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 87
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the sail ship "Lady Colbrook," and after a voyage of six weeks landed at New York. Thenee he went to Patterson, N. J., where he' finished his trade of machinist and engineer, and where he re- mained for five years working at the same. After- ward he came to Peoria, Ill .. where he followed his trade until 1861. His parents having come to the United States about 1855, and being located on a farm in Peoria County, he spent the year 1861 with them.
In August, 1862, our subject enlisted in the ser- vice of his adopted country, being enrolled in Company B, 86th Illinois Infantry. He enlisted as a private, and served gallantly in that capacity until the close of the war, taking part in many of the most famous engagements of the conflict. He was in the terrible engagement at Perrysville, also at Stone River, Chickamauga, Mission Ridge and Lookout Mountain. After the battle last mentioned he marched the next day to Knoxville, Tenn., to relieve Burnside, and then went back to Chatta- nooga. In May, 1864, his regiment entered on the campaign to Atlanta, their first engagement being at Resaca, following which came Rome, Dallas, the hard fight of Kenesaw Mountain, and that at Peach Tree Creek. From this time they were in constant skirmish with the enemy till they reached Atlanta, where they made a charge, and with their comrades took the city, having cut off the supplies of the Confederates. After being in camp at Atlanta for a couple of weeks, the com- mand started back to Alabama after Hood, follow- ing him to Rome, Ga., thence going to Chattanooga. and then back to Rome, from there to Cartersville , and then to Atlanta. Here they entered upon the famons march to the sea, and after taking Savannah, marched up through South Carolina to Benton- ville, N. C., where they engaged in another hard- fought contest. Marching forward to Fayetteville, and on to Raleigh, they paused in their onward course until Lee's surrender; then wending their steps to Washington, took part in the grand review, after which being mustered out of service, our sub- jeet returned to Illinois. He remained in that State two years, and then removed to this eounty, locating upon the farm he now occupies.
In Patterson, N. J., was celebrated the marriage
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of our subject to Betsey, daughter of John Jen- nings. The result of this union has been four chil- dren-John J. is married. and is City Editor of the Kansas City Gazette; Frank W. is married and farming in Marshall County, Kan .; Mary, now Mrs. Charles McChesney. lives in Russell Connty, Kan .; and Sherman. The parents of our subject, while in Scotland, were members of the Free Church. Mr. Maxwell is a man of fine character. earnest, energetic, of industrious and economical habits, hearty manners and fine principles, and de- servedly receives the respect of the community.
W ILLIAM B. HUNT. The extent to which success has smiled upon the labors of per- severance and industry, is indicated in the surroundings of Mr. Hunt, who is accounted one of the most thorough and skillful farmers of Rap- ids City Township, where he owns and operates 160 acres of valuable land on section 16. He may be called essentially a self-made man, one who has acquired a competence by his own unaided ef- forts, and who has been fortunate in not only ac- eumulating capital, but investing it in a profitable manner. In addition to general agriculture he makes a specialty of stock-raising, and is in the en- joyment of a handsome income.
The subject of this sketch was born in Genesee County. N. Y., May 6, 1854, and is the son of James and Esther (Bond) Hunt, who came to this county during its pioneer days, and of whom men- tion is made elsewhere in this volume. The par- ents after their marriage resided in the Empire State until 1871, William B. being then a youth of seventeen years. It may easily be imagined that when his father talked of coming West. he was highly in favor of the project, and in the spring of the year above mentioned they all set out for Kan- sas. reaching their destination in safety, and here William B. has since resided.
Mr. Hunt attended the public schools of his na- tive county. and for two terms pursued his studies in a seminary, and was thus furnished with a fair business education. Ile chose farming for his vo-
cation in life, and whatever he has attempted he has done well. He remained a member of the parental household until a man of twenty-five years, and then, being ready to establish a home of his own .. was married, March 24, 1879, to Miss Ella 1Iam. This lady was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., July 29. 1861, and is the daughter of Ezbon Ham, and Hariett E. Hazeltine, his wife. now a resident of Elm Creek Township. Of this union there have been born five children, and those living are : Esther B., Hattie A., James E. and William W. The eld- est child was a daughter, named Carrie Belle; she died when eleven months of age.
The present homestead of Mr. Hunt came into his possession in 1884, and since that time he has given his attention to its improvement and culti- vation. Years of labor and hundreds of dollars have been expended in bringing it to its present condition, and not only as a well-to-do farmer, but as a business man and a member of the community. Mr. Hunt is fully entitled to the respect and esteem in which he is held by his fellow-citizens. He has never sought public positions, but has kept himself well informed upon the political issues of the day, and uniformly gives his aid and influence in sup- port of the principles of the Republican party. The biographer in looking around for representative men who have assisted in the growth and develop- ment of Marshall County, finds that William B. Hunt occupies no secondary position among the leading citizens of his township.
LBERT D. ESTES, a farmer and stock- raiser, living on section 13, Blue Rapids City Township, is a native of Clay County. Mo., born Nov. 27, 1850. He was the son of Bartlett and Catherine (Samples) Estes, both natives of Missouri, of which his father was said to have been during his life one of the oldest inhab- itants. He is the youngest child of his father's first marriage, and was reared upon his father's farm until the age of eighteen. Ilis educational advantages during boyhood were rather limited, and he had not the opportunities afforded the youth 1
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of this day to acquire knowledge. IIe is practi- cally a self-educated man. At the age of eighteen he went to Buchanan County. Mo .. where as a farm hand and renter he remained until he was twenty- one. lle then spent several years in St. Clair Connty, Mo .. still engaged in the occupation of farming. Ile returned to Buchanan County, where he was married, Sept. 7, 1873, to Miss Frances Chestnut. The young couple settled in St. Clair County. on a rented farm, and there remained for two years. They next spent a short time in Buch- anan County, following which they lived for sev- eral years in Atchison County, still upon rented land. In the spring of 1883, the family removed to this county, and settled where they now live. The farm consists of 160 acres in a good state of cultivation, and bearing the usual improvements in the way of buildings, which are put up by an en- terprising and progressive farmer.
Mrs. Estes is a native of Missouri, and the daugh- ter of Andrew and Evaline Chestnut, of Buchanan County, that State. She and her husband have been blessed by the birth of five children: Cathe- rine E., Charles A .. Elizabeth M., Albert F., and Eddie B. Mr. Estes is a Democrat in his political views. He is a man of public spirit, favoring all enterprises which will improve and advance the in- terests of the county. He and his family take an active interest in the social affairs of their locality, and after years of hard work, are now able to enjoy more of the pleasures of life. As a successful and industrious agriculturist, and a man of honor and uprightness, Mr. Estes is esteemed by his fellow- citizens.
M ARTIN L. REITZEL. The man who is held in universal respect by the people of his community, and who has the tact, ingenuity and goodness which enables him to live at peace with his neighbors, deserves to have his name handed down to posterity. These quali- ties are pre-eminent in the character of Mr. Reit. zel, who is designated as an irreproachable Christian gentleman morally, while in a business point of
view. he possesses those capacities whereby he has accumulated a comfortable property sufficient to fortify him against want in his old age. We find him located on one of the most desirable farms in Waterville Township, where his industry and per- severance 'have surrounded his family with all the comforts of life.
Hendricks County, Ind., was the native place of our subject, and the date of his birth Feb. 18, 1841. His father David Reitzel, was born in Guil- ford County. N. C., in 1806. The latter left the South in 1837, and emigrating to Indiana located in Clay Township, Hendricks County, where he still resides. He has followed agricultural pursuits all his life, and by thrift and industry accumulated considerable means. For many years he has been an active member of the Lutheran Church. Polit- ically, he sides with the Republican party. giving to it his uniform support, and is a man of more than ordinary intelligence, keeping himself well posted upon the leading events of the day.
The Reitzel family originated in Germany, and was first represented in America probably as early as the Revolutionary times. The mother of our subjeet, whose maiden name was Deborah Marshall, was of American parentage and was born in North Carolina in 1808. Her death took place at the homestead in Hendricks County, Ind., in 1849. The parental family was completed by the birth of ten children, of whom Martin L. was the sixth. He was reared to man's estate in his native county, and an early age was trained to those habits of in- dustry which have served him so well in later years. He acquired his education in the common schools, and worked with his father on the farm until after the outbreak of the Civil War. In July, 1861, he enlisted as a soldier of the Union army in Company E. 21st Indiana Infantry, the regiment being under the command of Col. James McMillen. Soon afterward they were ordered to Ship Island and assigned to the command of Gen. Ben Butler, whom they accompanied on one of the first boats under his command that landed in New Orleans. Mr. Reitzel was one of the General's special body guard. He served with that command in Louisi- ana until 1863, when his regiment was transformed to heavy artillery. In April of that year they
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reached the rear of Port Hudson, La., and fired the first guns on the land forces.
Our subject participated in all the battles and skirmishes in which his command was engaged, and after serving his first term of enlistment, he in 1864, re-entered the ranks and for a time was on garrison dnty. Later he joined the Red River expedition and gathered up ammunition and arms for the Government. On Jan. 10, 1866, some months after the close of the war, he was mustered out of service at Baton Rouge, La., and received his honorable discharge.
The hardships and privations incident to army life had their natural effect, and Mr. Reitzel found himself at the close of his soldier's career consid- erably broken down in health, and he has never fully recovered. He returned to his native county and followed farming there until 1880. 1Ie had for some time been casting longing looks across the Father of Waters, and now determined to seek the soil and climate of Northern Kansas. Coming to this county he purchased a farm in the vicinity of Waterville, and has since made it his home. He is now the owner of 120 acres, to which he gives his whole time and attention, making a speciality of live stock. Ile has good buildings and the requis- ite machinery for thorough and successful agricul - ture and has a comfortable and attractive home, which is represented by a lithographie engraving on another page.
In 1886. Mr. Reitzel was elected Trustee of Wa- terville Township, and was re-elected the follow- ing year. He, however, has no desire for the spoils of office. preferring to relegate to others its cares and responsibilities, although he has held many of the other local offices. fle is universally popular, both in social and business circles. The establishment of schools has always received his warm sanetion and support, and he has been a faithful member of the Lutheran Church from carly manhood. Politically, he is a stanch Demo- crat, and although living in a Republican township, is not likely to be beaten in the race for any office, which he may be prevailed upon to accept. Soci- ally, he belongs to the 1. O. O. F. and the G. A. R.
The marriage of our subject to Miss Mary J. Richardson was celebrated at the bride's home in
Pecksburg. Ind., March 29, 1864, Mrs. Reitzel was born May 1, 1844. in Hendricks County. Ind., and is the daughter of William and Milly (Har- ckreider) Richardson, who were natives of Virginia and Kentucky, respectively, and are now residents of Hendricks County, Ind. The four children born of this union are, Charles J., Franklin E., Walter A. and Flora E. Both parents and children are active members of the Lutheran Church. Charles J. and Franklin E. are in business in Kan- sas City ; Walter A. and Flora E. are at home with their parents.
W ILLIAM FITZGERALD has been a resi- dent of Marshall County for nearly a score of years, and has been an eye witness of much of its growth, lle is the owner and occu- pant of a splendid farm of 120 acres on section 27, Blue Rapids City Township, the lands being em- bellished by a commodious and well-built residence. and adequate farm buildings. The success which Mr. Fitzgerald has attained, is due to his own in- dustry and trustworthiness, as he had no one to give him a financial start in life.
Mr. Fitzgerald was born in Ontario, Canada, Sept. 1, 1826. He was the son of Thomas and Margaret (Sperling) Fitzgerald. The father was a native of Ireland, and the mother of Irish birth, but German ancestry. Thomas Fitzgerald emigrated to Amer- ica about the year 1825, and settled in Canada, where he lived until his death. The gentleman of whom we write, was the sixth in order of birth in the parental family. 1Ie was reared to manhood on a farm in his native country. He received a good common-school education. and being all his life a reader, was well posted on general topics and current events, and might be considered in a large sense a self-educated man. In 1871, he removed from Canada with his family, and deciding upon this county at his future home, he bought the land where he now lives. The land was in the raw con- dition in which the Indians left the territory from which they had been driven, and its present state of cultivation and improvement, is a standing
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monument of the industry and hard labor of its owner. The family endured many of the hard- ships incident to pioneer life, and did much of pio- neer labor.
Mr. Fitzgerald was married in February, 1850, to Agnes Davidson, a lady of Scotch descent, though a native of County Down, Ireland. She was the daughter of Ilugh and Isabelle Davidson, and when about twenty years of age, emigrated with her parents to Canada, where she met and be- came the wife of our subject. The union has re- sulted in the birth of five children: Isabella M., wife of William Hamilton, of Blue Rapids; Alice, wife of John Hamilton, of this county; Ross and William M. living in Montana; and Isaae F., who is still at home. Mrs. Fitzgerald died in Septem- ber, 1876. He was afterward married to Mrs. Rhoda Morrison in November, 1884; she was the widow of William Morrison. He was a native of New Jersey.
Mr. and Mrs. Fitzgerald are members of the Bap- tist Church. Mr. Fitzgerald has served for five years as Treasurer of the Blue Rapids City Town- ship, and has discharged the duties of his office with credit to himself and constituents. He has also served several years as Treasurer of his School Distriet. Ile is among the representative pioneers of the county, and enjoys a large acquaintance. Surrounded by children and friends, they are now enjoying the fruits of lives spent in usefulness and well-doing.
W ILLIAM COULTER. Since 1874 Mr. Coulter has been continuously a resident of Kansas, which he first visited in 1873. He then purchased lots within the present limits of Blue Rapids, and put up a brick block for business purposes on the south side of the square, and which is now used as the Arlington Hotel. Upon locating here he engaged in the drug trade and is now num- bered among the prosperous men of this part of the county.
A native of the County Louth, Ireland, Mr. Coulter was born in the town of Dundalk, Dec. 7, 1814. His paternal grandfather was a Major in
the British Army, but his son, the father of our subject, who was named Charles, was brought up on a farm near Dundalk. Upon attaining manhood he engaged in mercantile pursuits, and for many years was in the grocery business in Couthill, County Cavan. Some years after his marriage, desiring to take advantage, for the sake of his chil- dren, of the better opportunities offered for homes in the New World, he emigrated to Canada with the most of his family about the year 1830. He settled at Peterboro, in the county of that name. Province of Ontario, where he took up a farm but did not live to realize his hopes, dying in a year or two after his arrival.
Charles Coulter, the father of our subject, was married in Ircland to Miss Jane C'luxton, also a native of County Louth. Their six children were all born in Ireland and all emigrated to Canada. With the exception of our subject and his sister, Jane, they are all deceased. Jane is the wife of William McDonnell, a well-known writer of Canada, and a gentleman of large means. who is now living retired in Lindsay, Victoria County, Ontario. The mother of our subject died at the place where the family had settled shortly after the death of her husband.
The subject of this notice attended school in his native town and completed his studies in a classical school at Couthill. Afterward, deciding to become an apothecary, he, in order to acquire a thorough knowledge of the business, attended the hospital and dispensary in Kells for three years. At this latter place he was apprenticed for seven years to learn the business, which in that country is under Governmental control, in order that those practic- ing it should be thoroughly qualified to act as phy- sicians. During his apprenticeship there occurred the cholera scourge of 1831, and Mr. Coulter, with another young man, attended the patients who were brought to the hospital in the town. The epidemic was disastrous, decimating the population, especially before the opening of the hospital, and the stricken people had but little care in the gen- eral terror which prevailed. Mr. Coulter and his companion had the entire charge of admitting the patients and compounding their medicine, cach taking a turn of twenty-four hours. They were
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the means of saving many lives, and it is gratifying to state that neither suffered on account of their devotion to the cause of humanity.
At the time of his parents' emigration to America, young Coulter decided to remain in Ireland, to graduate as an apothecary. and then he joined them in the Dominion. Both parents dying soon after- ward, he remained upon the farm until his brothers were established in business, when he sold out and going into the town of Peterboro, established him- self there as a druggist and apothecary, remaining until coming to this State with his family, in Janu- ary, 1874. In 1842 he had been married to Miss Eliza Lince, who was born in the city of Dublin, Ireland. They are now the parents of twelve chil- dren, two of whom died in infancy. Ann Jane, is the wife of John Roche, a resident of Guelph, Canada; Charles Lince was graduated from Belle- vue Medical College, New York City, and from Victoria College, in Cobourg, Canada; he is now a practicing physician of Lindsay, Canada. William was graduated from the University of Toronto, and is engaged in the drug business at Geneseo, Kan .; Clement is also a graduate in pharmacy both in Canada and Philadelphia, and is in the drug store of his father-in-law, Dr. R. S. Craft, of Blue Rapids; Frederick H. was educated for the profession of medicine, but abandoned it and likewise became a pharmacist; he was in business in British Columbia, Canada and San Francisco, Cal., but is now a resi- dent of St. Joseph, Mo .; Ilerbert B., also lives in that place where he is conducting the business of the Coulter- Welch Co., manufacturers of syrups, molasses, jellies, and kindred articles; Emma F. re- mains at home with her parents; George E. is also a pharmacist, having been graduated from the Kansas Board of Pharmacy, also of the institution in St. Joseph, Mo., and is now traveling in the in- terest of his brother, Herbert; Clarence, likewise a pharmacist, received his diploma from the Kansas State Board of Pharmacy; he married Miss Nettie Besack and assists his father in the business at Blue Rapids: Harold L., the youngest, was bookkeeper in the Saxton National Bank of St. Joseph, Mo., for five years. but in consequence of ill health, was re- cently compelled to resign.
While in Canada Mr. Coulter was for many
years a member of the School Board of Peterboro Collegiate Institute, and was also for many years County Magistrate at that place. In Blue Rapids he has been a member of the City Council, although he has never aspired to a public position. In 1884 he was appointed by Gov. Glick, a Notary Public, and re-appointed by Gov. Martin in 1888. Thor- oughly educated in his chosen profession, he has given to it more study than is usual with persons who learn it in this country. and he conducts his business in the most thorough manner. In both social and business circles, he is held in high esteem.
AVID WERTEMBERGER. whose wife and several of his children have been residents of this county since 1880. was born in Center County, Pa .. Nov. 1, 1802, and de- parted this life in Kosciusko County, Ind., Sept. 14, 1866. He was a well-to-do farmer and an active member of the Lutheran Church from early manhood. He left his native State with his parents when a child, and with them removed to Ohio, where he was rearcd and educated, growing up with those habits of industry which served him so well in later years.
On the 22d of February, 1852, the subject of this sketch was united in marriage with Miss Lydia Kimmell, who was born in Stark County, Ohio, Jan 11, 1823. Their union resulted in the birth of eight children. viz .: Emma M., Mary A., Amanda H., Orlando D., David F., Sarah J., Isaac N. and Nancy E. Mrs. Wertemberger, after the death of her husband, remained with her family in Indiana until 1880, then disposing of her property there, came to this county, and settled on her present farm in Waterville Township. This embraces a fine body of ninety-six acres of land. well improved and in a high state of cultivation. Mrs. Wertem- berger is very pleasantly situated, her children being all married, and most of them settled around her.
Emma Wertemberger, the eldest daughter of our subject, is the wife of John Whistler, a well educated gentleman. who is teaching and
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farming in Diekerson County, this State. They have two children-Ora and Arthur. Mary A. is the wife of Harry Funk, a carpenter of Barnes, this State; they have ten children, viz .: James B., Henry D., Charles C., Fred R .. Mary K., Gusta A .. Harley E., Ralph W., Walter L. and Ilarold D. Amanda H. married William McConnel, a farmer and teacher in Kosciusko County, Ind., and they have six children-Maude, Myron, Demay, Kate, Ralph and Delos. Orlando D. married Miss Emma Sim- mons. of St. Joseph, Mo .; they reside at Barnes and have one child, a son, Claude. Sarah J. mar- ried Warren D. Hover, a carpenter of this county, and they have three children-Galen O., David D. and Dessie I. Naney E. married Clay Whitesides, a farmer of this county, and they have four ehil- dren-Carrie M., Grace L., Lula M. and Edwin H. Mrs. Wertemberger is a very capable and intelligent lady-one who has reared her children well, and has many friends. Under her wise management the farm is increasing in value each year, and is the sonree of a handsome income. She has a handsome residence, represented by a lithographie engraving elsewhere in this work, and filled with every evi- denee of taste and culture.
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M ENZO W. TERRY, of St. Bridget Town- ship, is looked upon as one of its most en- ergetic and promising young men. He has been a member of the Democratic County Conventions, for the past two years has held the office of Township Treasurer, and his name has been mentioned in connection with other leading local offices. Ile laid aside the practice of law to seeure the land which he at present occupies and to which he will have substantiated his claim Septem- ber 10, when he will return to his profession.
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