Portrait and biographical album of Washington, Clay and Riley counties, Kansas, containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent citizens together with portraits and biographies of all the governors of the state, Part 102

Author:
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago, Chapman Brothers
Number of Pages: 1258

USA > Kansas > Clay County > Portrait and biographical album of Washington, Clay and Riley counties, Kansas, containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent citizens together with portraits and biographies of all the governors of the state > Part 102
USA > Kansas > Riley County > Portrait and biographical album of Washington, Clay and Riley counties, Kansas, containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent citizens together with portraits and biographies of all the governors of the state > Part 102
USA > Kansas > Washington County > Portrait and biographical album of Washington, Clay and Riley counties, Kansas, containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent citizens together with portraits and biographies of all the governors of the state > Part 102

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

To the parents of our subject there was born a family of nine children, the eldest of whom, a daughter, Cordelia, married Horace Eells. a carpen- ter, and they live in Garden Grove, Cal .; J. Au- gustus met his death by accident at the age of twenty-one years, shortly after coming to Kansas, being run over by a wagon loaded with lumber. Richard lives on a farm adjoining that of his brother; he married Miss Lizzie Greer, and has four children living; during the late war he served in Company G, 11th Kansas infantry, with John Melville. Sarah P. is. the wife of O. W. Bill, a farmer in the vicinity of Garden Grove, Cal .; Charles W. married Miss Lois Chaffee and occupies the old homestead, one-half mile south of his brother John; he has two children ; during the late war he enlisted as a private in Company G, 11th Kansas Infantry and served one and one-half years. Edward W. married Miss Anna McCrea; he is the father of two children and lives on a farm one-half mile south of his brother John M. Ella, the wife of Timothy Powers, a plasterer by trade, is the mother of three children and lives in Garden Grove, Cal. Carrie is unmarried and makes her home with her sister, Mrs. Eells. in California.

Mr. Kimball came to Kansas Territory in 1856 with his brother Augustus and took up the 160 acres of land which comprises his present farm. He made some improvements upon it, but in Au- gust, 1862, he decided to assist in the preservation of the Union, and enlisted in Company G, 11th Kansas Infantry (afterward cavalry ), serving until the close of the war. Ile participated in the battles

of Pea Ridge, Prairie Grove and Cane Ilill, and in numerous minor engagements, including the chase after the rebel, Price, and in the meantime was made the Commissary Sergeant of his regiment. Ile endured the usual hardships of life in the army but escaped without being wounded or captured, and after receiving his honorable discharge re- turned to the peaceful pursuits of farm life.

Mr. Kimball was married in April, 1872, to Miss Mary Ellen, daughter of Milton Barney, of Battle Creek, Mich. They are now the parents of six children, viz., Albert B., Charles Augustus, John Milton. Perley P .. Edgar and Mary. Mr. Kimball is a sound Republican politically, quite prominent in party politics and is frequently sent as a dele- gate to the various conventions. He is one of the Trustees of Manhattan Township, which office he has held for the last three years and has likewise officiated as Schoo. Treasurer. Socially he belongs to Manhattan Lodge, No. 16, A.F.& A.M., and he is also a member of Lew Gove Post No. 100. G.A.R., at Manhattan. The pleasant Kimball homestead is illustrated by a fine lithographie view on another page.

P RANK KLING. Nearly ten years ago Mr. Kling settled on section 11. Franklin Town- ship. Washington, County, having taken up 160 acres of land and since that time he has given his main attention to its cultivation and im- provement. It is interesting to note the representa- tives of the different nationalities who at an early day emigrated to the New World and across the Mississippi, and to whose industry the Great West is largely indebted for her growth and development. The subject of this notice was born in the Canton of Bassal, Switzerland, May 1, 1852 and in 1870, when a youth of eighteen years crossed the Atlan- tic and landed a stranger in a strange land.

Young Kling, after setting foot upon American soil, stopped in New York City a short time, then repaired to Albany and later secured work on a farm near that city. Upon leaving there he emi- grated to St. Louis where he sojourned six months and thence going to Edwardsville, Ill., where

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he farmed and operated in stock for two years, then went from there to Henry County, Iowa. and followed farming in that region until coming to Kansas. Three years prior to this his mother, Mrs. Theresa Klin.ghad joined him in this country and is still living with him. His father, Jacob Kling, spent his entire life in Switzerland, and died there.

In 1874 Mr. Kling took unto himself a wife and helpmate Miss Elizabeth Haas, who was likewise a native of Switzerland and came to America when twenty-three years old. They are the parents of one child only, a daughter, Lizzie, born Feb. 10. 1875. Mrs. Kling by a former marriage is the mother of two sons, John and Frank, who have taken the name of their step-father, being called Kling. The parents of Mr. Kling had four chil- dren, one of whom died in Switzerland and three came to this country. His sister, Elizabeth, is the wife of George Dubt and a resident of New York City. His brother Jacob lives in this county. Mr. Kling votes with the Democratic party and in his religious ideas conforms to the doctrines of the Lutheran Church in which he was reared, as was also his wife.

HOMAS GOWENLOCK. The business in- terests of Clay Center and vicinity recog- nize this gentleman as one of the important factors which have lent to this town a standing sec- ond to none in this part of Kansas. He deals extensively in drugs, paints and oils, and is located on Fifth street. adjacent to the business portion of the city. He carries a complete stock of all goods in his line, and is in the enjoyment of a lucrative trade.

Mr. Gowenlock was born in the city of Carlisle, England, Feb. 3, 1847, but when a little lad of four years was brought by his parents to America. They lived in New York City until 1861, where the boy acquired a good education, completing his studies in the High School. He entered upon his business career as an apprentice in a drug store in the metropolis, but later circumstances conspired to change his vocation, and he entered the employ of the Hudson River Railroad Company. In the meantime, desirous of advancing his book knowl-

edge, he attended the night schools of Cooper Insti- tute, and was graduated in mechanical drawing and mathematics. He was finally admitted to the draw- ing rooms of the above-mentioned railroad com- pany, and remained in its employ until 1861.

In the year above mentioned, Mr. Gowenlock emigrated to Illinois and became chief clerk and draftsman of the Indianapolis & St. Louis Railroad Company, with headquarters at Litchfield. He was occupied at both drawing and designing for that railway, generally known as the " Big Four," and superintended the construction of their shops at Mattoon. In 1872 he resigned this position and going to Springfield became. draftsman-in-chief of the Wabash & Western Railroad. Six months la- ter he left this position to become craftsman-in- chief and chief clerk in the machinery department of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad, remaining with this company until 1872.

Determining now to quit railroading Mr. Gow- enlock, in company with several other gentlemen, including ex-Governor Glick and Mr. Strickler, of Junction City, all men of wealth and standing, formed a partnership for the purpose of develop- ing a silver mine in Colorado in the vicinity of Silverton, purchasing considerable mining property, and Mr. Gowenlock putting up a free milling ore plant. Not finding this very lucrative, Mr. Gow- enloek acquainted himself more fully with the prac- tical details of mining and then utilized his knowledge by putting in mills and other apparatus for other parties.

Mr. Gowenlock finally drifted into Leadville in January, 1879, where he found a fine field for exer- cising his knowledge of mining, becoming superin- tendent of mines and mining property, and sojouruing there two years and until 1880. In the fall of that year he went to Kokomo, Col .. and en- gaged as Superintendent of mining property for Senator Tabor and his associates. He returned to Leadville in 1882 and was similarly engaged until December the following year. During this time he had charge of a larger extent and more valuable mining property than any man in the United States. He also took up more ore in twenty-four hours than was ever before or has ever since been raised- up- on one occasion $111,000 in twenty-four hours.

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He has a valuable pin presented him by Thomas Nast, Charles Francis Adams, Jr., and the Direc- tors of the Bank of Republic of New York City.

The general knowledge of Mr. Gowenlock as a mechanical engineer, in connection with his knowl- edge of mining, created a demand for him as an expert in various important law eases and other business. Even after abandoning mining, he was frequently called upon to testify as an expert be- fore the United States courts. While in Colorado he likewise became prominent in the affairs of Ko- komo, and was elected the second Mayor of the city. Although he found mining very lucrative at this place, he did not wish to take his family there, and so established himself at Colorado Springs in Jan- uary, 1884, where he purchased a drug store and conducted this until coming to Clay County, Kan., in January, 1886, when he located in Clay Center. Ilere likewise he established himself in the drug business to which he has since given his undivided attention.

Since coming to this section Mr. Gowenlock has held aloof from politics, although he has kept him- self thoroughly posted upon State and National events.and possesses a large fund of general informa- tion. While in Colorado he owned and edited the first paper published there. In Mt. Vernon, III,, Mr. Gowenlock was married Jan, 17, 1876, to Miss Emma Mabel Allen. Of this union there are two children-Mabel Allen, who was born in Kokomo, Col., just at the timber line, 11,000 feet above the sea, in 1883; and Thomas Russell, who was born in Clay Center, Kan. Mrs. Gowenlock was born, reared and married in the same house at Mt. Vernon, Ill .. and is the daughter of John and Eliza Allen, formerly of Kentneky. She is a very es- timable lady and a member in good standing of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Gowenloek, socially, belongs to the Masonic fraternity, and has attained to the Master's degree. He is also a Knight Tem- plar and a Knight of Pythias, and in the latter order was Commander in Illinois.

The father of our subject was James Gowen loek a gentleman of English birth and parentage, who married Miss Sarah Russell. After the birth of, two children. they. in 1851, emigrated to America. and sojourned for awhile in New York City, where

the father occupied himself at his trade of machin- ist. Seven of their children lived to mature years. James, at an early age, began working for himself in. England, New York City, Litchfield, Mattoon and Mt. Vernon, Ill., receiving for his services never more than $2,50 per day. By frugal living and care in his investments, he has amassed a little fortune of over $50.000. He owns stock in the Mt. Carmel Bank, of which one of his sons is Cash- ier and another son Assistant Cashier. The par- ents upon leaving New York City settled in Mt. Vernon, Ill., where they still live.

D HILIP E. ARNOLD. It is usually con- sidered that a man's surroundings are ample indications of his true character. At least he who is able to sit in the midst of plenty, accumulated by the industry of his own hands, is accorded that respect and deference to which he is justly entitled. We find Mr. Arnold comfortably situated on a good farm, embracing 240 acres of choice land on section 15, Charleston Township, where he is numbered among its leading farmers and stock-raisers. Ile settled in Washing- ton County in 1873, and purchased the land com- prising his present farm, which had been home- steaded by another party, but upon which there had been attempted but very little improvement. Ile labored in true pioneer style for a number of years, during which he met with fair suecess, soon finding himself upon a solid footing, and while his perseverance and industry have rewarded him in a full measure, his example has always been a stimu- lus to those around him.

The subject of this notice comes of a substantial race of people, his parents being David and Mary (Leiter) Arnold, who either were natives of IIol- land, or came when very young to the United States. They located after their marriage in Clearfield County, Pa., where their son. Philip E., was born Nov. 25. 1847 .. They lived there until 1854. then removed to Seneca County, Ohio, where they still reside on a well-developed farm of 200 acres, and surrounded by all the comforts of life. Their fam- ily consisted of ten children. nine of whom grew to

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mature years. Hannah became the wife of James Bennett. and resides in Ohio; Enoch also lives in the Buckeye State; Lizzie became the wife of Ben- jamin Harpster, and is now deceased ; Adeline mar- ried Henry Gimborlin ; Mary, Jacob, John and Sarah are all residents of Ohio.

Mr. Arnold attended the common school in his boyhood, mostly during the summer season, and worked upon the farm until a youth of eighteen years. He then learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed until coming to Kansas. He was mar- ried in the fall of 1873 to Miss Alice, daughter of William and Mary Smallwood. and like himself, a native of Ohio. They have three children-Will- iam, Mary D. and Isaac. Mr. Arnold is a member of the Democratic party, and has held the various local offices. Socially, he belongs to the A.O.U.W.

DAM SCHWEIN. Although only forty years of age Mr. Schwein is looked upon as one of the leading men in the commu- nity of Jackson Township, Riley County, by whose people he is thoroughly known as a man of more than ordinary worth and ability, one who has not only accumulated a fair share of this world's goods but is of sterling integrity and strictly moral habits. Ile was bred to farming pursuits which he has followed thus far in life, and is the owner of 260 acres of prime land, located on sections 32 and 33. Heis a Western man by birth, his native place being in Jackson County, Ind., where he first saw the light Jan. 4, 1849.

The subject of this sketch traces his aneestry to Germany. His father, William Schwein, was born in Nassau. Germany, where he learned the trade of a wagon-maker and served in the German army several years. In 1831 he emigrated to America and located among the earliest pioneers of Jackson County, Ind., entering a traet of land near Browns- town. lle accumulated a good property, including 700 aeres of land, and there spent the remainder of his life, dying in 1869 when past seventy years old. His wife, Elizabeth (Herman) Schwein, was like- wise a native of Nassau, Germany, and passed away Jan. 16, 1850, in Indiana, The parental family

consisted of eight children, all of whom lived to mature years, viz: Cornelius L., a earpenter, and living in Florida; Christine, Mrs. Heller, deceased ; Caroline, Mrs. Manfield. of Indiana, also deceased; Elizabeth. Mrs. Cole, also a resident of the Hoosier State; Helena, Mrs. Berkhart, deceased; George, who died in Nebraska; Frank, a resident of Reno County, this State; and Adam, our subjeet.

Mr. Schwein spent his early years in attendance at the distriet school and assisting his parents in the lighter duties around the homestead. He was twenty years of age at the time of his father's death and after attending the Tampico graded school two winters, he engaged in teaching. Ile came by rail to Manhattan, and from there walked to Faney Creek, arriving there on the 23d of March. In the fall of that year he purchased his present farm, but did not settle upon it permanently until 1873, follow- ing school teaching for five years after coming here.

In 1876 Mr. Schwein began farming in earnest and improving his land. He has forty-five aeres under the plow and all of it is enelosed with good feneing. Three acres are devoted to an apple or- chard, and the proprietor has planted evergreens about the residence, which are not only valuable as a shade but highly ornamental. The land is wa- tered by Otter Creek which deposits on the bank a good quality of gypsum. Although unusually prosperous Mr. Schwein experienced great loss by the eyelone of 1879. which tore away the buildings in its patlı and as far as possible wrought destruc- tion all over the premises. The family was in the house, which was blown down and two children were killed outright, one of which was reposing in its mother's arms at the time. The mother was badly injured. Mr. Schwein was wedged in be- tween the sill and a large stone from which the neighbors extricated him, badly injured internally.

With his usual industry and persistence, how- ever, Mr. Schwein eventually recovered from this disaster, replacing his buildings and carrying on further improvements. His hobby is general pur- pose horses, of which he has about nineteen head, and he is likewise interested in graded Short-horn cattle. He has been quite prominent in local af- fairs and served as a Clerk of his school district from the spring of 1873 until 1888; he has also of-

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ficiated as Road Supervisor. Both he and his estim- able wife are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Fancy Creek, with which Mr. Schwein united at the time of its organ- ization and in which he has served as Steward and Trustee. He is likewise a teacher in the Sunday- school and served as Secretary and Librarian. Po- litically, he is a strong Republican and has been of marked service to his party in Riley County, being sent as a delegate to the conventions.

Mr. Schwein was married in Brownstown, Ind., Jan. 1, 1873, to Miss Olivia A. Miller. Mrs. Schwein is the daughter of John P. Miller, a native of Jackson County, Ind. Her paternal grandfather was Abram Miller, a native of Pennsylvania, who participated in the War of 1812, and was one of the carliest pioneers of the above-mentioned county. John P. Miller followed agriculture and for a time was Superintendent of the Jackson County, (Ind.,) Poor Farm. He built and kept a hotel at Browns- town and became the owner of two farms. He died in good circumstances, in 1865, at the age of forty- nine years. His wife, Elsie (Applegate) Miller, was a native of Clark County, Ind., and died May 2, 1887, at the age of sixty-nine years.

To Mr. and Mrs. Miller there was born a family of ten children, the eldest of whom, Mary E., died in lowa; William and Warren live in Indiana : Jeffer- son died in Indiana; Charlotte, Mrs. Tuell, is a resi- dent of Vallonia, Ind .; Redmond died in Indiana; Olivia, Mrs. Sehwein, was the next in order of birth; Fidelia and Maggie are deceased; Burnside is a resident of St. Louis, Mo. William during the late war served as corporal in an Indiana regi- ment. Warren also served in the Union Army as a member of the 63d Indiana Infantry and was taken prisoner at Murfreesboro, but was soon pa- roled and sent home.

Mr. Schwein was born in Brownstown. Ind., March 3, 1852, and completed her education at White River Academy. She thereafter made her home with her parents until her marriage. In the fall of 1888 she visited her old home and bought one of her father's farms, consisting of 182 aeres. three miles from Brownstown. It was entered by her grandfather. Abram Miller, from the Govern- ment, and is now well improved and in a highly

fertile condition. To Mr. and Mrs. Schwein there were born five children, viz: Leonard, who died in 1887; Elsie E. and Hettie B., who were killed in the cyclone of 1879; Daisy D. and Bertha Young, who remain at home with their parents.

C A. JOHANSMEYER. There is probably not within the limits of Jackson Township, Riley County, a more reliable liberal- minded or public-spirited German citizen than he with whose name we introduce this sketch. Ile has been very successful financially, his property scheduling 160 acres on section 6; 160 on section 31; 320 acres on section 30; eighty acres on see- tion 25, and 160 acres near Parallel, in Washington County. He has held the various township offices, and on the 5th of November, 1889, was elected County Commissioner on the Independent ticket.

Mr. Johansmeyer was born near Wehrendorf. Kingdom of Hanover, Germany, Sept. 13, 1840. He received the advantages of a thorough edueation in his native tongue, and also beeame familiar with agriculture as carried on in the Fatherland. When twenty-one years old. he enlisted in the 6th llano- verian Infantry, in which he served four years. At the expiration of this time, he decided upon seek- ing his fortune in America. For this purpose, he was obliged to hire a substitute, paying therefor the sum of $110, and in the spring of 1845, em- barking at the port of Bremen, he left Germany, and two weeks later landed in New York City. Ile secured employment as clerk in a grocery store, and sojourned there two months.

Young Johansmeyer now set out for Kansas by rail, and at Kansas City boarded a boat for Leaven- worth, whence he journeyed overland in a wagon to Randolph, Riley County. " Soon afterward he pur- chased 160 acres of land, which constitutes his present homestead. This had been but slightly improved, and Mr. Johansmeyer, under many ditli- culties and with imperfect farming implements, commenced the cultivation of the soil, and by the exercise of economy soon found himself on the high road to prosperity. The home farm is es- pecially well-improved. with a neat and commodi-

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ous dwelling, and all the necessary outbuildings, a windmill and water tanks being included in the machinery for carrying on agriculture and stock- raising after the most approved methods. From one to two carloads of cattle are shipped from this farm annually, besides large numbers of swine. Six teams are used in the operations of the farm, which are carried on in that systematic manner, seldom failing of generous returns.

The marriage of our subject with Miss Anna Bohne took place in Jackson Township, Riley County, in December, 1865. This lady was born in the Kingdom of Hanover, Germany, and by her union with our subject she has become the mother of ten children, viz: Henry, who is farming in Washington County ; Louisa, Louis, John, 1Ier- man, Edward, Amanda, Charles, Nellie and Alma. Our subject has been quite prominent in his com- community, serving as School Director and Road Supervisor, besides being Township Treasurer for six years. lle thoroughly believes in education. Ile is a member in good standing of the German Lutheran Church, in which he serves as a Trustee, aud assisted in building the church edifice on Swede Creek.

B ENJAMIN POWELL, of Sherman Town- ship, is numbered among its most honored citizens, and has for many years been closely identified with its agricultural in- terests. He is a thorough and skillful farmer, and has brought his land to a high state of cultivation, the result of which is a handsome annual income. A West Virginian by birth, Mr. Powell first opened his eyes to the light in Harrison County, Jan. 15, 1814, and is thus approaching the seventy-fifth year of his age. Notwithstanding this he is still hale and hearty as the result of a temperate life and other- wise correct habits.

The father of our subject was Benjamin Powell, Sr., who was born near Winchester, W. Va., and re- ceived a good education. During the troubles of 1812 he entered the army and died therein of measles prior to the birth of his son, Benjamin. Soon afterward the mother, Mrs. Polly (Webb)

Powell, removed to Perry County, Ohio, where she lived several years, then removed to Hocking County, and there spent her last days. After the death of Mr. Powell she was married to John Thompson, by whom she became the mother of six children. Of her first marriage there were born three children, Benjamin being the youngest.

The paternal grandfather of our subject, was a large slave-holder and a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church in West Virginia, where he died. On the mother's side, Grandfather Benjamin Webb was a preacher, blacksmith and doctor combined. He followed his trade and the two professions many years in Hocking County, Ohio, where he spent his last days. Hle likewise was a native of West Virginia and was the owner of a large num- ber of slaves, but gave them their freedom before leaving the Dominion.

The subject of this sketch was reared chiefly in Ohio, and was there first married to Miss Mary A. Searf, by whom he became the father of two chil- dren, both now deceased. Mrs. Mary A. Powell departed this life in Ohio, and our subject was subsequently married to Miss Elizabeth (Goodlive) Strait, who had by her first marriage one child. This lady was born in Ohio, and after a wedded life of forty years and ten days, she died, Jan. 27, 1880, leaving five children. The eldest, a son, Isaac, during the late Civil War enlisted in Company F, 114th Ohio Infantry and died in the service at Vicksburg. Burr, the second son, also entered the army as a member of the 75th Ohio In- fantry, and died of illness, the result of exposure leaving a widow and three children. The others are Jane, Amanda, Margaret, Benjamin and John W. The last-mentioned makes his home with his father and has the management of the farm.

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Portrait and biographical album of Washington, Clay and Riley counties, Kansas, containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent citizens together with portraits and biographies of all the governors of the state, Part 102

Author: Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Chicago, Chapman Brothers Number of Pages: 1258

Author:
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago, Chapman Brothers
Number of Pages: 1258