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 95
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most where duty calls to the front, and, therefore, we are not surprised that among those who came to Marysville in its early days should be included a few of the sons of New York.
Prominent among these is the subject of this sketch, Ora C. Allen, who claims Poolville, Madi- son Co., N. Y., as his birthplace. Born there Oct. 2, 1818, the first four years of his life were passed within its limits. When he had reached that age. his father sought a home in Tioga County, Pa., and there the family remained until 1837. when they came to Mentor, Ohio. Here, in the town sacred to the name of Garfield, Mr. Allen lived until he had reached his twentieth year. It may be well to state that Mr. Allen enjoyed a near ac- quaintanceship with the lamented President and his family.
In 1839, Mr. Allen became imbued with an ad- venturons spirit. and decided to visit Illinois. For the next two years he had no permanent home, part of his time being passed in Peru and part in St. Louis. In June. 1845, he married Miss Joan Osborne, and made his home in Knox County, where he engaged in blacksmithing and wagon- making. The years were uneventful until the de- sire came to push on farther West, and in May, 1864, he reached Kansas, locating at Barrett, this county. where he purchased an improved farm and entered the mercantile field. For ten years he re- mained on the farm in Clear Fork Township, and finally, in September, 1885, came to Marysville to be near his children, of whom six are living, one having died. Following are their names: Sarah A. Massey, of Center Township; Mary E .. Mrs. W. H. Smith: J. C., a resident of Seneca; Kate, Mrs. George T. Smith; Frank, a clerk in a grocery ; and .l. R., of Concordia.
Mrs. Allen, nee Joan Osborne, was born in San- gamon County, Ill., near Springfield, Sept. 19, 1819. She is a daughter of Stephen Osborne, one of the oldest settlers in Illinois, and also a sister of the Osbornes, who live in the southern part of this county. Mr. Allen has held several important positions, political and otherwise, during his resi- dence in Kansas and Illinois. For eight years he was County Commissioner, filling this position with rare acceptance to the people, He has also
A
ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH AND PASTORAL RESIDENCE, SEC. 21. CLEVELAND TOWNSHIP.
RESIDENCE OF CHARLES J. JOHNSON, SEC. 10. COTTAGE HILL TOWNSHIP.
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been Land Agent for the Central Branch Railroad, appraising the lands and furnishing the typographi- cal description of them, and selling thousands of acres for this railroad.
When Mr. Allen first came to this county, the valleys contained but a few settlers, and the up- lands were left to their pristine solitude, as they were considered unsafe to dwell upon. Ile assures us there is at this day probably more than double the number of acres of timber than at that time; much of its present growth is a natural one, as the annual fires have gradually diminished with the settlement of the State. While a resident of Illi- nois, Mr. Allen was quite a prominent man, hold- ing the offices of Commissioner. Justice of the Peace, and also that of County Clerk for Mercer County.
OHN ARMSTRONG is a native of Logan Parish, County Longford, Ireland. His par- ents, William and Eliza (Blessington) Arm- strong, together with their ancestors, had been born and reared in the same county, and there they died. All were reared in the Catholic faith. Our subject was about nineteen years of age when he left his native country for the United States. lle landed at New York, where he remained about two years, and thenee removed to DeKalb County, Ill .. where he worked upon a railroad about six years. Thenee he went to Chicago, where he was employed in a foundry about six years. He then, in November, 1870, came to Kansas, and home- steaded forty acres of the farm, which he now pos- sesses. His first dwelling was a dug-out, in which the family lived for several years, our subject work- ing as best he could for money to support them. As soon as he was able to obtain necessary material, and take time for the labor, he with his own hands, erected a nice stone house. lle has since bought eighty acres, and now his farm of 120 acres is un- der good cultivation with a fine orchard of about 200 trees, and such other improvements as are usually made by an enterprising agrieulturist.
Mr. Armstrong was married in Chicago, Ill .. to Mary, daughter of Mike and Mary ( Farrell) Cori-
gan, a native of the same county as himself. To them were born the following children: Mary 1., now Mrs. Frank Bell; Ellen, now Mrs. Thomas Far- rell, living in Washington County, Kan .; William (deceased): Kate, now Mrs. Jacob Reiter, (see sketch); John William. Benjamin. Andrew, and James.
Mrs. Armstrong was reared in the Catholic Church of the parish of Foreigny Chapel, of which her parents and ancestors, as far as known, were members. She with her husband and family fol- lowed in the faith of their fathers.
ETER SCHUMACHER, of Logan Town- ship, was born in Lutzenburg, Germany, in September. 1846, and lived there until fifteen years old. He attended the schools of his native Province, and at the age mentioned went to Paris, France, where he worked at finishing leather and remained about seven years. Then returning home he staid there about three months and in the spring of 1855 set ont for America, landing in New York City after sixty-four days, on the 25th of May. He was accompanied by his bride of a month, he having been married in his native place to Susan, danghier of Michel and Mary (Reeee) Cuppes. ller parents were natives of Luxemburg, where they reared their family of eight children and died in the faith of the Catholic Church.
The parents of our subject were Mathew and Kate (Herber) Schumacher, also a native of Lux- emburg and members of the Catholic Church, to which their ancestors had belonged as far baek as the records go. Mr. and Mrs. Schumacher soon after their arrival in America made their way to Wisconsin and located on a farm, where they lived five years and then removed to Northern Michigan, where Mr. Schumacher was employed in the copper mines about eight years. Thenee he came to Kan- sas in the fall of 1865.
He first located on section 12, Logan Township, where his son Peter now lives and owns 160 acres. Later,he removed to section 13, where he has effected
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good improvements, putting up a house and barn and other buildings, and is the owner of 240 acres. He has a large variety of fruit including an acre of grapes of excellent varieties, and an apple orehard which yields bountifully. Mr. and Mrs. Schu- macher are members of the Catholic Church at Marysville, and the parents of six children. Mag- gie became the wife of Nicholas Mollinger and the mother of two children-Katie and Mathew; she died Ang. 3, 1885. aged thirty years. Katie mar- ried Charles Huver : Peter J. is written of elsewhere in this ALBUM. The others are Mathew, Susan and Stephen.
Mr. Schumacher landed in America without any money and commenced working by the month, being thus occupied in Wisconsin and Michigan and after coming to this county. He saved what he could of his earnings and thus obtained his start in life. He constructed the tunnel under the Marysville mill now owned by Perry Hutchinson which job assisted him greatly. Indians yet lin- gered in this region and he was obliged to leave his wife and little children at home in the cabin trembling with fear at times. Had it not been for the kindness of Mr. Hutchinson our subject and many others would have been obliged to leave the country or starve.
The first harness owned by Mr. Schumacher was made from leather taken from old boot legs and used for light work. As soon as the boys were large enough they commenced breaking prairie with the oxen. The father would put the yoke on the oxen Monday morning and it would be left there until he came home Saturday night, the boys not being able to take it off. As years passed by things in general became better for both man and beast.
HOMAS D. SATTERFIELD, Deputy County Surveyor of Marshall County, is recognized as one of the old residents of of the Sunflower State, in which he took up his residence in the year 1875. He was born in Adams County. Ohio, on the 8th of October, 1835, and there spent his youthful days, obtaining a more
than ordinarily good education. He completed his studies in Sonth Salem Academy, after which he taught in his own and adjoining counties until coming to the farther West. Prior to this he had been elected Surveyor of Pike County, Ohio, hold- ing the office three years, and for a period of twenty- one years he was engaged almost continuously as a teacher, with which he combined surveying, and was also owner of a farm in Highland County, Ohio.
On Feb. 8, 1866. our subjeet was united in mar- riage with Miss Alice J. Renoe. They settled on a farm in Highland County, where they lived until she died, lie coming to this State. Their union has been blest by the birth of four children, the eldest of whom, a daughter, Ella May, is the wife of William Smith, of Highland County, Ohio, and the mother of one son. Daisy Florence married William MeMoran, of Home City, Kan., and is the mother of a son, Ilugh; Mr. McMoran is engaged as a lumberman. Winnie Burton and Alta Blanche remain at home with their parents. The wife and mother departed this life in Highland County, Ohio, Oct. 8, 1875.
On Nov. 25, 1875. Mr. Scatterfield landed in the city of Beattie. this county, and soon afterward purchased a farin in Center Township, five miles south. He effected good improvements upon a raw, uncultivated tract of land, making fences, setting out fruit and shade trees, erecting buildings and bringing about the other comforts and conve- niences suggested to the enterprising and progres- sive citizen. He still owns the farm and spends much of his time looking after his agricultural in- terests. He was married the second time, Oct. 28. 1877, to Mrs. Henrietta A. (Higgins) Morgan, of Berryville, Ohio. They are the parents of twin girls-Lulu Pearl and Birdie Berl, and Julia Hazel. Mr. Satterfield usually votes the straight Demo- cratic ticket. Ile is a man of high character, and universally respected.
The father of our subject was James Satterfield, a native of Virginia, and born Jan. 1. 1809. When a boy of ten years he removed with his parents to Pike County, Ohio, where he was bred to farm pur- snits and married Miss Mahala Legg, of Loudoun County. Va, They established themselves in
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Adams County, Ohio, and became the parents of ten children, seven of whom lived to mature years. The father departed this life in 1887. Mrs. Alice J. (Renoe) Satterfield was born. in llighland County, Ohio. June 2, 1845, and was the daughter of Simpson Renoe, Esq., a prominent man in his community. who served as Justice of the Peace for the long period of thirty years, and is still living. The mother, Mrs. Eleanor ( Hastings) Renoe, died some years ago.
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Mrs. llenrietta A. (Iliggins) Satterfield was born in Highland County, Ohio, in October, 1852. and is the daughter of Thomas and Julia A. (Weaver) Higgins. She spent her girlhood days in her native county, remaining under the parental roof until her first marriage. Her father, Thomas lliggins, was a native of Virginia, went with his parents to Ohio when a boy, where he was reared to man's estate and occupied himself as a farmer and general merchant at Berryville. He departed this life in the spring of 1888; his widow is still living. Miss Henrietta Alice Iliggins received a good education,and lived with her parents in her na- tive county until her marriage with James Morgan, who was the son of a prominent merchant of Ber- ryville, and occupied himself during his younger years in his father's store. After marriage Mr. and Mrs. Morgan lived in the village of Berryville about six months, and then Mr. Morgan was stricken with that dread disease, consumption. He was sent to Texas with the hope of recovery, but receiving no benefit, went to Montana, whence he wrote many times, and there died. To his wife there was born one son, Richard, and the mother lived with her father whose land adjoined the town of Berryville, for six years. At the expiration of this time she was married to our subject. Her son, Richard, is now a young man of great promise, and remains with his grandmother in Berry ville, completing his education and being usefully em- ployed during his vacations.
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During the Civil War Mr. Satterfield was elected Lieutenant Colonel in Pike County of the Ist Ohio Militia, and drilled his regiment regularly. Although never called out, they held themselves in readiness, especially during the time of Mor- gan's raid, and blockading the road sent for arms,
and were going up the canal to the town of Jasper, passing the bridge over which Morgan made the passage about five minutes before. They harrassed him all that it was in their power to do without their arms.
In Highland County, Ohio, Mr. Satterfield held the office of Township Clerk one term, and Dep- uty County Surveyor for three years, and was a member of the School Bord. Ile has always main- tained.his interest in educational matters, and has held conventions in both llighland and Pike Coun- ties. lle followed teaching three years after his second marriage. and until his wife's health failed.
OHN PALMER, Justice of the Peace of Blue Rapids"Township, has held his pres- ent `office for a period of four years and given general satisfaction. ] He is an old and highly-respected citizen, cultivated in thought and with a well educated mind, a man greatly interested in the advancement of education, an old music and singing teacher, active in politics, voting with the Republican party, a strong temperance advocate, and generally in favor of those measures tending to the social and moral advancement of mankind. He is one of those kindly characters, genial, cor- dial and refined, with whom an hour may always be spent pleasantly and profitably. The family occupies a high social position, and have borne no unimportant part in sustaining the standard of morality and piety.
The Palmer homestead, comprising a fine farm of 160 acres, is pleasantly situated on section 6 in Blue Rapids Township, and has about it the air of plenty and comfort, which is always so pleasing to contemplate. The subject of our sketch was born in Clarkson, Monroe Co., N. Y., Feb. 6, 1820, and is the son of the once well-known Deacon Joel Palmer,a native of North Branford, Conn., who by trade was a tanner, currier and shoemaker combined. The father of our subject was born in 1779. and was in the vigor of young manhood during the War of 1812. in which he took an active part as Sergeant. He married Miss Phebe Barlow, a native
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of Massachusetts. Grandfather Barlow served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and after its close established himself on a farm in the vicinity of Lima, Livingston Co .. N. Y. To him and his wife, Phebe, there were born nine children, all of whom grew to mature years. The grandparents ยท died at the ages of seventy and eighty-nine respect- ively. The parents of our subject were eighty-nine and seventy years, respectively. at the time of their decease. There had been born to them nine chil- dren, five sons and four daughters. five of whom are living and located mostly in New York. The family traces its ancestry directly to Walter Palmer, of Stonington, Conn.
The subject of this sketeh acquired a practical education, and when leaving the common school pursued his studies for a time in the academy of his native town. When a youth of eighteen he struck out for himself, teaching during the winter season. He thereafter was thus occupied. with the exception of three years, from 1839 to 1870, including ten terms taught in this State. He learned the trade of a tanner and currier with his father, at which he was employed in the summer season in his native State until 1846. Ile then purchased a farm and worked upon it during the summer. On the 2d of May, 1847, he was united in marriage with Miss Ann O. Clark, at the bride's home at Syracuse. This lady was a daughter of Daniel and Nancy ( Wattles) Clark, who were natives respectively of Vermont and Lebanon, Conn. They, like the Palmers, came of Puritan stock, and set foot upon the soil of America as early as 1621.
Mrs. Palmer was the eldest in a family of five children, who grew to mature years, and was born in Manlius, N. Y., April 8, 1822. She attended the common school at Rochester, and the Academy at Clarkson. She possesses considerable musical talent. and since 1842 has been a teacher of the piano and organ. She inherited this talent from her father, who for many years was the organist at St. Luke's Church, at Rochester, N. Y. Ile de- parted this life in 1848, at the age of fifty-eight years. The mother died in 1837. aged forty-seven.
Mr. and Mrs. Palmer after their marriage settled in what was then Clarkson, but is now Hamlin, where they lived until 1870. That year he came
to this eounty, and was joined by the rest of the family the following spring. Mr. Palmer pre- empted his present farm in 1871, and finally en- tered it under the timber culture Act, and since that time has effected some fine improvements. It embraces 161 acres, sixty of which are under the plow. The proprietor has planted 2,700 trees on cach acre of a body of fourteen acres, and has built a substantial stone house, besides erecting the other structures necessary for the successful prosecution of his calling. lIe handles consider- able live-stock, and to this devotes nearly all the grain raised on the place.
Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Palmer, of whom the record is as follows: Charles H .; John N., who died in New York; Marcia, John N .. George H1., William B., Frances A., Emma and Edward P. Charles 11 .. who married Miss Ida Brooks. is the father of two children. and lives in Missouri. Marcia is the wife of Furgess A. Edin- borough ; they have three children, and are living in Wells Township. this county. John N. married Miss Stella R. Blaney, and they live in Cleburne, Riley County, this State; they have no children. George H. married Miss Kate Bowman, and they live in Concordia; they have two children. Will- iam B. remains at home with his parents. Frances passed to her last rest Ang. 31, 1888; she was a devoted Christian, and beloved by all who knew her for her unselfish and gentle disposition. Emma mar- ried A. E. Holick, who resides near Sharon's Springs. John N., who is engaged in the mercantile busi- ness, has charge of two Sunday-schools. The other son, George H., is likewise an active worker in the Sunday-school and a leader of the choir most of the time, and is in the employ of the Citizens' Na- tional Bank of Concordia. The children, as well as the parents, are actively interested in the canse of temperanee.
Mr. and Mrs. Palmer are members of the Con- gregational Church of Blue Rapids, in which our subject has been a Deacon, and both have officiated as teachers in the Sunday-school. While a resident of Clarkson, N.Y., Mr. Palmer was Superintendent of Schools. He also taught music. both vocal and instrumental. He took an active part in politics during his younger years and uniformly votes the
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Republican ticket. Although a strong temperance man he is averse to a third party. The eldest son, Charles H., has been a teacher of music in the common school since a youth of nineteen years, and for many years has been Sunday-school Super- intendent; otherwise he is engaged in farming.
AMES FITZGERALD. Well would it be for our country if every "old settler" had the record of fine character and financial success of the subject of this sketch, whose home is just outside the city limits, west of Beattie. The main business part of the city is built upon land preempted by Mr. Fitz Gerald in 1859, said land comprising 160 acres on sections 21, 2 and 9. In August, 1866. the subject of this sketch eame here to live, residing for nine years in a building opposite the Catholic Church. In 1872 he agreed with Mr. Watkins, who lived just west, to give the railroad every other city lot if a depot was located here, the railroad company to plat a quarter-section, and in order to secure this end, he visited St. Joseph to present in person to the railroad officials the offer of himself, H. C. Smith and Mr. Hamilton, and arguments at his command in favor of his pro- jeet. He sold village lots on what he still owned, and bought more land ontside, so that he now owns 500 acres near the town. He is engaged in general farming and stock-raising. In the year 1875 Mr. Fitz Gerald built a fine large stone house, which has a beautiful lawn surrounding it and good stone walks, the stone being supplied from a fine quarry on his own land, which is still in opera- tion through another party. We invite the atten- tion of our readers to a fine engraving of this at- tractive residence.
Mr. Fitz Gerald was born in Ireland in 1829. When twenty-two years old he came to America. first settling in Maryland, where he remained for six years. becoming a citizen of the United States. Ile spent two years in Chicago, and then came to Kansas, in 1858, locating in Atchison, where he re- mained until after the war. He married Miss Mary Nolan, of Baltimore, Md., who is still living.
Mr. and Mrs. Fitz Gerald are the parents of eight children, of whom six are still living. They are named respectively : Patrick S., Ellen. Katie. John, Rose and William F. All still make this their home, with the exception of Patrick S., who mar- ried Miss Florence Patterson of this city, and re- sides at St. Joseph, Mo. One of the original members of the Catholic Church of this city, Mr. Fitz Gerald aided largely in its organization in 1668. Mr. Fitz Gerald has stood by the church. assisting to build in 1881, doing his duty as far as he was able, and living to see the society grow from eight families to a flourishing organization of fifty.
Our subject has been an active business man, not looking for political offices, but has served the township as Trustee for two terms. He now votes with the Republican party, though formerly a Demoerat. Mr. Fitz Gerald has done much to make the town of Beattie what it is, both as regards bus- iness and church work, and well deserves the re- spect of every resident of this thriving village.
C HRISTIAN SCHROEDER, son of Ludwig and Johanna Schroeder, was born July 10. 1840, in Gustrow, in the Duchy of Meck- lenburg Schwerin, and was a resident of the Ger- man Empire until the age of thirty-one. He was reared upon a farm, and received his education in the common schools. After arriving at the proper age for army service, he served between two and three years as a baggage master. He was then em- ployed upon a farm. Leaving his native country in 1871. he emigrated to America, landing at Castle Garden, New York, whence he came directly to this county, engaging in farming six miles west of Marysville. Here he remained for six years, then removing to Franklin Township, he bonght 160 acres of land on section 17, on which he has since resided. He has erected a substantial brick house, accompanied by adequate farm buildings, and brought his place to a fine state of productiveness.
Soon after his arrival in this State he married Miss Wilhelmina Bell. the ceremony taking place 1
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Nov. 7, 1871, in Marysville. She was the daughter of Ludwig and Mary Bell. Mrs. Schroeder was born in Hohenfeld, Germany. Oct. 18. 1846. She is the mother of three children-Mary, Wilhelmina and Charles.
Mr. Schroeder is a man of intelligence, energy and uprightness, a reliable citizen, commanding the respect of the entire community. Politically, he is independent, and votes for the men he deems best qualified for the office.
E DWARD D. WHEELER, nurseryman and fruit-grower, of Blue Rapids, has been a resi- dent of Marshall County for the past nine- teen years. He is a native of Vermont, born at North Pownal. in Bennington County, Sept. 8, 1837. His parents were George E. and Cordelia (Whip- ple) Wheeler. Two brothers of the Wheeler fam- ily came from England in early times, one of them locating in Connecticut, and one going to the South- ern States. From the former is descended this branch of the family. The great-grandfather of our subject, whose name was Edward, was prob- ably born in Connecticut, and was a son of the brother who settled there on his emigration from England. Edward Wheeler lived to be one hundred and five years old. He had three sons-Shadrach, Orelius, and Elias, the latter being the grandfather of him of whom we write; Elias was probably born in Connecticut. but later in life became a farmer and cattle-drover in Bennington County, Vt., where he died. Ilis wife was Olive Niles, who was also descended from a family of old settlers in New England, her people being prominent factory own- ers, and identified with the woolen-mill interests. Both died in Bennington County. They had a numerous family, eight sons and seven daughters. Their son George E. was the father of E. D. Ile was born on the home farm in Shaftesburg, Ben- nington Co., Vt., in 1810, and he died in Lockport, Niagara Co., N. Y., in 1865, aged fifty-five years. In his youth George E. Wheeler was a teacher, af- terward a farmer in Vermont, and about 1841, he
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