutually attached to each other, and working together with a common inter- est in the maintenance of their home. and the com-
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forts which surround it. Mrs. Mohrbacher, like hier husband, is a lady of more than ordinary abil- ity, and well-fitted to be his companion in life.
Upon becoming a voting eitizen, our subject identified himself with the Republican party. but is now in sympathy with the Union Labor movement. to which he gives his hearty support. He has held the office of Township Trustee in Elm Creek, for the past three years, and been School Treasurer of his distriet since its organization, in 1872. Both the parents and children belong to St. Gregory's Catholic Church, of which Rev. M. G. Schmiekler is pastor, and to which they give a liberal support, Mr. Mohrbacher stands high in his community as one of its representative men, and one who has con- tributed his full quota to its moral, social, and finan- cial welfare. We invite the attention of our many readers, to a view of the home and farm of Mr. Mohrbacher on another page of this work.
OHN McPHERSON, real estate, loan and in- snrance agent of Blue Rapids, is one of the oldest settlers in that place, where he has lived for a score of years. His native place was in Caithnesshire, North Scotland, and the date of his birth, Nov. 24, 1835. ITis ancestors were all of Seoteh extraction. His paternal grandfather, Donald McPherson, was a ship builder on the Clyde, and lived to the age of ninety-eight years. His wife died when ninety-six years old. Their son, Alexander, the father of our subjeet, was born in the town of Wick, Scotland, in November, 1810, and was brought up to the occupation of a weaver. Later he operated as a boat builder, and as was usual with the people on that coast. engaged eon- siderably as a fisherman.
Alexander McPherson was married in his native shire, to Miss Helen Stephenson, a lineal descendant of Robert and George Stephenson. The mother of our subject was born in Poultneytown, on the north coast of Scotland, in November, 1815. The parents were married in 1833, and to them there were born eight children, three in Scotland and five in America. In 1842 they set sail with their
three children, from Thursa on the west coast of Scotland, and after a tedious voyage of three months, landed in New York City. An elder brother of Alexander MePherson, and who was a minister of the Presbyterian Church, had come to America two years prior to that time, and had lo- eated in Raymond, Racine Co., Wis., where his wife had relatives living, and he had preached the first sermon ever delivered in Racine County. Alexander left Scotland with the intention of join- ing his mother, and on landing, at onee set out for the frontier, as it was called at that early day. The journey was tedious and hazardous, but the family arrived safely at their destination, and Mr. McPher- son at onee preempted a claim, embracing the pre- sent site of the town of Raymond, where he made a home, and where he is still living, at the age of seventy-nine years. Ilis wife died in 1877, aged sixty-two. Mr. MePherson has always been known as a man of great integrity, and of irreproachable character. He has been a lifelong member of the Congregational Church, and a Deacon for a great many years. The people who rapidly settled up this region, were mostly Danes and Norwegians, and among these the father of our subjeet wielded a great influence on account of his upright manner of dealing with them, and they relied implicitly upon his judgment and fidelity to his duties. For a great many years he filled offices of trust and responsibility. He was Chairman of the County Board of Supervisors, was County Commissioner, County Treasurer, and for many years a Justice of the Peace. Ile never sought office, but his neigh- bors insisted upon his accepting these and other publie positions, and his influence was always ex- erted for good. Many disputes and quarrels were settled by his mediation. He accumulated a com- fortable property, and is now enjoying the fruits of a well-spent life, having material comforts, the love of his descendants, and the confidence and es- teem of the people among whom he has lived for nearly half a century.
To Alexander and Helen McPherson, there were born five sons and three daughters. The eldest was Jennett, who became the wife of Pliny Hay ward, and died at Sparta, Wis .; John. the subject of this sketch, was the next in order of birth; Thomas is
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inspector of buildings for the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Company, and makes his home at Water- town, Wis .; Jane G. is the wife of Richard Callen- der, a carpenter and builder of Racine: Robert occupies the old homestead at Raymond, where the venerable father also lives; Elizabeth is the wife of William Blocksedge, a carpenter and builder of Racine; Stephen I. is similarly occupied at the same place; also Engene Woodman.
The subject of this sketch spent his boyhood on the farm, attending the district school and assisting in the arduous labor involved in preparing for cul- tivation the soil of a heavily wooded country. When sixteen years old, he repaired to Milwaukee, Wis., and served an apprenticeship of three years at the trade of a carpenter. For four years fol- lowing, he remained with the same employer in the capacity of general foreman. Next he engaged in business on his own account in Oconomowoc, Wis., where the War of the Rebellion found him. On the 15th of August, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, Ist Wisconsin Cavalry, which was assigned to duty in the Southwest. They drilled for a few weeks at Benton Barracks, St. Louis, Mo., and thence were sent to Cape Girardeau, under com- mand of Gen. John McNeil. Their employment thereafter was scouting and fighting the bush whack- ers with which that whole region was infested, the service being extremely dangerous, but not par- tienlarly glorious. Thus a year was spent. and in the spring of 1863, the regiment was ordered to Tennessee. It took part in the battles of Stone River, the cavalry fight at Tallalioma, the battle of Chickamauga, was in the great cavalry fights with Wheeler's rebel troops in the Sequachee Valley, participated in the siege of Knoxville, and in al- most innumerable skirmishes with the rebel cavalry. This regiment later was in the raid with Kilpatrick and McCook, which started out ostensibly to liber- ate the prisoners at Andersonville, but failed of its purpose.
After the siege and capture of Atlanta, the 1st Wisconsin, which had been in continuous service most of the time, was sent to Kentucky to be re- mounted, after which the boys returned to Tennes- see, and took part in the last siege of Nashville. Their last engagement was at West Point, Ga ..
April 16, 1865. At Irwinsville, May 10, the 1st Wisconsin and 4th Michigan Cavalry overtook and captured Jeff Davis. In all these marches and fights, except the two last. Mr. McPherson took a part. He had two or three close calls. but was never wounded and never in the hospital. IIe was promoted through all the non-commissioned grades from private to Commissary Sergeant. On the 7th of April. 1863, he was promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant, for gallant service on the field and for the same reason was commissioned. He was mustered out of the service Jan. 8, 1865. Upon the return of peace, Mr. McPherson, at Oconomo- woc, Wis., engaged as a contractor and bnilder, which business he prosecuted until 1870. He then sold out, and with his wife, accompanied by her father and his family and other relatives, came to Blue Rapids, this county. In partnership with his father-in-law, C. Y. Reed, he built the LaBelle House, in Blue Rapids, and they conducted this for twelve years. Afterward they rented it for a time and sold it in August, 1887. Mr. McPherson in the meantime had handled some real estate. prin- cipally for the central branch of the Union Pacific Railroad Company. After withdrawing from the management of the hotel, he opened an office in Blue Rapids, and has since carried on the business in which he is now engaged.
Mr. MePherson has been three times Mayor of Blue Rapids, a member of its Council, the Town- ship and City Treasurer, and has often occupied other positions of public trust. In 1878 he was appointed Deputy United States Marshal, and re- appointed in 1882, serving about three and one- half years, his principal. Maj. Simpson, resigning before the expiration of his term. On May 29, 1889, under the administration of President Harrison, he was re-appointed to the same position for a term of four years. He has been for years a Notary Pnb- lic, and was appointed by Gov. Martin, Major of the 3d Regiment, Kansas National Guards. his com- mission dating from Feb. 22. 1884, making him the ranking Major of the National Guards of the State.
In Oconomowoc, Wis., on the 19th of October. 1864, Mr. McPherson was married to Miss Emma A., only child of C. Y. and Amanda (Duguid) Reed. Mrs. McPherson was born in LeRoy, N. Y.,
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July 12, 1844. Her father emigrated to Wiscon- sin at an early day after his second marriage, her mother dying when she was born. Mr. Reed died in Blue Rapids, Sept. 10. 1888. Mr. and Mrs. Mc- Pherson are the parents of three children, one of whom, Nellie. died in Blue Rapids, in 1870. The others, John Edward and Cora Jennett, remain with their parents, Mrs. McPherson is President of the Woman's Relief Corps No. 172, auxiliary to the Post in Blue Rapids. She also holds the same posi- tion in connection with the 5th District W. R. C., which embraces twenty-eight divisions. their office being to aid the G. A. R. Posts in all charitable works. She takes an active interest in the Ladies' Library Association in Blue Rapids, of which she is now Treasurer. This association has been in existence for fifteen years. and owns a building on the east side of the square in which there is a library of 3,000 volumes.
Mr. McPherson is a member of Robert Hale Post No. 328. G. A. R .. of which for three years he has been Commander. He is now Commander of the 5th District of the State. The fourth annual re- union was held at Blue Rapids in August. 1889. He is as well known probably as any resident of his town, and his old neighbors and fellow-citizens speak of him in terms of high respect as an upright and trustworthy man and a good citizen, who does his full share in all works tending to advanee the interests of the town and county where he has made his home.
C ALVIN G. BEACH. A long residence in any section gives to the individual a con- sideration and dignity scarcely to be ae- quired by any other means, especially if he is one who has been of value to his community. Mr. Beach is not only one of the oldest settlers of this community, but is one of its honored citizens. Hle looked upon Kansas in its pioneer days and has stayed by it through its various experiences. politi- cal troubles, drouth and grasshoppers and still maintains his allegianee to the commonwealth, which possesses a history more thrilling and inter-
esting, perhaps, than any one State in the Union since the Revolutionary times. That it possesses advantages not found elsewhere can hardly be disputed in consideration of the loyalty of its old settlers.
The subject of this biographical outline was born at Painted Post, Steuben Co., N. Y., Oct. 14, 1839, and is the son of the Rev. Allen R. and Amy B. (Carpenter) Beach, the former a native of New York State and of English descent. The Beach family came from Goshen. Conn., to Johnstown, N. Y. in 1780, while the paternal grandfather of our subject served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War. His mother was likewise a native of the Empire State and traced her ancestry to England. One of her uncles, Wardwell Greene, served in the Revolutionary War. Our subject is also related to Gen. Greene of Revolutionary fame. The family characteristics were industry, honesty, and prud- enee, qualities which seem transmitted to their de- scendents to a marked degree.
Mr. Beach was the second son in his father's family and was reared to manhood in his native State, serving a thorough apprenticeship at farm- ing. During his boyhood he attended the common schools, mostly during the summer season and took kindly to his books. His inclinations led him to the schools for higher education and though not a college graduate the most of his education was ob- tained in schools of this character. He later devel- oped into a teacher,and followed his profession in his native county and for a time later taught in the Acad- emy at Penfield near Rochester. He remained a bachelor until thirty-two years old and was then married March 14,1872 to Miss Charlotte M. Recd.a native of his own State, and a daughter of the Rev. E. D. Reed, a minister of the Baptist Church, and now deceased.
Allen R. Beach the father of our subject, was a minister of the Baptist Church, and died May 3, 1879. His wife survived him ten years, dying July 23. 1889. The parental family consisted of six children, the eldest of whom, Mary E, the wife of S. N. Holmes, of Syracuse, N. Y., died March 11, 1881 ; Ann E. is the wife of Benjamin Crandall, of Battle Creek, Mich .; Amy E., Mrs. Campbell, is the widow of Prof. A. B. Campbell, and lives in
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Ilamilton. N. Y .: Calvin G., the subject of this sketch. was the next in order of birth; Wardwell owns a valuable farm, and is a practicing attorney in Syracuse, N. Y, ; Allen C. the second child, was in 1869 chosen Lieut-Governor of New York, and was afterward Secretary of State; he is now follow- ing the profession of law at Watertown, that State. The late Stephen Carpenter, professor in a college in Madison. Wis., and author of some books on science, was a cousin of Mr. Beach. Mrs. Camp- bell, above referred to as the sister of our subject, has since the death of her husband been engaged in the missionary and temperance work of her native State. She was appointed by the W. C. T. I. to take charge of the department in temperance in Sunday-schools, and is often called upon to deliver addresses before large and cultured audiences in behalf of both the temperance and missionary work.
In the spring of 1872. Mr. Beach leaving the Empire State, came to this county and engaged in cattle-raising upon an extensive scale, which in- dustry he followed successfully for about twelve years. In the meantime he made his home in Blue Rapids. He also became owner of a farm. to which he removed in the spring of 1884. and where he has since resided. During his residence in town he was actively engaged in the temperance cause, trying with other zealous workers to enforce the prohibitory laws. His experiences of pioneer life have been many and varied. during which he la- bored under the many difficulties attending the set- tlement of a new country ; but he was possessed of the hardy spirit necessary to meet every emergency, and has thus been able to make for himself a good record. Like every intelligent man he has watched the growth and prosperity of the "Sun Flower State" with warm interest, and has contributed his full share to the prosperity of Marshall County. Ile has been a uniform supporter of Republican principles, and with his excellent wife is a mem- ber in good standing of the Baptist Church in Blue Rapids. in which he officiates as Deacon and Trustee. He was quite intimately associated with the early history of the church. When he and his wife hecame residents of Blue Rapids. there were but four members of the Baptist denomi-
nation in the city, including themselves. In the fall of the same year the first meeting of Baptists was held at their residence, the object being to consider the propriety of organizing a Baptist Church. On Dec. 1, 1872, the church was duly organized with a membership of twenty-three. Our subject was a number of years Superintendent of the Sunday-school. Besides his 80-acre farm he has some village property, and also owns some land in Missouri.
The children of Mr. and Mrs. Beach are recorded as follows: Allen Reed, the eldest of the five. was born Aug. 10, 1875; Frank Wardwell, April 14. 1878; Annie Laurie, Oct. 4. 1880; Edwin Carroll, March 7, 1883; and Calvin Campbell, Jan. 6, 1887. Rev. E. D. Reed, the father of Mrs. Beach, was born in Franklin County, Mass., March 22, 1811. and was for many years a member of the Board of Trustees of Madison University, N. Y. The Reed family trace their ancestry from William Reade, who was born in 1605, and sailed from Gravesend. Kent Co., England, in the good ship "Assurance de Lo," in 1635. He was one of the first settlers in Weymouth, Mass., and was a representative in 1636-1638. A son of this man married Esther, the daughter of Mary Cook of the "Mayflower Com- panie." Thus the Reed family are but one re- move from Pilgrim blood. In the fourth genera- tion a William Reade married Sarah Warren, sister of Gen. Joseph Warren of Revolutionary re- nown. Little Lavinia Warren, well kown as Mrs. Gen. Tom Thumb, is also descended from this hero. In the fifth generation there were two brothers -- James and Levi, the former of whom emigrated to Ohio in the early history of the State. When in the prime of his manhood he befriended. clothed, and educated a poor boy, who afterward became president of a well-known college. Among those related to this branch of the Reed family, may be mentioned Miss Clara Wells. a prominent teacher and founder of a school for young ladies in Massachussetts. She never married, but devoted her life to teaching, instructing two generations of the same families in many cases. She was much beloved by ber pupils, and at her death the Alumni of her school formed an association of all those living in the United States, and it was their sad
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pleasure to contribute toward the erection of a monument to mark her last resting place. At the unveiling of this monument, many of the Alumni were present.
Levi Reed the grandfather of Mrs. Beach, mar- ried Nancy Pratt, whose ancestry has been traced as far back as the reign of Queen Elizabeth. She was descended through the Hammond family from Elizabeth Penn, a sister of William Penn. Some of their ancestors were engaged in the French and Indian wars, while Levi Reed served as musician in the War of 1812. The British encamped in in sight of Boston for several weeks. when Edwin D). Reed, the son of Levi Reed, was a child of two or three years. As his mother bade her husband a tearful farewell, not knowing what the future had in store for them, Edwin looked up proudly into her sad face and said: "Your little boy will take care of you." Levi Reed emigrated to Northern New York, when Edwin D., the father of Mrs. Beach, was but a boy seven years of age. He, and a younger brother made much of the long journey by trudging on foot over the Green Mountains. lIe was educated for the ministry at Madison Uni- versity, and in his early manhood was asked to accept the position as tutor of the noted authoress, Fanny Forrester. then only an ambitious factory girl, writing for the local papers. It was through his influence that her first poem was secured for the press. He was married in 1837 to Miss Sophia Redfield, a lady of English descent, and one of a numerous family, her grandfather serving in the war against the French in Cana la. A cousin of her father served in the Revolutionary War from 1777 to 1782, suffering incredible hard- ships from marching through deep snows and from the want of food and raiment. A brother served in the Civil War, and many other members of her family were in the same war, in both army and navy. Another brother was a' refugee from the State of Tennessee. Isaac Fletcher Redfield was graduated from Dartmouth College, receiving from that and Trinity College the degree of L. L. D., and was on the bench of the Supreme Court of Vermont, being Chief Jus- tice of that State. Mrs. Reed died Aug. 26, 1871. The parental family included five children, of
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