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 119

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 119
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 119
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 119

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prosecuted saw-milling as before, and Allen C. at- tended school during the winter season until fifteen years old. He assisted in developing the new farm at a time when wild game was plentiful and the settlers were few and far between. IIe also worked out considerably until twenty-two years old. Then. the Civil War being in progress, he felt called upon to assist in the preservation of the Union, and on the 7th of August, 1861, enlisted in Company A, 55th Illinois Infantry, being mustered into service at Camp Douglas. Four months later the regiment was sent south to St. Louis, and later was ordered to Paducah, Ky., where it operated as a guard three months. Next, going to Tennessee, it participated in the battles of Shiloh and Corinth, and thereafter engaged in many of the important battles of the war. during which Mr. Wheeler ex- perienced many hairbreadth escapes, but was mus- tered out unharmed and received his honorable discharge, Nov. 4, 1864, after having been in the service three years and three months.

Upon leaving the army Mr. Wheeler rented a farm in Will County, Ill., which he operated one year. In the fall of 1865 he went to Faribault County, Minn., but that region being too cold to suit him he left there in the spring of 1866, pro- ceeding to Gage County, Neb., overland by team. Ile crossed the Missouri River at Nebraska City, and located in Blue Springs Township, when there were but three or four houses within its limits. He entered 160 acres of land and operated upon it four years, then in the spring of 1870 removed to Fair- bury, Neb., being the fourth man to settle there. He then commenced operating a saw-mill, handling mostly cottonwood lumber, which was as much in demand as greenbacks. The following year he re- moved to his farm on Silver Creek, which he had purchased in 1868 at 81.25 per acre. He improved this land and prosecuted farming and stock-raising there until 1881. In the meantime he had become the owner of 320 acres, which be now sold, and coming to Washington County, Kan., purchased a part of his present farm on section 1. Union Town- ship. Later he added 120 acres on section 1, and 160 acres on section 11, which he improved. He now owns the west half of section 1, the northeast quarter of section 11, and his 160-acre farm in

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Nebraska. He was one of the first stock buyers in Washington County, and is probably among the largest.

Mr. Wheeler, in 1884, put up a stone store build- ing in Reynolds, which he leased until 1887. Then, selling it, he established a lumber-yard at Narka, which he operated one year, then sold this likewise. Nothing suits him quite as well as dealing in cattle. Some years he feeds six carloads, and two carloads of swine. Ile is also interested in the breeding of draft horses. He put up his present store at Narka in 1888, and leased it until August, 1889. He then purchased the stock within it, added to this, and is now condueting a flourishing trade, carrying goods to the amount of $6.000. Hc has erected the larg- est dwelling in the town of Narka.

In Peoria, Ill., on the 12th of January, 1863, Mr. Wheeler was united in marriage with Miss Nancy J. Millard. This union resulted in the birth of seven children, viz: John (deceased), Mary, Allen C., Lydia, Blanche, Eva and Amy. Mary is the wife of Joseph C. Broady, and they live on the lrome farm; Allen C. Jr., is chief clerk in his father's store at Narka. The younger children are at home with their parents. Mr. Wheeler assisted in the organization of his school district in which he has been a Director many years. Politically, he is a stanch Republican, and has served as a delegate to the county and congressional conventions.

The father of our subject was Joseph Wheeler, a native of New York State and the son of George Wheeler, who carried on farming in Chautauqua County, and died there. The family traces its an- cestry to Germany. Joseph Wheeler was a black- smith by trade in his early manhood, but later operated a saw-mill. He was at one time a resi- dent of Herkimer County, but in 1851 removed to Fulton County, Ill., locating near Cuba, or Centre. ville, where he was among the earliest pioneers. In 1870, seeking the farther West, he emigrated to Nebraska and operated a sawmill near Fairbury. Afterward he removed to the farm of his son, our subject, in Jefferson County, where his death took place in 1879, when he was sixty-five years old. Ile identified himself with the Republican party at its organization, and was a member of the Baptist Churchi.

The maiden name of the mother of our subject was Paulina Green. She likewise was a native of the Empire State. and the daughter of David Green. a New Yorker by birth and of English descent. The latter operated as a farmer, and lived in C'hau- tauqua and Herkimer counties. N. Y. Mrs. Paulina Wheeler departed this life in Fulton C'ounty, Ill., in 1855. She was the mother of a large family. viz: Betsey, a resident of Jefferson County, Neb. ; Jane, Mrs. Milliard, of Faribault County, Minn .; Cyrus, deceased; Allen C .. our subject; Joseph. of Reynolds, Neb. ; William, deceased, and Sarah. Mrs. Honeycutt, of Jefferson County. Neb .; James and William, during the Civil War served in the 55th Illinois Infantry, the former in Company G, and the latter in Company A; William, who was only six- teen years old when he enlisted, was discharged for disability in the fall of 1862.

ARTIN BOBB, a leading farmer and stock- raiser of Bloom Township, is one of those men whose career have been signalized by persevering industry resulting in success. We find him pleasantly located on section 1, where he has 160 acres, well watered and finely improved. and largely devoted to cattle and swine. Ile settled here in April, 1871, as a homesteader and is credi- ted with having built up one of the best farms in this part of Clay County.

Mr. Bobb was born in the Kingdom of Bavaria near the river Rhine, Sept. 18, 1832 and emigrated to America with friends in 1853. The year fol- lowing he spent in New York City, then emigrated to Highland County, Ohio, where he lived from 1855 until coming to Kansas, engaged in farming pursuits. He comes of pure German stock, being the son of Valentine Baab. as it was then spelled in Germany. The latter was born and reared in Bavaria where he learned the miller's trade. The paternal grandfather was Jacob Baab, a Wurtem- berger by birth, but who spent his last years in Bavaria, dying at the age of seventy-three years. lle was a member of the German Reformed or Modern Lutheran Church.

Valentine Baab upon reaching man's estate and 1

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being equipped with a good trade-that of a miller -- was married in his native Province to Miss Carolina Berodt. This lady was born in Bavaria where she spent her entire life. They became the parents of three children, viz: Martin. Valentine, Jr., and an infant who died unnamed. Valentine, Jr., is a resident of Norton County, Kan. The father after the death of his wife emigrated to America leaving his two sons with their paternal grandparents. The sons upon reaching manhood joined their father, after his absence of nineteen years and it was a remarkable circumstance that Martin, although but five years old when his father left Bavaria, recognized the latter when they met in Ohio. The elder Bobb after coming to the United States was a second time married. He settled in Highland County, Ohio, where his death occured in 1880, when he was ripe in years.

Martin Bobb lived with his grandparents until coming to the United States, and while a resident of Highland County, Ohio, was married in December, 1857 to Miss Eliza Rhoads. This lady was born in that county in 1830, of parents who were natives of Pennsylvania and of Dutch and Irish descent. She was reared in the doctrines of the Lutheran Church and after becoming the mother of eight children departed this life at her home in Bloom Township, Dec. 22, 1882, very suddenly, having been stricken with palsy. One child, Eliza E., died at the age of eight years. Mary A. remains at home with her father; David married Miss Eva Carson and is a resident of Clay Center; Joseph married Alice Elk- ins and lives on a farm in Clay County Kan. ; Caro- line M. is the wife of Welcome C. Timmons, a hardware merchant of Idana, Kan .; Damarius I. is the wife of Job G. Goings, a farmer of Minton, Neb .; Sarah C. married John Goings, and they likewise live on a farm in that State; Martin D. remains with his father assisting him on the farm.

Mr. Bobb contracted a second marriage in High- land County, Ohio. Jan. 24, 1886, with Mrs. Eliza- beth ( Hatter) Martin. This lady was born in that county Nov. 3, 1842, and is the daughter of Jacob and Mary ( Rhoads) Hatter, who were natives of Pennsylvania and are now deceased, having died on their farm in Highland County, Ohio, when quite well advanced in years. They were reared

in Pennsylvania and Ohio respectively, and were married in Ilighland County, Ohio. Mrs. Bobb was reared in her native county and was there mar- ried to Joseph Martin by whom she became the mother of one child, a daughter, Mary P., who re- mains with her mother. Mr. Bobb is a member of the German Reformed Church and his wife is a Lutheran in religion. Politically, Mr. Bobb votes the straight Democratie tieket.

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AMES M. HARRELL, D. D. S., who is con- sidered one of the most skillful and best qualified dentists in Washington County, he having devoted some years to a careful study of dentistry in one of the best dental colleges in the West and under first-class instructors, is practicing his profession in Washington, where he has an office tastefully fitted up, and has a large number of patrons. He is a native of Illinois, born in North Grove, Winnebago Co., Ill., April 28, 1852, to Edmund N. and Polly (Poole) Harrell.

Our subject passed his early boyhood days in the town of his birth, and in its public schools gleaned the preliminaries of his education. When he was twelve years old he commenced to work on a farm, and was thus occupied two years, and he then began to learn the harness maker's trade, serving two and a half years. At the expiration of that time he went with his parents to Iowa, and was there engaged in working one year on the grade of the Sabula, Ack- ley and Dakota Railway. then in process of construc- tion. In 1874 he went to Sparta, Wis., and was foreman of a gang of men employed in the con- struction of a tunnel. He occupied that position a year, and then went to Pecatonica, Ill., and en- gaged there in the sale of musical instruments, and also commenced the study of dentistry. Three years later he entered the office of .J. C. Cornelius. a dental surgeon in Freeport, Ill .. and was with him eighteen months as an assistant, and after that was in the office of Dr. W. W. Crape a year, gain- ing under both a good practical knowledge of den- tistry. He subsequently opened an office in Davis, Ill .. where he practiced a year, and then, wishing

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to become still more proficient in his chosen calling, he became a student at Delavan Dental College, and attended a course of lectures in that excellent institution. He then resumed his practice in Davis, and became one of the most popular dentists there. In 1884 he removed to this State with his family, and opening an office in Washington, has since been actively engaged in his profession in this city. He is a young man of good address, sen- sible, straightforward and frank in his manner, and he and his amiable wife are among the leading citi- zens of this city and move in the best of society, being very highly thought of by all who have the pleasure of their friendship or acquaintance. Mr. IJarrell is connected with the A. F. & A. M. as a member of Davis Lodge, No. 573, in Illinois.

Mr. Harrell and Miss Mary Breithaupt were united in marriage July 15, 1880, and three chil- dren have been born to them, Walter, Silas and Carl. The greatest grief of their wedded life has been in the death of little Silas, April 11, 1889, at the age of four years and ten months.

Mrs. Harrell is a native of Racine, Wis., and a daughter of Jacob and Magdalene ( Beck) Breit- haupt, her father born near Carlsruhe, Baden. April 29, 1818, and her mother born in a village on the banks of the beautiful Rhine, Sept. 19. 1824. Mr. Breithaupt had good school advantages and became well educated. He learned the butcher's trade, which he followed in Germany till the spring of 1854, when he came to America, and locating in Racine, Wis .. engaged in his trade in that city. In the spring of 1861 he removed with his family to Stephenson County, Ill., and made his home in Davis. About that time the war broke out, and he, who had with great interest watched the course of events that led up to it, and was a strong and out-spoken abolitionist from the first, with the pa- triotie ardor of a native-born citizen, determined to sacrifice his life, if need be. on the altar of his adopted country, and laying aside all personal con- siderations he enlisted in Company I, 74th Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He was then forty-three years old, and though in poor health, was mustered in at Rockford, III., and camped at that place till ordered South. Hle took part in all the battles in which his regiment engaged, often being found in the heat

of the fight in the front ranks, till he was injured at Nashville, Tenn., by an ammunition wagon running over his foot. He was sent to the Nashville hos- pital, and was honorably discharged and returned home after having served nine months. As soon as he was able to walk, he went to Freeport to re- enlist, though he had to use a cane he was so lame. The brave and heroic soldier there offered his ser. vices a second time, but they were refused, as he was not fit to again face the hardships of life on the battlefield, and he returned sadly to his family. He was never able to do any work after that, but died at his home in Davis, June 28, 1871, as brave a soldier as ever drew breath, and giving up his life for his adopted country as much as if he had died with his face to the foe on some Southern battle- field. He was a firm Republican in his political views, and religiously, was a Lutheran. strong in the faith. His wife made her home with her daugh- ter and our subject after her husband's death, as long as they lived in Davis, and she still continues to reside in that town. She is an active Christian, and a devoted member of the Lutheran Church. She is the mother of four children: Christine, the wife of Fred Butecharfter, of Davis, Ill .; Mary, wife of our subject; Jacob B., one of the leading druggists of Newton, Iowa; Emma A., the wife of Frank Crove, a miller in Woodlawn. After her father's death, Mrs. Ilarrell's mother was sick, and at the early age of sixteen she engaged in the mil- linery business to obtain money to support her. The plucky and energetic young miss established a good trade, and gradually increased her stock, and was one of the leading milliners of Davis, when she closed her business in 1884 to accompany her hus- band to Kansas.

AMES G. WOODRUM, an active and enter- prising man of business. is one of the lead- ing farmers, stock raisers and stock-dealers of Washington County, with his interests centered in Washington Township, where he owns and occupies a valuable farm, comprising the northi- east quarter of section 23. Ile was born in Fayette County, W. Va., Feb. 26, 1848. His father, Will-

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iam Woodrum, was born in the same locality, and the latter's father, Archibald Woodrum, is supposed to have been a native of that State. He was reared in Monroe County, and removing to Fayette County during some period of his life, he engaged in farm- ing there his remaining days.

The father of our subject was bred to the life of a farmer in his native county, but as he grew to manhood he learned the trades of a carpenter and a cabinet-maker, and followed them some years. Later in life he engaged in the mercantile business, carrying it on profitably until one year before his death, when he had to abandon it on account of ill-health. He died April 16, 1855, while yet in life's prime, and his death was not only a sad loss to his family, but it was a blow to the interests of the community where he had made his home, and where he was held in general esteem for those ster- ling traits of character that constituted him a good man and a valued citizen. The mother of our sub- ject preceded the father in death, dying Jan. 2, 1850, leaving two children- James G. and Eliza- beth J., the latter the wife of Mark Kincaid, of Fayette County, W. Va. Her maiden name (the mother's) was Mary Frances Duncan, and she was born in Fayette County, Va. Her father, Isaac Duncan, was born in Germany, and was there reared and married, and directly afterward he started with his bride for America, and they made their new home in Fayette County, Va., living there until deathi called them hence. Mr. Duncan bought and improved a farm there.

James Woodrum was very young when he was left an orphan, and he was then taken charge of by his aunt, Melinda (Woodrum) Johnson, of Fayette County, who reared and educated him, he living with her until he grew to manhood. Ile attended school and assisted on the farm, and was engaged · in agricultural pursuits until 1870, when he en- tered the employ of the Chesapeake and Ohio Rail- way Company, and was railroading two years. At the expiration of that time he came to Kansas. and locating in Miami County, worked on a farm a short time, and after that went to Andrew County, Mo., where he resided about eight years. Soon after locating there he bought two farms, which he sold when he left that county to take up his

residence in Brown County, Kan. There he rented land for a time, and then bought an 80-acre farm. which he rented until December, 1883, then traded it for land in Washington Township, this county. In that month he disposed of his property there and eame to Washington County, and bought a farm of 160 acres, on sections 19 and 20, Logan Township. Eight months later he sold that place at a good ad- vance and rented land for a time. He subsequently bought the southwest quarter of section 4, and in 1887 he purchased the farm that he now owns and occupies, comprising the northeast quarter of sec -. tion 23. Here he is successfully engaged in gen- eral farming, raising and feeding stock extensively. In 1887 he suffered severe financial loss by the death of his cattle from Texas fever, losing 184 cattle out of a herd of 525.

Mr. Woodrum was married May 25, 1873, to Miss Susie E. Lewis, She is a native of Andrew County, Mo., and was born eighteen miles northeast of St. Joseph. Her father, William Lewis, was born in Franklin County, Ind., and was a son of Morgan Lewis, a native of Tennessee. Ilis father, Mrs. Woodrum's great-grandfather, was a native of Wales. Her grandfather was a pioneer and frontiersman, and when the Platte Purchase in Missouri was opened for settlement, he was one of the first to locate in Andrew County, making the removal from Indiana with ox teams. He bought a tract of Government land, improved it into a farm, which is now in the possession of one of his sons, and resided on it until his death. Mrs. Wood- rum's father was but nine years old when his parents moved to Missouri, and there he was reared. He was one of the original '49ers, having erossed the plains in that year, driving an ox team to Cali- fornia. Ile was engaged in mining there for some time, and after an absence of three and one-half years returned home by the way of Cape Horn. He resided in Andrew County until 1880, when he came to Kansas and purchased a farm in Brown County, which he still occupies. Politically he is a Democrat, and socially a member of the A. F. & A. M. and I. O. O. F. The maiden name of his wife was Emily F. Warren, and she was born in Orange County, N. C. Her father, Briscoe M. Warren, was a native of the same county. Ile was

Washington Martell

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a farmer, a school teacher and an attorney. Here- moved to Clay County, Mo., in the early years of its settlement. Ile lived there a few years and then became a pioneer of Andrew County, and after- ward of Nodaway County, where he bought a farm of 200 acres, and was a resident there until his death. The maiden name of his wife, Mrs. Wood- rum's maternal grandmother, was Adeline Troxler, and she was a native of Germany. She spent her last years in Nodaway County, Mr. and Mrs. Woodrum have four children, namely : Charles W .. Abby F., Daisy E. and Archie L.

Though still a young man, in the vigor and prime of life, our subject has had a wide and varied experience, and has profited thereby ; that, with his keen powers of observation, clear head, and rare judgment, being a prominent factor in his success. In him the Democratic party have had an intelligent and earnest supporter since he cast his first vote for president, when Gen. Hancock was a candidate for that office. He is a member of the following social organizations: Frontier Lodge, No. 104, A. F. & A. M .; Tyrian Chapter, No. 29. R. A. M., and Washington Lodge, No. 119, A. O. U. W.

David Crockett's mother and the mother of Mor- gan Lewis, the paternal grandfather of Mrs. Wood- rum, were sisters.

W ASHINGTON MARLATT. Any intelli- gent person who has the pleasure of meeting this gentleman at once recognizes him as a man of more than ordinary capabilities, the exist- ence of which are indicated in his pictured features on another page in this volume. Although a farmer by occupation, he is a gentleman and a scholar, fond of reading and literary pursuits and while making a success of agriculture, has written between 300 and 400 articles under the caption of "farm talk," based upon bis own practical knowledge of this calling. He bears a fine reputa- tion among his fellow citizens, and although of very quiet manner, is decided in his views and usually succeeds in his undertakings. One of the most attractive features of his comfortable home is his fine library, while Mr. Marlatt keeps himself well posted

upon current events by perusing the papers and magazines which weekly and monthly visit him. He occupies a good stone residence and has a very fine barn with other outbuildings. He is a man popular among his fellow citizens and his portrait adorns the walls of the State Historical Society at To- peka.

The subject of this sketch was born JJune 28. [829, in Wayne County, Ind., and was the son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Bellar) Marlatt, who were natives of Berkeley County. Va. The paternal great-grandfather removed from New Jersey to the Old Dominion at an early date and became the owner of a plantation of 400 acres, upon which his son, Abram, the grandfather of our subject, was born. Abram served as a soldier in the Re- volutionary war. The family traces its ancestry to Holland and the French Huguenots. The pa- rents of Mrs. Marlatt were born in Virginia and died when she was quite young.

Thomas Marlatt left the Old Dominion in 1823. starting for Wayne County, Ind. He spent the winter in the Miami Valley. Ohio, and later pur- chased 160 acres of government land in Indiana from which he improved a farm and where he spent the remainder of his days, passing away in December, 1877, at the advanced age of eighty-six | years. He was a member of the I'nited Brethren Church, was first a Whig and then a Republican, voting for Jolm Quincy Adams for President in- stead of Andrew Jackson. In the early days he was a Federalist and a great admirer of Washing- ton rather than Jefferson. By occupation he was a farmer and successful financially.

To the parents of our subject there was born a family of twelve children, the eldest of whom, a daughter, Rebecca, is the wife of Washington Wolf and the mother of eight children; they live in Mercer County, Ill. Elizabeth married Jeremiah Falls and died in Mercer County, Ill .. in 1851, leaving four sons and one daughter. Eveline is the wife of Solomon Wolf and the mother of eleven daughters and one son. James W., is a resi- dent of Wayne County. Ind .; he has been twice married, his first wife, Ann Saur, dying and leav- ing no living children; he was then married to Athelia Crawford and they have four children.

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Thomas, a resident of Keithsburg, Ill., is a farmer and a local preacher of the United Brethren Church; he has been blind for nearly twenty years; he married Catherine Dryden and they have three girls. Mary married Elisha Cecil, a farmer, and died in Muncie, Ind., when about fifty-seven years old. Harrison married Ann Swisher and is the father of two sons and three daughters; they live on the old homestead in Wayne County, Ind. Abram, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church and Presiding Elder of the Jeffersonville Distriet, South- east Indiana Conference, has labored in the Master's vineyard for a period of twenty-six years and makes his home in Columbus, Ind .; he married Anna Collins, and they have six children. Albert is a farmer and stockman and occupies a part of the home place; he was first married to a Miss Jones, who died leaving one child; his second wife, formerly a Miss Ellis, is the mother of one son and three daughters. Lydia married John Walker, a farmer of Newcastle, Ind .. who served in an Indiana regiment during the late war, and they have two sons and three daughters.

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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 119

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

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