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 136
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 136
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 136
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From the Metropolis young Hawkinson set out for the West, and in Chicago, while inquir- ing for employment as a farm laborer, was sent to Princeton, where he worked two and one half years. In the meantime he attended school two months during the first winter and finished the fourth reader. This was all the schooling he had in America, but he was fully qualified to trans- act any ordinary business. In the spring of 1869. he purchased three horses and a "prairie schooner" and started for Kansas, crossing the Mississippi at Burlington and the Missouri at Leavenworth, pay- ing for the first-mentioned passage $5.50 and for the latter seventy-five cents. After reaching Shan- non Creek on the Blue, he tarried with Victor Johnson the following summer, engaged in break- ing prairie and made $300, clear of expenses. In the fall he homesteaded his present farm and at once put up a house costing $500. Ile was one of the first men to settle in this region. Ile was pros- perous from the first, and later purchased 320 acres of land, 160 acres of which he sold afterward. Ilis dwelling is a larg : stone structure and his barn is 30x80 feet in dimensions. His fields are enclosed with stone, hedge and wire fencing. There is an abundance of native timber and the land is well watered. Mr. Hawkinson avails himself of the latest improved machinery, including a windmill and water tank, and makes a speciality of live stock, mostly full-blooded Poland-China swine and graded Clyde and English draft horses.
In 1886 Mr. Hawkinson visited his native land. spending several weeks among the friends and associates of his childhood, who welcomed him as a returned wanderer whom they were most glad to meet. lle spent one week in England, and says that there was nothing to mar that visit but the parting as he sailed for his adopted home. He was the first man to emigrate to America from his neighborhood, but his coming has been the means
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of bringing hundreds of people from Christianstad- land. This colony has reflected honor upon them- selves by their industry and prudence and have largely aided in the advancement of their town- ship.
Miss Ellen Anderson, of Manhattan became the wife of our subject April 7, 1871. This lady was likewise a native of Sweden and was born Oct. 25. 1841. She came to America in 1867. Mr. and Mrs. Hawkinson have no children. Mr. Hawkin - son, politically, is independent and has taken quite an active part in local affairs. He has frequently been selected as a Delegate to the county con- ventions. He is serving his second term as School Director in his district and has been School Treasurer three years; he has also been Road Supervisor one year. In religion he is a Lutheran, belonging to ' the church at Mariadahl, in which he officiates as a Trustee.
'The father of our subject was Haken Anderson, also of Swedish birth and ancestry. and the owner of a farm in Christianstadland, which he operated until his death; he was a Lutheran in religion. The mother was Kari Anderson, who also spent her entire life in her native Sweden. The parental family includes eight children, and the three eldest sons-Andres, Nels and Per are well-to-do farm- ers of Swede Creek Township, Kan .; Lewis, our subject, was the fourth in order of birth ; Botilda, Mrs. Jonson, Anna, (Mrs. Jacobson) and Benta, (Mrs. N. Jonson) remain in Sweden. Hannah emi- grated to America with her husband; she is now the wife of C. M. Martinson and living in Swede Creek Township.
OHN W. BLISS, editor of the Greenleaf Journal, and Postmaster of that city, is a native of Marlborough, Middlesex Co., Mass., born .July 18, 1835. His parents were Isaac and Susanna Frost (Davis) Bliss, and his grand- father was a resident of Waltham, where he died, and in that place Isaac was born. He was a weaver by trade, but later became a shoemaker, and worked at this latter trade until nearly the time of his death, which occurred in Lynn, Mass., when he was seventy-six years old. He was married, near
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Concord. Mass., to Susanna Frost Davis, a native of Springfield, born in 1800. Her father was one of the early settlers in that place, and died there when nearly one hundred years old. Mr. Bliss died at the age of seventy-two. Isaac Bliss was a man of deep religious sentiments. and was very consist- ent in his belief, a member of the Methodist Prot- estant Church, taking a leading part in church matters, and living up to all his professions. His wife was a good Christian woman, and was also a member of the same church as her husband. This . worthy couple had eight children, one of whom died in childhood. The rest grew to maturity, and are recorded as follows: Susan Maria, who was the wife of Moses Dudley, died in Hudson, Mass .; Francis A. died in New York City; Harriet E. is the widow of J. E. Stone, and now resides in Wor- cester. Mass .; George W. was a soldier during the Mexican War, was wounded at the battle of Cher- ebusco, and on his way home died at New Orleans; Martha A. is the widow of A. A. Austin, and now lives at Neola, lowa; Isaac D. is living at Amelia City, Polk Co., Neb., he being the founder of that ยท city. The youngest of the family is he of whom we now write.
John W. Bliss was early apprenticed to the trade of shoemaking, which he followed in his native State until he was over twenty years of age, when. during the Border War in Kansas, he shouldered his Sharp's rifle and came here to help to make this a free State, arriving July 5, 1856. Ile crossed the river at Nebraska City on that day, with thirty other Free-State immigrants from Massachusetts. There they found John Brown and Gen. James Lane, with about 600 men, with whom they united and marched to Topeka. The following winter was spent by Mr. Bliss in Nebraska City, where he was taken siek, and laid there till the spring of 1867, when he removed to Nemaha County, Neb .. and there helped to lay out and form the town of Peru. He made his home in Peru until 1862, when he enlisted, on October 28, in Company E. 2d Ne- braska Cavalry. He served under Gen. Sully in Dakota, until Dec. 11, 1863, when he was honor- ably discharged, at Brownsville, Neb.
While in Peru, Mr. Bliss was engaged in mer- cantile business and grain buying. lle left his
Requifacey Com Mall. M. D.
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business in charge of his partner while he was in the service, also leaving the post-office to be man- aged by him, Mr. Bliss holding the commission from the spring of 1861 until he left Peru, in the spring of 1864. On his return from the army, our subject resumed his business in Peru, but in March, 1864, sold all his interests in that place, and re- moved to Brownsville, then the county seat of the same county. For a time he engaged in the grain business there, but later embarked again in mer- chandising, at which he continued until 1871, then selling out and going back to Peru, where he staid until the year 1873, when he went to Fairmount, Fillmore Co., Neb. He was there engaged in the mercantile business again until the year 1878, when he resolved to make his home in Kansas, and came direct to Greenleaf, Washington County, which the Central Branch of the Union Pacific had just reached. Here he went into the hotel business, which he carried on for a year, and in 1879 started the paper he now conducts. In con- nection with the paper, he also carries on a real estate, loan and insurance business,
Mr. Bliss has been twice married, first at the age of eighteen, while in Massachusetts, to Miss La- vinia Howe, a native of that State, by whom he had one child-Charles Dana, now a man of about thirty- five years of age, and a resident of Peabody, Mass. On the 25th of November, 1863, Mr. Bliss was united in marriage with Miss Ophelia M. A. Cham- berlain, who was born in Westfield, Mass., June 4, 1843. Hler parents, James and Julia Chamber- lain, emigrated from Massachusetts to Nebraska in 1856. The mother is now living with her daugh- ter and our subject in Greenleaf, and the father died at Peru, Neb., many years ago.
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Mr. and Mrs. Bliss are the parents of four chil- dren, named respectively: Robert, who died in infancy; Frank D .; Julia J. and Nina P., still under the parental roof. While in Nemaha County. Neb., Mr. Bliss was elected to many positions of trust. Ile was first Constable, then City Marshal, Justice of the Peace, and afterward Sheriff of the county, serving several terms in each. Since he has been in Greenleaf, he has been the Erst Police Judge of the city, was its second Mayor. and was Justice of the Peace a great many years until he re-
signed. On June 5, 1889, he was commissioned Postmaster under the administration of President Harrison, and holds that position at present. Ile has been a member of the Masonic fraternity a great many years, and is a charter member of Greenleaf Lodge No. 232, A. F. & A. M. Ile also belongs to Greenleaf Lodge of I. O. O. F., which he also helped to organize. Ile was one of the charter members of Post No. 134, G. A. R., and was its first Commander, holding that position two terms. Ile possesses the confidence of the people who know him, and his paper has a great influence in the community. It is frank in expressing the opinions of its editor, and is always, like him, a stanch supporter of the Republican party. At- tached to it is the finest job office in Greenleaf, which is well supported by the people of the city and surrounding country, who also liberally patro- nize the advertising columns of the Journal.
ON. LOUIS MOLL, M. D., a practicing phy- sician and surgeon at Hanover, is also en- gaged in the drug business and bears the honor of being one of the first settlers of this place, having established himself here in the spring of 1871. prior to the advent of a railroad. The now flourishing town of Hanover was then a hamlet of a half-dozen houses, giving little indica- tion of its future importance. Any ordinary man would have retired discouraged from the field as the prospect for building up a lucrative business seemed remote. Dr. Moll, however, was no ordi- nary man, and having come to stay, arranged his stock of medicines and prepared for business. Ilis determination and perseverance bore excellent fruit and he is now in the enjoyment of an extensive patronage.
The subject of this sketch was born in Cinein- nati, Ohio, Jan. 10, 1836. A few months later, while yet a babe in his mother's arms. he was taken to Germany, whence bis parents had come and where he continued to live until 1858. In the meantime he received a good education in the Ger- man tongue, and then set out for America fully
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equipped as a graduate of medicine, having at- tended the medical department of the University of Werzburg. He commenced the practice of his profession at Cleveland, Ohio, sojourning there un- til about 1861. On the 12th of August. that year, he was married to Miss Marinda A. Thresher, and three months later entered the United States ser- vice with the rank of acting assistant Surgeon, being assigned to duty in the field service and general hospital No. 3, at Nashville, also general hospital No. 8, in Louisville. In the army he ac- quired a large and valuable experience in surgery. After two years he resigned, and returning to Cleveland remained there until 1865.
We next find Dr. Moll in the Dominion of Can- ada at Fingal, the birthplace of his wife. They lived there four years, and about 1869, returning to the States, settled in Chicago, Ill., where Dr. Moll followed his profession until the spring of 1871, building up a large and paying business. His next removal was to this State, le settling at once in Hanover, whither his former success ac- companied him. He is especially accomplished in surgery, and has obtained a fine reputation in con- nection with this department of the profession.
While not taking an active part in politics, Dr. Moll uniformly supports the principles of the Democratic party. He was elected one of the early Mayors of Hanover, serving acceptably to the city and with great credit to himself. He is liberal and public spirited, and is usually to be found encour- aging the enterprises calculated for the advance- ment of his adopted town. Socially, he is a Royal Arch Mason and also belongs to the I. O. O. F.
Mrs. Moll was born March 29, 1836, and was the daughter of Samuel and Dorothea Thresher, who removed from Canada to Cleveland, Ohio, when she was a young lady. The two children born to the Doctor and his estimable lady died in infancy. The father of our subject was George Moll, a native of Germany, and a physician of note. Upon emi- grating to America he settled in Cincinnati, Ohio, but two years later returned to the Fatherland and there spent the remainder of his days, dying in 1849. The maiden name of his wife was Anna Webber, and they reared a family of nine children, all of whom lived to mature years. Louis the sub-
ject of this sketch, and his sister Amelia were the only ones who settled in the United States. The sister, now the widow of Louis Gebbart, has re- turned to Germany to live. Mrs. Marinda A. Moll departed this life May 29, 1883, greatly mourned by all who knew her. Her sweetness of character and amiability of disposition were nniversally rec- ognized.
An excellent portrait of Dr. Moll appears on another page of this work, and represents one of Hanover's most highly respected citizens, who is a pioneer, a successful physician and surgeon, and in every sense of the word a gentleman, kind, courte- ous and true.
AMES C. MORROW. This gentleman is the owner of a larger amount of landed property than any other citizen on the western line of Washington County. He has a ranch of 1,000 acres in Union Township, and 120 acres in Haddam Township, besides 200 aeres adjoining the town of Morrow, which he laid out for the Lincoln Land Company, and which was named in his honor. Few men in the county have been as successful as he and a pleasant fact connected with this is, that he is one of the most generous and hospitable men living, and on this account enjoys the esteem and confidence of hosts of friends. He is one of those rare characters who are willing to disburse their cap- ital where it will do the most good, regarding the interests of their fellow-men as well as their own. Mr. Morrow is called one of the most obliging men in this section and is of that genial and com- panionable disposition which is at once recognized as belonging to the trne gentleman. Among other fortunate things which have befallen him, is the amiable lady who presides over his domestic affairs and who assists in making their home one of the most pleasant places of resort that it is the fortune of the wayfarer to light upon. Mr. Morrow is largely interested in live stock and is considered one of the best judges of cattle in this region.
An active, energetic man of forty-three years, Mr. Morrow was born April 3, 1846, in the town of Washington, Guernsey, Co., Ohio, and was there reared upon a farm, receiving fair school
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advantages. He remained a resident of the Buck- eye State until a young man of sixteen years, then set out overland to Illinois with a team and settled near Olney, where he remained one year. In Iowa he had taught school, after completing his studies, and became interested even at that early age in live stock. In Union County, Iowa, he purchased 160 acres of land and commenced buying and shipping cattle to Chicago, and was very successful finan- cially.
In the fall of 1874, Mr. Morrow came to Clyde, this State, and engaged in buying stock there until the spring of 1876. He then came with stock to Washington County and " squatted " on section 27, Union Township. Several years later he purchased land and improved a farm, still maintaining his in- terests in the live-stock trade. He invested his spare capital from time to time in land which has proved a very fortunate investment. He traveled back and forth over the country until 1881, then formed a partnership with John Swan, and pur- chased a stock of general merchandise establishing the third store in Haddam. The firm operated to- gether about two years and then Mr. Morrow en- gaged in the real-estate business with Mr. Vincent.
Our subject in 1884 purchased the site and laid out the town which was named in his honor, and forty acres of which he still retains. He feeds about 150 to 200 cattle annually on his ranch, and feeds numbers of swine each year. Notwithstanding the magnitude of his property interests. he has found time to discharge the duties of various local offices, serving as President of the Town Council and the Board of Trustees, and assisted in the organiza- tion of the Western Exchange Bank, of which he was at one time the President. He gives his polit- ieal allegiance to the Republican party, frequently representing it in the county and State conven- tions. He was instrumental in having the Burling- ton & Missouri River Railroad built through the town of Haddam, and is an active member of the Town Site Company, serving as President and oth- erwise promoting its best interests.
Mr. Morrow was married in Hastings, Neb., June 13, 1889, to Miss Rata Elliott, who was born in Ohio in 1859. The father of our subject was William Morrow, a native of Washington County,
Pa., and born in the year 1807. The family is of Scotch-Irish descent and mostly engaged in farm- ing pursuits. William Morrow upon leaving Penn- sylvania emigrated to Guernsey County, Ohio, of which he was one of the earliest settlers. He opened up a farm from the forest and lived there until 1864. He then removed to Illinois, settling near Olney, on a farm, but sold this in 1865 and removed to Afton, lowa, near which he purchased 320 acres of land, upon which he operated a few years and then retired from active labor. He died in Afton, April 1, 1889. He was a Republican po- litically, and a member of the Presbyterian Church.
The maiden name of the mother of our subject was Elizabeth Roberts. She was born in Pennsyl- vania in October, 1807. and was of Scotch descent; she is still living and a resident of Afton, Iowa. Like her husband she united with the First Presby- terian Church, of which she still remains a member. The parental family include eight children, viz: Robert, of California; Martha, Mrs. Bragg, of Af- ton, Iowa; Mary and Esther, who are deceased; Dorcas, Mrs. Hawkins, who lives in Afton; William B., deceased; James C., our subject, and Wilison W., of Afton, Iowa.
Although not an aspirant for office, Mr. Morrow takes a lively interest in politics and is one of the most influential men of his party in this part of the county. He always works generously for his friends and takes pleasure in eleetioneering. Hands and brains are never idle. his energy being almost phenomenal. For a man of his age he wields a re- markable influence, not only in his own community. but along the western line of Washington County.
ONAS OLSON. The Swedish element of Clay County, deserves great credit for the manner in which it has assisted in the de- velopment of her best resources, and the subject of this notice occupies a place in the front rank among his countrymen in this section. He is now the owner of a good farm in Garfield Town- ship, finely located on section 35, and which at all points indicates in a marked degree the thrift and industry of the proprietor.
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Mr. Olson was born on a farm about five miles from Falnn, in the North of Sweden, in a neighbor- hood known as Ofrvanmyra, and was reared in the doetrines of the Lutheran Church, receiving his education in the common school. His parents were Olaf Samuelson and Anna Olson, the former of whom died in his native Sweden. The mother later came to America and died in Garfield Town- ship, Clay Co., Kan., in 1883; her remains were laid to rest in the Lutheran cemetery. The family for generations has been connected with the Lutheran Church, and was of pure Swedish stock.
Mr. Olson learned the painter's trade in his native place, and in May, 1870, sailed for America, landing in New York City after a voyage of about twelve days. Thence he came directly to Manhat- tan, Kan., in company with five friends, and they, hiring a team at Manhattan, came to Garfield Township, and Mr. Olson homesteaded 160 acres of land in the fall of that year. For this he paid $14 and had $2 left out of a capital of $16. His first dwelling was a dugout, in which he kept bachelor's hall about seven years, when he put up a frame house 12x16 feet in dimensions, preparatory to his marriage. He was wedded in March, 1879, to Miss Mary, daughter of Lars Carlson, and the young couple began housekeeping in the new resi- dence.
Mrs. Olson was born in Sweden and came to America with her parents in 1869. The latter are living in Garfield Township. Of this union there have been born three children, namely: Sophy, Victor and Amel. When coming to this section Mr. Olson found simply an open prairie, where he has since planted two acres of timber, which is now valuable. After locating his homestead he went into Southern Kansas and worked on a rail- road until he had earned $200, receiving $1.75 to $2 per day. He at times was almost discouraged, and concluded he would abandon his homestead ciaim, but his job being completed, he returned and bought a cow and calf, which he traded for a pair of yearling steers, which he broke to the yoke the following spring and with them commenced plowing. He had a long hunt for work, first going into Nebraska and finding none, and from there he walked to the southern part of this State. He was
accompanied by a friend, Mr. S. S. Johnson, who subsequently settled here and who later built the mill at Morganville. Mr. Johnson finally returned to his native country, where he still remains. He was a very kind and benevolent man and assisted the people around him in various ways, doing all in his power to procure work for them and en- courage them to make a home for themselves. Mr. Olson has seen the time when he almost went hun- gry, being out of money and unable to find work. He is now one of the prominent and successful farmers of his township and has a sufficiency of this world's goods to insure him against want in his old age. He and his family belong to the Lutheran Church.
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OLIN A. BRANSON, Editor and proprietor of the Clifton Review, was born in Fulton County, Ill., May 25, 1857, his parents be- ing David W. and Caroline (Young) Bran- son, the former a native of Pennsylvania, born near Philadelphia. and the latter a native of Steu- ben County, N. Y. David Branson was in his younger days a miller by trade, but later became a farmer. He removed from Pennsylvania with his parents to Illinois at a very early day. There the family settled in Fulton County, and there some years afterward the grandfather was killed while building a log cabin, by the falling of a log upon him. While a resident of Fulton County, David Branson learned his trade of miller, at which he worked until a few years after his marriage. He then went to Whiteside County and engaged in farming, remaining there until 1867, when, with his wife and children, he started in a " prairie schooner," intending to go to Johnson County, Neb .; on reaching Marshall County, in Central Iowa, they decided to stop, and he bought a farm near Lamoille, and lived in that village for sev- eral years. Then selling his farm and town prop- erty, he removed to Carroll County, in the same State, where he bought a farm near Manning on which he and his wife still reside. They were mar- ried in Fulton County, of which the parents of Mrs. Branson had also been very early settlers.
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David W. and Caroline Branson have nine chil- dren living, and buried one in its infancy. Those now living, are: Milton L., a farmer near Manning, Iowa, and married : Willard S. is also married, and is a practicing physician at Irwin, Iowa; Thomas C. is married, and a hardware merchant at Kenesaw, Neb .; John A. is next in order of birth: then Emma E. who is the wife of Dr. R. R. Williams, of Manning, Iowa: Otis L. is married and lives at Blakeman, Kan., where he is engaged as Cashier in the Citizen's State Bank; Charley C. is a tele- graph operator at Iron Mountain, Wyo .; Es- tella is the wife of A. H. Hackett, a farmer at Ir- win, Iowa; and Clara M. is unmarried and lives with her parents.
John A. Branson was reared in Whiteside County, Ill., and attended its common school ; after- ward attending those in Iowa until 1875, when that winter he found an opportunity to teach, although he had not yet received a certificate which, how- ever, he procured later. Teaching until he had saved the means necessary, he entered the Agri- cultural College at Ames, Iowa, where he studied for one year, then returned to Marshall County and agam took up his work of teaching, which he pur- sued for a couple of terms. During this time he was also engaged in reading law, and after teaching a term in Carroll County, he entered the law depart- ment of the State University at Iowa City. His examination elicited the fact that he was fitted by his previous study to enter the highest class, where he was accordingly placed and was graduated with it June 22, 1880, receiving the degree of B. L. He was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of Iowa, and in the District and Circuit Courts of the United States in the same year.
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