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 110

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 110
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 110
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 110

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).

Both Mr. and Mrs. Brill belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church. He is a member of the Union Labor party. Both are highly regarded by those around them, their kindly natures, intelligence and interest in every good work being felt as an influ- enee for good in the community where they have made their home.

Benjamin Brill, the father of our subjeet, was by occupation a farmer. and spent his entire life in the Old Dominion, being gathered to his fathers when quite old. His wife, Anna Orndorff, passed from earth when scarcely more than of middle age, she also having lived her whole life in Virginia. The parents of both were Americans, but the ancestry was from the German Empire.

ITCHELL D. GUE. It is seldom the lot of the biographer to meet a more thorough gentleman than he with whose name we introduce this sketch. Possessed of more than ordinary intelligence, he is well informed,

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cordial and courteous and a man very popular among his fellow citizens. He is enterprising and progressive as a farmer, liberal and public spirited as a citizen, and is in the prime of life, having been born Sept. 22, 1849.

The birthplace of Mr. Gue was in Ottawa County, Mich., and his parents were Mitchell and Lydia A. (Auchmoody) Gue. They were natives of New York State, where the paternal grandfather was also born. The great-grandfather was a native of Scotland and emigrated to America in time to have a hand in the Revolutionary war. Mrs. Lydia A. Gue descended from the first Holland-Dutch set- tlers of New York State. Mitchell, Sr., followed farming during his early manhood in the Empire State, but later removed to Michigan where he en- gaged in the lumber business. The parental family consisted of nine children, the eldest of whom, David V., who is married and has a family, is farm- ing in the vicinity of Black Lake, Mich .; Sarah A. is the wife of Louis Kleine, formerly a physician of Midland City, Mich., and who died seventeen years ago, leaving one child; Albert F. is unmar- ried and is engaged as a manufacturer in Boston, Mass .; Harris B. married Miss Nancy Hayes and is the father of five children; he operates a farm and is engaged in stock-raising in the vicinity of York. Neb. John was drowned in Lansing, Mich., when two years old; Mary J. is the wife of George R. Reed, principal owner and manager of the Electric Light Company in York. Neb .; they have four children. Mitchell D., of this sketch, was the next in order of birth; Myron J. was graduated from the law department of Michigan State University and is a prosecuting attorney of Midland County, Mich. ; Della M. is the widow of Rena May, a real estate dealer of York, Neb., who died in the fall of 1887, leaving one child.

The subject of this notice lived with his parents on a farm until fifteen years old then repaired to Grand Rapids, Mich., to learn wagon-making. He served an apprenticeship of two years and worked as a journeyman one year. At the expiration of this time he journeyed to Nebraska and took up a homestead of eighty acres in York County, upon which he labored five years and effected considera- ble improvement. On the 15th of May, 1875, he

was married to Miss Lilly Minnick, whose father fell in the service of his country during the late war and whose mother died in 1872 in York, Neb. Mr. Gue now removed to Carroll County, Iowa, and locating in the town of that name was for three years engaged as an insurance and lightning rod agent. To him and his young wife there was born one child, a son, Charles C., and Mrs. Lilly Gue departed this life at their home in Carroll, Iowa, March 14, 1877.

Returning now to York, Neb., Mr. Gue sojourned there until July, 1884, then coming into Kansas, located in lladdam and for two years operated as a dealer in live-stock. In December, 1886, he re- moved to his present home on section 30 in Lowe Township and now operates 640 acres of land. Hle contracted a second marriage Nov. 20, 1882, with Miss Hennie S., daughter of Nathaniel M. and Mary A. (Stimpson) Reed. This lady was born in New Hampshire of parents who were natives of Vermont. The father is deceased, the mother is liv- ing. Mrs. Gue is a member in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and our subject, polit- ically, is a stanch Republican. He has frequently served as a delegate to the county conventions, both in Nebraska and Kansas. The father of our subject, departed this life in 1864, in Michigan, and the mother died in 1866 at Eastmanville, that State.

W ILLIAM J. WAGENROT, one of the lead- ers among his German countrymen in Madison Township. Riley County, is the owner of a well-improved farm on section 27 and has otherwise a fair share of this world's goods. He is more than ordinarily intelligent and keeps himself posted upon matters of general interest. He was born in the Kingdom of Prussia, April 15, 1845, and is the son of Martin and Martha Wagen- rot, who were natives of the same Province. They emigrated to America in 1850 and settled in Cook County, Ill., where they spent the remainder of their days.

Ten children were born to the parents of Mr. Wagenrot, William J. being the sixth in order of birth. He was ave years old wlien coming to

RESIDENCE OF WM. WAGENROT , SEC. 27. MADISON TP., RILEY CO. KAN.

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America, and grew to man's estate on the farm in Cook County, Ill., receiving a common-school edu- cation. In 1869, when a young man of twenty- four years, he came to Kansas and homesteaded eighty acres of land on seetion 28, in, Bala Town- ship, where he entered upon the career of industry and prudence, which has borne such profitable re- sults. In due time he added to his possessions and is now the owner of 320 acres, his residence being on section 27. The homestead proper comprises 160 aeres, is thoroughly improved and embellished with good buildings, and its operations are carried on with that uniform good judgment and fore- thought wbich form the leading characteristics in the makeup of the proprietor.

Mr. Wagenrot came to Kansas a poor man and has accumulated all he possesses since his residence here. In addition to general farming he is con- siderably interested in live stock which yields him handsome returns, Politically, he is independent, aiming to support the men whom he considers will best serve the interests of the people. His family consists of his wife and two sons, Martin Il., born Dec. 6, 1879, and William J., born Jan. 5, 1885. The wife and mother was in her girlhood Miss Jennie Shorman, of Riley County, and a native of Germany, born in 1860. She was married to Mr. Wagenrot Feb. 28, 1879.

Mr. Wagenrot has reason to be proud of the re- sult of his labors, the result of which is illustrated in a view of the home farm on another page. It will prove an attractive picture for his children to look upon in later years.

HIILIP M. BIRD, a practical, substantial farmer has been engaged in agricultural pursuits in Washington Township since 1882. and is the possessor of a farm that in point of cultivation and improvement compares favorably with the best in this locality. He was born in Petersburg, Columbia Co., Pa., Nov. 23, 1825. His father, William Bird, was a native of New Jersey, and was there reared to man's estate. He learned the blacksmith's trade at Catawissa, Pa.,

and followed his calling in that state many years. Ile removed to Iowa about 1857. and settled in Mt. Pleasant among its pioneers, and for a time engaged in the grocery business, and was appointed ('ity Weighmaster. Ile was a man of much influence. enterprise and business taet, and was classed among the substantial citizens of the city. He died there in 1874 at a ripe old age, rounding out a busy and honorable life. The maiden name of the mother of our subject was Margaret Moyer, and she was born in Pennsylvania of German parentage. She died in Mt. Pleasant six years after her husband's demise. The twelve children born to them all grew to maturity.

Their son Philip of this sketch passed his boy hood and early manhood in the state of his nativity, and at a youthful age learned the trade of a brickmason and plasterer at Pottsville, Pa., and pursued that calling in Philadelphia for some time. In 1851 he followed the tide of emigration westward, traveling down the Ohio and up the Mississippi to Iowa, and landing in Burlington, pushed on to Mt. Pleasant. At that time there were no railways west of Chicago. and Western Iowa was unsettled by the whites, deer, elk and wild turkey's and other game roaming at will over the vast rolling prairies, disturbed only by the Indians, and Kansas and Nebraska had not yet been opened for settlement. Mr. Bird established himself at his trade in Mt. Pleasant, pursuing it for seventeen years. At the end of that time he turned his attention to farming, buying a farm three miles north of the city. and while still following his trade. carried on his farm several years. In 1882, think- ing that he could do still better on the fertile soil of Kansas, he sold his Iowa property, and coming to Washington County, he invested some of his money in the farm on which he now resides. Its 160 acres are under the best of cultivation, neatly fenced with wire, and the place is provided with suitable buildings for every purpose.

Jan. 28. 1852 Mr. Bird's marriage with Miss Su- san Bheam was duly solemnized, and has proved in every way a happy union. Eight children complete their pleasant household eirele; William Ciemens, W. Ross, Calvin E., Estella, Ellery (., G, Thorn- ton, N. Eva. Victor H. Mrs. Bird was born in Cambria County, Pa., one mile from Johnstown,

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the city desolated and nearly destroyed by the brea- king away of a dam on the Conemaugli River in the summer of 1889. Her father, George Bheam. was born near Lancaster, Pa. In his youth he lear- ned the trade of a tinner, but only followed that calling a short time. Before marriage he settled in Cambria County, where he took up a tract of land, securing his title from the state. It was heavily timbered, and he had to cut away huge trees of many centuries' growth to make room to build a two-story log house, the dwelling in which Mrs. Bird was afterward born and married. When he first settled there Johnstown was but just started, and deer, bear, wild turkeys and other wild game roamed where in later years large mills and found- eries furnished work for hundreds of people and beautiful homes took the place of the primeval forest. Ile cleared a good farm, and lived to see the great change noted in the flourishing city springing up one mile from his home, with a population of up. wards of 30,000 people. His death occurred on his homestead in 1879, his wife surviving him till 1885. Her maiden name was Nancy Horner, and she was born in Cambria County, a daughter of Jacob Horner, a pioneer farmer of that county whose farm joined Johnstown, and thereon he spent his last years.

Mr. Bird is an honest, straightforward man, in every way worthy of the respect in which he is held, and he and his wife are exemplary members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, faithfully li- ving up to its teachings as true Christians ought. Mr. Bird interests himself in the political questions of the day, and is a stanch supporter of the Repub- lican party.

AVID C. BONAR. This gentleman is one of the most thoroughly educated of the residents of Washington County. He is well fitted for the profession of a teacher. which he adopted in early manhood. It was for some years his only occupation, and he now teaches about seven months during the year, though carry- ing on a farm. His home is in Coleman Township, and is a neat and attractive estate, The eighty

acres which comprise it are surrounded by good fences, and it is divided into fields by cross-fencing. There is an orchard of sixty apple trees, thirty peach trees (all bearing), cherry and crab-ap- ple trees. Strawberries, raspberries, gooseberries, grapes, etc., have also been set out. All have been placed in the ground by the hand of Mr. Bo- nar and his wife, as has also a grove of ornamental trees which surrounds the place.

David C. Bonar is a native of Monroe County, Ohio, where he was born on April 3, 1857. Ile is a son of David and Elizabeth (Dickey ) Bonar. The parental family consisted of fourteen children, thir- teen of whom grew to maturity and still survive. The grandfather, Barney Bonar, lived and died on the farm on which his father also was born. This estate was located near Claysville, Washington Co., Pa.

Our subject was quite a small boy when his par- ents moved to Illinois. They lived at Freeport for three years, thence removing to near Fairfield, Iowa. There our subjeet received his preliminary education and spent two years in attendance at the High School. Ile finished at Pleasant Plain and the Presbyterian College of Fairfield. He has also attended Normal Schools at several places. becom- ing thoroughly equipped for the work in which he engaged. When twenty-one years of age he com- menced business for himself. He left Jefferson County, and going to Union County, there followed his profession for three years. He then came to this county, and made his home with his brother Milton, who is a resident of Washington Township. There he taught school, the first summer's work being in the year 1881. In 1883 he bought the land upon which he now lives. Thirty acres had been broken and a very rude log cabin was built upon it. Since its purchase Mr. Bonar has broken the rest of the land, and erected a comfortable frame house and stables, besides making the other improvements noted above. Their present dwell- ing was erected in 1886, and is of pleasing design and well built.

After having spent some months in this county, Mr. Bonar returned to Union County, Iowa, and was married Mareh 9, 1882, to Miss Sadie E. Snod- grass, of Adair County, Iowa, She is the daugh-

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ter of Albert and Clarinda ( Wolford ) Snodgrass. They were the parents of eight children. Mrs. Bonar was second in order of birth, born Jan. 29, 1863, in Union County, Ohio, both parents being natives of Ohio. They removed to Iowa in 1878. Mr. Snodgrass was in the Union service dur- ing the late rebellion, enlisting in Company K 136. and Company E, 86 Ohio regiments, as was also a brother, who was wounded. Mrs. Snodgrass had four brothers in the same service. Albert Snod- grass was the son of William and Sarah ( Robinson) Snodgrass. Mrs. Albert Snodgrass is a daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Welker) Wolford, of Knox County, Ohio.

Mrs. Bonar was engaged in the same profession as her husband at the time of their marriage. Dur- ing their early married life they each taught school away from home, keeping house within two miles of Lynn, this county. During one winter Mrs. Bonar rode five and a half miles each night and morning. She is a finely educated and cult- ured lady, and in addition to her scholarly attain- ments is possessed of housewifely qualities. She is the mother of two children: William Earl. born in October, 1884; and Elmer Sherman, born Nov. 12. 1887.

Mr. Bonar is a Republican, and an active worker during campaigns. Hle belongs to the Scotch Presbyterian Church. The ancestral stock on both sides of the house included preachers in that de- nomination.

AMES A. HESS, a highly respected citizen, although a bachelor, is the owner of a good farm, which has been brought to its present condition mainly by his own persevering industry. It embraces 200 acres, most of which is in a highly productive condition, and upon which there have been erected the buildings required for the comfort of both man and beast. Stock-raising forms a leading feature in the operations of Mr. Hess, who makes a specialty of graded cattle and Poland-China swine.

Mr. Hess came to Riley County in the fall of 1879, and took up his abode on section 28, Zean-

dale Township, where he has since resided. was born in Walton, Delaware County, N. Y .. Sept. 15, 1846, and was the second in a family of five children, the offspring of Jolin and Myra A. (Moore) Hess, who were likewise natives of the above-mentioned county. There also they were reared, married and died. The father was a farmer by occupation. a straightforward, honest man, who makes a comfortable living for his family, and lives at peace with his neighbors.

Young Hess was reared to man's estate in his native county. and at the outbreak of the Civil War was only a lad of fifteen years. Ile was too young to enter the ranks of the Union army, but kept close watch of the struggle and finally, in February, 1864, when a youth of seventeen years, enlisted in Company I, 3d New York Cavalry, in which he served until after the close of the war, receiving his honorable discharge in December. 1865. He participated in several of the cavalry engagements in front of Petersburg, and endured the usual hardships and privations of a soldier's life. After being mustered out at City Point. Va., he returned to his native county in New York State, and lived there until setting out for the far- ther West.

In 1869 Mr. Hess set his face toward the Missis- sippi and established himself on a tract of land in Caldwell County, Mo., where he engaged in cattle- feeding for other parties and on his own account. He was thus occupied for a period of ten years, then coming to Northern Kansas took up his abode in Riley County, of which he has since been a resi- dent. He is a man who keeps himself well posted regarding matters of general interest, and uni- formly votes the Republican ticket. He has held the office of Justice of the Peace, and Township and School Clerk, and is in favor of everything to benefit the county and elevate society.

OHN HOUSTON. No man within the lim- its of Zeandale Township, occupies a higher place in the esteem and confidence of his fellow-citizens than Mr. Houston. Among the other good things in life which have befallen

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him, is a wife and helpmate his equal in all respects and who by hier pleasing intelligence has proved of no small assistance in establishing her husband upon a good basis morally and financially. They have one of the pleasantest homes in the township. and are surrounded by hosts of friends. Their property, in the shape of a well-regulated farm, comprises 160 acres of land on seetion 19, thor- oughly cultivated and embellished with good build- ings.

Mr. Houston was born in County Tyrone, Ire- land, May 15, 1823. Ile lived there until about twenty years old, acquiring a common-school edu- cation, and the habits of industry and frugality which have proved the secret of his success in life. Not satisfied with the outlook upon his native soil he decided to emigrate to America, and boarding a sailing-vessel at Londonderry, in due time landed in Philadelphia, Pa., where he had friends. After visiting with them a short time he proceeded to Utica, N. Y., which remained his home for ten years thereafter, and where he served an appren- ticeship as a machinist. There also he was mar- ried, April 25, 1849, to Miss Elizabeth Hutchison.

In 1853 Mr. Houston removed with his wife to Baltimore, Md., where he followed his trade in the employ of the Baltimore & Ohio Railway Company until 1860. In the meantime his wife died, Sept. 25, 1858, without children. In 1860 Mr. Houston entered the employ of the Government as a machin- ist, having charge of the machine shops at Ft. Monroe, between two and three years. Later he was transferred to the Frankfort Arsenal at Phila- delphia, Pa., and next was at Wheeling, W. Va., still in the employ of the same Baltimore & Ohio Railway Company. Ile remained there about five and one-half years.

In Baltimore, Md., on the 13th of September. 1852, Mr. Houston was a second time. married, to Miss Mary Carr. This lady, like himself, is a na- tive of County Tyrone, Ireland, and was born May 15. 1829. She emigrated with her father and mother to America in 1843. After her marriage to Mr. Houston they lived for the following eight years in Ft. Monroe, Philadelphia and Wheeling. W. Va. In August, 1870, Mr. Houston eame to Kansas and entered the employ of the Kansas Pacific Railway

Company at Wamego, and in September was joined by his family, and they lived there four years. During this time Mr. Houston had charge of the round-house at that place, but later was transferred to Ellis, Kan., and was made Master Mechanic of the Smoky Hill division, which position he oceu- pied four years.

The summer of 1878 found Mr. Houston inves- tigating the agricultural resources of Zeandale Township, Riley County, with the view of settling upon the quarter section of land which he had already purchased. He soon took up his abode on it, and has given his attention to farming pursuits. Ile brought his land to a good state of cultivation and erected thereon modern buildings, gathered together the necessary farm machinery and live stock, and in due time surrounded himself and his family with all the comforts of life. To him and his excellent wife there have been born five chil- dren, the eldest of whom, William J .. is agent for the Rock Island Railroad at Zeandale; John J. and Frank W., the latter next to the youngest child, died in infancy: Joseph C., and Frank A .. the youngest remain at home with their parents. Mr. Houston is a stanch supporter of the Republican party, and he and his wife are numbered among the pillars of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

W ILLIAM GREENWOOD, of Sherman Township, Clay County, when coming to the vicinity of where he now lives, could discover only two houses on the main road to Clay Center, and the present flourishing city of Clifton was composed of three dwellings and a blacksmith shop. This statement, perhaps, will best illustrate the changes which have taken place within a period of less than twenty years. The early settlers of Clay County were men of hardy frames and dauntless courage and among them Mr. Greenwood deserves more than a passing notice. He did a large amount of pioneer labor and is now in the enjoyment of the fruits thereof, having a line home and all the comforts of modern life. He is a thorough and

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skillful farmer. a man zealous in church work and a citizen highly respected by all who know him.

A native of Jefferson County, lowa, the subject of this sketch was born July 14. 1844. When a mere boy his parents, G. B. and Dartha (Clifton) Greenwood removed to Mercer County, Ill., where they lived until 1865. Then. recrossing the Father of Waters, they established themselves on a farm in Davis County, Mo., but later went back to Illinois, staid there one year. then, in 1871, came to Clay County, Kan., and located on land near Morgan- ville. The father operated on a rented farm about three years, then purchased the farm in the vicinity of Jamestown, this State, where he lived four years. We next find him in Norton County, where he still sojourns, and is spending his declining years. re- tired from active labor.

To the parents of our subject, there was born a family of fourteen children. William being the eldest. The parents belonged to the Christian Church of which they are still members and reared their offspring carefully in the ways of truth and virtue. They were in Illinois at the outbreak of the Civil War and on the 22d of December, 1862. William enlisted as a Union soldier in the 11th Illinois Cavalry and following his regiment to the front, served until the close and was in many im- portant engagements. He was with the troops who followed the rebel General Stoneman. from Memphis, Tenn., to Mobile, Ala., and in the forty- one days' siege thereafter, in which they captured 640 prisoners and two pieces of artillery, burning seven miles of railroad and valuable trestle work. Later followed the siege of Vicksburg, during which time Mr. Greenwood was detached as an Orderly for an Adjutant General and acted in that capacity until his honorable discharge in Spring- field, Ill., in 1865. He escaped comparatively unharmed, only receiving a wound in the right hand from a sabre at Egypt Station.

After leaving the army Mr. Greenwood made his way to Illinois and lived there until coming to Kansas. Prior to his marriage he homesteaded 160 acres of land in Clay County, which he sold. Ile took unto himself a wife and helpmate in 1876. the maiden of his choice being Miss Martha J., daughter of Thomas and Caroline (Seegar) Peteh.

Mrs. Greenwood was born Feb. 25, 1852, in Indiana. She is the mother of five children. the eldest of whom, a daughter. Zuda, died when three years old. The survivors are Bryant, Lucretia, Floyd, and a babe. unnamed. The Greenwood homestead is eighty acres in extent and embellished with a substantial frame dwelling, a good barn, corn-cribs. sheds, etc. It is all fenced and in a productive condition and near the dwelling have been planted fruit and shade trees which give it a homelike ap- pearance. Mr. Greenwood keeps a goodly assort- ment of live stock but his land is mainly devoted to general farming. He and his excellent wife are members in good standing of the Christian Church, in which our subject officiates as an Eller. He belongs to the 1. O. O. F., No. 115 at Clay Center. and is prominently identified with the G. A. R. Post at Clifton.

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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 110

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

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