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 121

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 121
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 121
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 121

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).

Mr. Bachman was a Lutheran and is now a member of the Evangelical Association. He is a Republican in politics and never fails to cast his vote in the support of the party which he believes will best advance the interests of the land which he has made his own. He is industrious and thrifty, and of honorable and upright character. He de- votes considerable time to reading and is well in- formed on general topics and current events.

E GODFREY FORTIER. This gentleman is the owner and occupant of a valuable farm, pleasantly located in Coleman Township, Washington County. The residence overlooks a large extent of country diversified by cultivated fields, groves and streams whose courses are marked by "bush."

Mr. Fortier is of French descent, and a native of Kankakee, Ill., where he was born Jan. 19. 1848. His parents, Isidore and Rosalie ( Lambert) Fortier. were born in Canada. Their marriage took place near Kankakee. where they afterward lived, and where they died. They raised a family of fourteen children, nine of whom still survive. Our subject was the eldest of the family. Ile was reared in his native place and there received the advantages afforded by the common schools. His father was a stone-mason and contractor, and while yet a boy our subject got a good inkling of his father's trade. Ile lived in Illinois until his twenty-second year, when in company with others he came to this county.

On Sept. 14, 1871, Mr. Foster reached the land up- on which he decided to file a claim. This was done on the 19th and on that homestead he has since lived. There being plenty of good stone upon it he determined to erect a stone house. This he did with his own hands, the walls being in place a few

months after his arrival here. The first roof put on it was a dirt one. All the buildings on his estate are of stone, and have been built by himself. Since coming to this county he has added eighty acres to his possessions, under the Tree Culture Act. Ile has also set out many trees on his home- stead, including an orchard of 100 bearing apple trees. He has 135 acres now under the plow.

In 1873, Mr. Fortier returned to Kankakee, and on Dec. 30, was united in marriage with Miss Eliza Lamnan. She is the daughter of Isaac Lamnan, of C'hatsworth, Ill., formerly of Canada, where she was born. She is, like her husband, of French de- scent, and has the pleasing manners which are usually found among those of that race. Her union with Mr. Fortier has resulted in the birth of two daughters. Louisa Mary, is a young lady, and Mary Matilda, a child, and both are at home.

Mr. Fortier is a Republican in politics. He has held the office of Road Overseer and Director of the school district. He and his wife are members of the St. Bernard Catholic Church, which is located a few miles distant. He is a successful and enterprising farmer. a good citizen, and a man of worth.

ENRY SIIULER. This gentleman is one of the most successful farmers of Washington County, and is also a successful breeder of swine. His beautiful home is on section 26. Clifton Township, and consists of a quarter section of land, most of which is highly improved. Mr. Shuler has erected excellent farm buildings and a handsome residence, and has a fine orchard, con- taining a good variety of fruits, together with a half acre of vineyard. He has become by study and practice an expert fruit culturist. Beside the homestead, he owns eighty acres of good land on on section 22, which is also well improved.

Mr. Shuler is of French parentage, and was born July 16. 1842, near Strasburg, in Alsace. That province was then under French rule, and Mr. Shuler has never ceased to mourn its addition to the German Empire. His father, George Shuler, died three months before our subject was born. He therefore knows but little of the paternal his-

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tory, though familiar with the fact that his father was twice married, and that the family was of prominence and good financial standing in Alsace. George Shuler was the father of three or four chil- dren by his first marriage. His second wife, the mother of our subject, bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Bower. She survived her husband nearly eleven years, and at the time of her death had three sons living. Iler father was a soldier under Napoleon, and a man of great bravery.

After the death of his mother, young Shuler lived with relatives until fourteen days old. He then aceompanied a neighboring family to the United States. They left Havre in the spring of 1856, on a sailing vessel, and landed in New York City after a voyage of twenty-seven days, one of the quickest trips ever made by a sailer. Mr. Shuler made his home with kinsmen in Wayne County, N. Y. and there attended school. He afterward did the same in Yates County. Three years were spent in Massachusetts, near Litchfield, as a day laborer. He then resided in Steuben County., N. Y., for eight years, being engaged the most of that time in the culture of grapes and other fruits. in which he became very successful. Leaving the Empire State, he sojourned for a few months in Southern Illinois. He then came to Kansas, and on March 10, 1870, entered as a homestead the land which now forms his home.

In Steuben County, N. Y., Mr. Shuler was united in marriage with Miss Caroline M. Brush. She was born in that county Nov. 29, 1846, and is a daughter of Jacob and Ruth (Sager) Brush. The mother died in that county when ripe in years, and there the father is yet living with a son. Mrs. Shuler was reared in her native county, and there lived until after her marriage. She is an estimable lady, and has many friends. She has borne her husband ten children. One son, Edwin Louis, died when young.

Of the surviving children we note the following: George P., a well educated and smart young man, is Assistant Postmaster at Salina, Kan .; Fred II .. has also received an excellent education. He is engaged in teaching in this county .; Mabel E. and Emma L. are teachers. but are now in attendance at the State Normal School at Emporia, Kan .;

Chester E., Harry A., Mary I .. Martin R. and Ger- trude E., are yet at home, and receiving excellent educational advantages.

Mr. Shuler is a member of the A. O. U. W. He is of Republican politics. Hle and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Shuler is one of the finest specimens of true manhood in Washington County, where his worth as a man and citizen is acknowledged by all. His homestead is represented on another page, and is a fitting illustration of the enterprise of the proprietor.

ON. HARLAN P. DOW, a resident of Man- hattan, where he is engaged in the real estate business, is one of the foremost citi- zens of Riley County, and is well-known throughont Kansas 'as a statesman of rare ability and unswerving integrity ; as a progressive, public- spirited citizen, ever alert to promote all schemes for the advancement of his adopted State, county or city ; as an enterprising far-seeing business man ; and as one in whom his friends find no guile, and who is popular with all classes and parties. Ile is also known for the brilliant record he achieved in the opening years of his manhood, while the Civil War was raging, as a daring young officer who took a conspicuous part in the campaigns for the sup- pression of guerrilla warfare in Missouri and Ar- kansas, and for other military services.

Mr. Dow, a native of New York, was born Feb. 20, 1840, at the celebrated summer resort. Rich- field Springs, in Otsego County. He came of good New England stock, Sterling. Windsor Co., Conn., having been the home of the family for many years, some aneestor of our subject first set- tling there in colonial times, and from there two sons of his great-great-grandfather. Moses and Na- than Dow, went forth to battle for separation from the mother country. In that New England town Benjamin Dow, the great-grandfather of our subjeet. was born and reared. and, so far as known, spent his entire life. His son, Daniel, grandfather of our subject, was born there April 22, 1771. And he in turn married and reared a family in his native town, one of whom. his son Daniel, father of our

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subject, was born Jan. 2, 1807. The grandfather of Mr. Dow removed from his native State to Dutchess County, N. Y., and from thence to Otsego County, of which he was an early settler. His brother Ben- jamin had preceded him and bought a large tract of timber land in the primeval forest, where now stands Richfield Springs. The grandfather of our subject cleared a part of his land, and lived on it a number of years. Ile finally went to Iowa in 1858, and died at the home of the father of our subject at College Springs, in Page County. The maiden name of his wife was Susanna Douglas. She was of the sixth generation from William Douglas, who came to America in 1679. She was born in Con- necticut, and died in Richfield Springs, N. Y., in 1837. She was the mother of nine children, namely : Narcissa, Olive, Isabella, Daniel, John, Benjamin, Rachel, James and Aaron.

Daniel, the father of our subject, was five years old when his parents moved to New York, and after attaining manhood he bought the homestead of his father that the latter had eleared from the primeval forests of Otsego County. At the time the son bought the place, Richfield Springs, where it was situated, was but a small hamlet, and was a stage station on the great Western turnpike. The house in which our subject was born was less than half a mile from the present site of the town, and the spring that has since become so famous was but sixty rods away. In 1857 Mr. Dow sold his pro- perty in Richfield Springs, and traveled Westward with team to Dunkirk, and then by lake and rail till he arrived at Sheboygan, Wis., where he visited friends in Sank and Riehland counties, and in the fall proceeded with his family to Iowa with a team. He bought a farm in Page County on the State line, two and a half miles south of College Springs, and he also entered Government land near Blan- chard. At that time lowa City was the western terminus of the railway, and deer. wolves, and other wild animals were plentiful in the sparsely settled region where he located. Mr. Dow's life was not of long duration after his settlement in Iowa, as it was terminated by death the following year (1858) while yet scarce past its prime, and his community was thus deprived of a valued citizen, and his fam- ily of a devoted husband and father, and his neigh-

hors of a kind friend. The mother of our subject continued to reside on the farm in Iowa after the father's death till 1863, and then she returned to New York, and resided in Springville, Erie County some years. She is now a welcome inmate of the home of our subject, where everything is provided for her comfort and happiness that filial love can devise. Iler maiden name was Sarah Weber, and she was born in Herkimer County, N. Y., June 27, 1808. Five of the children born of her marriage were reared to maturity, as follows : Narcissa, Henry E., Harlan, Marion W. and Daniel Weber.

The subject of this sketch is the only child now surviving. As soon as he was large enough he be- gan to assist his father on the farm, aiding him in clearing the land and in tilling the soil, and in the winter season attending school. IIis education was advanced by two winters of study at Hartwick Seminary, Otsego Co., N. Y., and after his removal to Iowa he became a student at Amity College. At eighteen he began to make use of his education by teaching in a district school in Nodaway County. Mo. After his father's death be returned home to take charge of the farm, and was engaged in agricul- tural pursuits till the breaking out of the war. At that time Amity, which was located on the border of Missouri, being principally settled by abolition- ists, was a threatened object of attack by the seces- sionists and Southern sympathizers, who had a great antipathy for its citizens, and consequently when the Rebellion broke out a regiment of Iowa militia was raised for home defense, and placed under charge of J. R. Morledge, and as a member of that regiment our subject won his first military laurels. After serving in that some months he joined Kim- ball's regiment of mounted infantry for a period of six months, and was mustered in as Second Lieuten- ant, serving as such to the expiration of his term of enlistment. In April, 1862, he re-enlisted in Com- pany C., 4th Missouri Cavalry, State Militia, for a period of three years, and was mustered into the United States service, and remained with his regi- ment till the close of the war. His regiment was employed the greater part of time in Missouri and Arkansas, fighting Quantrell's guerrillas and other bushwhackers that infested those states.

During the latter part of his army life Mr. Dow

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often did detached duty, and was one time ap- pointed Judge Advocate of a court martial, and once served on a military commission. For a time, till his discharge with his regiment, he had charge of the arsenal at Jefferson City, Mo. After that he was authorized by Gov. Fletcher to raise a com- pany for State service, and with his usual energy and address he succeeded in doing so, and was ap- pointed Captain of the company. Although never mustered into the United States service, his men were fed and equipped by the government. Capt. Dow served with his company till August, 1865, and was then honorably discharged. And after the exciting experiences of his military life the young officer, returning to Page County. Iowa, resumed farming, and was engaged at that occupation there till 1869. In that year he came to Kansas and bought a farm in Wild Cat Township, this county, and followed agricultural pursuits in that place till 1878, when he came to Manhattan, opened a real estate office, and the following year brought his family here, and has since been a continnous resi- dent in this city.

Mr. Dow was married in 1860 to Miss Nannie M. Brown, a native of Knox County, Ill., and a daughter of George F. and Amanda (Smith ) Brown. To them have been born five children, three of whom are living-George H., Minnie W. and Helen Pearl. George, a resident of Washington, is a graduate of Hahnemann College, Chicago. Minnie is very successfully conducting business as an ah- stractor and an insurance agent. She is finely ed- ucated, being a graduate of the Manhattan High School, and also of the Sedalia Business College, and she mastered the art of stenography at Bloom- ington, Ill. Helen Pearl is in her third year at Manhattan Agricultural College. Albert H., Mr. and Mrs. Dow's third child and second son, died in 1884, at the age of fourteen years. Their daugh- ter, Edna Elsie, died in infancy.

A man of large heart, warm and generous im- pulses and pleasing manner, Mr. Dow has gathered to himself many tried and true friends from an ex- tensive acquaintance made through the medium of business or social way, or as a public man. Well gifted with a clear head. practical energy and a de- cided talent for public affairs, he has played no

unimportant part in the political life of the State and county. A politician of the best type, incor- ruptible, using his influence to promote the highest interests of the country rather than personal or party ends, he is prominent in the councils of the Republican party, being chairman of the Republi- can central committee. Ile was elected to the State Legislature in 1873, and to the State Senate in 1874, and was re-elected to that honorable body in 1876, his whole course as a representative of the people marking him as an astute, honest, public- spirited legislator. In 1878 Mr. Dow was appointed Deputy Revenue Collector, and he served with honor seven years. He is a member of Manhattan Lodge No. 17, I. O. O. F., and in commemora- tion of the part he took in the war he is now a valued member of Lew Gove Post No. 100, G. A. R. Ile was formerly master of the county grange. He and his wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are actively identified with all its good works.

I'GH GARRETT. This gentleman is the pioneer merchant of Morrow, Washington County, where he began business in 1884. The first house in the place, a small one story frame store building, was erected by him when the railroad was opened up to the place. In that building he placed a stock of general merchan- dise, and engaged in the business which he has since been quietly and successfully pursuing.

Mr. Garrett was born in County Down. Ireland, December 22, 1851. When he was sixteen years old. his parents. James and Sarah ( Pettigrew) Gar- rett came to America and settled in Fayette County, Ill. They purchased a farm near Rumsey, on which they lived until 1878, and then came to this State. They settled three miles and a half north of Morrow in Mill Creek Township, where the father died in 1884. The mother is still living. (See sketch of Mrs. Sarah Garrett which occupies another page in this work.)

At the age of twenty-two years, Mr. Garrett hired out by the month as a farm hand. and was so employed for three years. He also famed as a rent-

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er in Illinois. In 1881, he followed his parents to this State, and spent two years in farming in Mill Creek Township. He then engaged, as before stated, in general merchandising in this place.

On the last day of the year 1876, Mr. Garrett celebrated his marriage to Miss Matilda 1. Austin. She is a daughter of Jacob and Margaret Ellen (Stafford) Anstin, and is a prudent housewife and kind wife and mother. Their union has been blessed by the birth of six children. Their first born, Margaret Ellen, died in infancy. James G., Anna L,, Horace B., William J., and an infant yet unnamed now gladden their fireside.

Mr. Garrett has been a member of the School Board, and faithfully discharged the duties of his office. Ile is a believer in the principles of the Republican party, and never fails to cast his vote for that which he believes will best subserve the interests of our country. He is a quiet man who says but little and gives his attention closely to whatever business is before him, and at the proper time is ready to act. He is content to live within his means, and appears less like a city business man than an agriculturist. He is very popular with the people of Morrow and the vicinity, and his per- tinacity and thrift are being rewarded by increas- ing worldly goods, as his sterling character is, by the esteem of all with whom he comes in contact.

W ILLIAM BALDERSTON is the proprietor and manager of a large bakery and restaur- ant in Manhattan, Riley County, located at 216 Poyntz avenue, and he is one of our most pros- perous and respected business men. He is of Scot- tish birth and ancestry, born in Fifeshire, April 6, 1837. His father, William Balderston. and his grandfather, John Balderston, were born in the same shire. The latter was a baker by trade, and car- ried on that business in Kirkcaldy, where he spent his entire life. The father of our subject succeeded his parents in their business, and carried it on for many years. He died in his native land in 1875. The maiden name of his wife was Janet E. Cald- well, and she was also of Fifeshire birth, and died in her native village. There were but two children

born to those worthy people, our subjeet and his sister Eliza, the latter of whom is still living in Scotland, he of whom we write being the only mem- ber of the family to come to America.

William Balderston learned the baker's trade of his father, and when only seventeen years of age, he sought to better his fortunes in America. He set sail from Liverpool, and landed in New York twenty-one days later, a poor, friendless boy in a strange land. He made his way to Canada, and found work in a bakery in Toronto, and a year later established himself in business in that line for him- self in the town of Bradford. A year after that we find him in Hamilton, where he carried on the bak- ery business eight years. His next move was 10 cross the border into the "States," and for seven years he conducted a bakery in Champaign, Ill. At the end of that time he songht a location further West, and crossing the Mississippi, he settled in Council Bluffs, where he carried on his trade until 1869. Another move westward took him to Ne- braska City, where he stayed one year, and in 1870 came from there to Manhattan. Here he opened a bakery and restaurant, in a small rented building. and two years later bought a building on Second street, and was engaged in his business there twelve years. Then he erected the building where he now carries on business at No. 216 Poyntz avenue. This is a substantial two-story building, built of stone, with a frontage of twenty-five feet, and a depth of eighty feet. Mr. Balderston has built up a fine paying business by his enterprise and good management, and is counted as one of the solid men of Manhattan.

Mr. Balderston was married, April 4, 1856, to Miss Janet Elliot Bell. She was born in West Gil- lemsbury Township, Simcoe County, Province of Ontario, Canada, Dec. 26, 1839. Her father, An- drew Bell, was born in Kelso, Scotland, and his father, bearing the same name as himself, was also a native of Scotland, and passed his entire life there. Mrs. Balderston's father, his brother James, and his sisters Margaret and Agnes,came to America, loca - ted in Canada, and ended their days there. Mrs. Balderston's father was a pioneer of Simeoe County, where he located in 1837, buying at that time a tract of timber land, and building a log house on

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it, in which Mrs. Balderston was born. He cleared a valuable farm from the wilderness, and has erected a fine brick house and a stone barn, and still resides there, having lived to see that section of the coun- try developed from a wilderness to a well-settled. wealthy county, he contributing his share of labor to bring about its present prosperity. In the early settlement of the country, the women of the fam- ily had to cook over a fire in the rude, open fire- places that were used before stoves were introduced, and they spun and wove all the cloth used by hus- bands, fathers, and children, who were always dressed in homespun. Mrs. Balderston's parents have six children living-Andrew. David, Dora M., Margaret, Isabella, and Janet. Mr. and Mrs. Balderston's marriage has been blessed by the birth of three children-Margaret, Jessie, and William. Margaret married C. P. Irving, and lives in Manhat- tan; Jessie married A. P. Williston, and they live in Blue Rapids.

Though Mr. Balderston departed from his native Scottish heath early in life. he did not leave the heritage bequeathed to him by his forefathers, of honesty, straightforwardness, and a manly, earnest character, and in the home that he has built up on American soil. these traits have been prominent factors in his success as a man of business. and have made him a valuable citizen, who is held in honor by all who know or have dealings with him. and he and his family move in the best society in the city. They are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and active in all its good works.

RANCIS L. HORTON, of Brantford Town- ship, like a number of men about him, is of New England birth and ancestry, having first opened his eyes to the light in Rutland, Vt., Oct. 2, 1856. He attended the common school in his younger years and being attentive to his books acquired a good practical education. His father died when he was but four years old and in December, 1860, his mother with her family emi- grated to Illinois. settling in Henry County. There Francis L. attended school for a time and then com- pleted his studies in the Commercial College at

Davenport, Iowa. Later, in Henry County, Ill., he occupied himself as a farm laborer for five years.

In 1878 Mr. Horton set ont for the farther West, crossing the Father of Waters and coming to Wash- ington County, this State. Ile purchased eighty acres of land in Brantford Township, from which be constructed a homestead and where he still lives. About thirteen acres of the original soil had been broken when he took possession and although the outlook was not very cheerful, he commenced the improvement of his property and the years which followed were marked by patient toil and industry which resulted in the building up of a good farm with all the accessories of modern, rural life. Ile has a good house, barn and all the other necessary struct- ures and through his careful cultivation the soil has become very fertile. Mr. Horton planted fruit and forest trees, having also an apple and peach orchard and trees of the smaller fruits.

The subject of this sketch Was married Nov. 2, 1881, to Miss Rachel R., daughter of George Sharp, a native of Ireland who emig ated to Can- ada when a single man and was there married. He came to Kansas in 1871 and died in Washington County six years later. His wife is still living. making her home in Vining Township. In Exeter, Ontario, Mr. Sharp was Sheriff of his county and distinguished himself as an Orangeman.

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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 121

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

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