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 14

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 14
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 14
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 14

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We next find Mr. Murphy in the city of Chi- cago, Ill., engaged as a butcher and having a mar- ket on the North Side, at the corner of Illinois and Market streets, where he prosecuted a thriving busi- ness for seven years. Then on account of failing health, he decided upon a removal to the farther West, and came to this State, settling in Hanover, where he has since lived.

To our subject and his estimable wife there have been born five children, only three of whom are living: Anna is the wife of J. A. Jaenicke, and

lives in Hanover; John married Miss Lottie Neagi- man, and they reside in Ilanover; Ella is the wife of II. Dunn, of Fairfield, Neb. Mr. and Mrs. Mur- phy labored together in the building up of their fine property, the latter contributing her share to their prosperity by the wise and economical man- agement of her household affairs. The standing of Mr. Murphy in Hanover and vicinity, is amply in- dieated by the fact that nine years out of ten he has been the incumbent of some city office. He is a prominent member of St. John's Catholic Church, and materially assisted in the erection of the church edifice, and the other buildings belonging to the parish, namely, the Sisters house, the Priest's dwelling, and the school house. He was a member of the City Council at the time of improving the streets, putting up the town hall, and effecting other improvements, and he was always to be found en- couraging the enterprises calculated for the best good of the people, socially and financially. His career has been that of an honest man, and a good citizen, and one who is destined to always main- tain a leading position in his community.

n ORMAN BROOKS has been a resident of Clay County for more than a score of years. His highly improved farm lies in the first bottom of the Republican River, and is well watered by that stream, and wells that have been dug by its owner. The estate comprises 140 acres on section 10, Mulberry Township, and is well adapted for stock-raising, in which Mr. Brooks has been en- gaged to a considerable extent.

Mr. Brooks came to this State, from his native State of Illinois, in the fall of 1866, and took up a homestead on which he has since made his home. His birth took place in Erie Township, Whiteside Co., Ill .. Jan. 1, 1842, he being the oldest son and second child of his mother. Ile was reared almost to man's estate in Fenton Township, in the county of his birth. The breaking out of the Civil War. aroused in him a fervid desire to serve his country, and when twenty years old, he enlisted in Company I, 75th Illinois Infantry. His commanding officers

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were Capt. Killgore, and Col. Ryan. The regiment formed a part of the army of the Cumberland un- der the general command of Buell and Rosecrans, and later was with Grant in his Atlanta campaign.

Mr. Brooks participated in all the engagements of his regiment, until the battle of Stone River, at which time he was ill. After the regiment joined Grant,he performed a soldier's duties until wounded at the battle of Resaca, Ga., May 14, 1864. In that engagement he was struck on the left leg be- tween the knee and thigli by a fragment of a burst- ing shell. The leg was seriously shattered. and Mr. Brooks was confined to the hospital at various places for some time. While thus confined his time of service expired, and as soon as he was able to travel, he was discharged at Camp Butler, Ill., on July 7, 1865. '

After being mustered out of the service, Mr. Brooks returned to his native county, where he re- mained for about a year. He then, having nearly regained his health, came to this State, and taking up a homestead, kept bachelor's hall for a time. In Miss Bunton, of Cloud County, Kan., he found a lady whom he desired as a companion, and win- ning her consent, they were united in marriage. The union has resulted in the birth of six children : Minnie V., is the wife of Dell Baldwin, a farmer at Vining; they have one child, Hattie M .; Ida B., Frederick F., Lizzie A., Charles E., and Nellie L., are still at home.

Mrs. Brooks was born in Jackson, Ind., May 16, 1847, and is a daughter of Tennessee and Elizabeth (Shutters) Bunton. Her parents are natives re- spectively of North Carolina and Virginia, and when young people, went to Indiana. In that State they were married, and lived on a farm in Jeffer- son County, until 1868. At that date the family removed to Kansas, Mr. Bunton taking up a home- stead two miles west of Clyde, in Cloud County. There he remained, successfully engaged in farm- ing until 1877, when he was gathered to his fathers at the age of sixty-seven years. His widow is yet living, and is now seventy-eight years old. She makes her home in Vining. She is a member of the Baptist Church. Nine children were born to her, five of whom are yet living.

The parents of our subject are Alvin and Phœbe

(Freer) Brooks. The father was born in Onondaga County, N. Y., whence he removed to Pennsyl- vania while still a young man. In the '30's hic removed to Illinois, being one of the early settlers on Government land in Whiteside County. There he married his third wife, the mother of our sub- ject. He improved the new land which he had ob- tained, and in 1867 sold out and came to this State. He took up a homestead in Clifton, Washington County, and there he and his wife are now living a quiet life, being retired from active employments. Mr. Brooks is eighty-two years old, while his wife is a little past three-score years.

Mr. Brooks of whom we write, is a Republican. He belongs to Sedgwick Post No. 24, G. A. R., at Clifton, and is Junior Vice-commander of the Post. Mr. Brooks is a gentlemen of intelligence, cordial manners, and excellent morals, and is an enterpris- ing and reliable citizen.

M. MOFFET is a fine representative of the intelligent young farmers of Washing- ton County, who within the last decade have stepped to the front to perform their share in sustaining and extending the great agricul. tural interests of this part of Kansas, and have ma- terially advanced its prosperity. His farm, which is quite large and well-improved and well-stocked, is finely located in Washington Township.

Mr. Moffet was born in New York City, May 19, 1857, and when he was very young, his parents re- moved to St. Louis, and dying soon after, he was left in charge of Mr. Jolin Fayhoff, a farmer resid- ing in Monroe County, Iowa. He lived with that gentleman until he was thirteen years old, when he went to work ont on a farm by the month, and was thus employed a year in Monroe County. Then the independent, self-reliant lad went to Mills County, in the same State, and worked there by the month for some years. In the meantime he was prudent, and wisely saved his earnings until he had a good sum of money laid by with which to begin life on his own account, and with characteristic foresight and good judgment, he determined to in-

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vest some of it in land in Kansas, well knowing that a good farm of his own would be the most sensible outlay of his capital, as he could gain therefrom a good income by ordinary care and industry. He therefore came to Washington County, and pur- chased his present farm. He soon after bought an- other 160-acre tract of land, which he afterward sold at a good profit, and he has since bought eighty acres of choice land joining his first purchase, so that he has 240 acres of improved and pasture land. forming one of the most desirable and best man- aged farms in this locality. He has it well stocked with cattle, horses, and hogs of excellent grades, has a fair set of conveniently arranged buildings, and the place is well supplied with fruit of various kinds.

Mr. Moffet was united in marriage to Miss Fran- ces E. Webb, a native of Mason County, Ill., Jan. 11, 1880. Of this pleasant union three children have been born, namely: Maud Ann, Henry Otis, and Minnie Alice. Mr. and Mrs. Moffet make their cosy home the centre of a genuine hospitality by their kindly and genial welcome to friends, and to the stranger who happens to be within their gates.

Mr. Moffet is endowed with a force and stability of character, together with sound common-sense, and a well-balanced mind that won him an honor- able place among his fellow-citizens, and gained him assured success in life while he was yet a young man, before thirty years had passed over his head. He takes an intelligent interest in politics, keeping himself well posted on public and National affairs, and gives his allegiance to the Republican party.

ENRY MUNSTERMANN. Independence Township is not without her share of the handsome homes that Washington County can boast. Among them the residence of the above-named gentleman stands pre-eminent. It is a commodious two-story briek structure of pleas- ing design, which was built in 1882 at a cost of $2,500. It is accompanied by all necessary farm buildings, including a barn that cost $600. The estate upon which it stands comprises 600 acres,

nearly all improved, and located on section 27. 250 acres of the land are under the plow, and a number more are devoted to fruit culture, there being 450 apple trees, 100 grape vines and various small fruits upon the place. Mr. Munstermann has a good standard of Norman draft horses, and owns two fine Clydesdale colts. Ile has 60 head of cattle, 11 of horses, and 120 of hogs, while eight hives of bees furnish him an abundant supply of honey.

Mr. Munstermann is a native of Hanover, Ger- many, where his parents, Ilenry and Dora (Tewes) Munstermann were born and resided until their death. The mother departed this life in 1845 and the father ten years later. They had six children, only two of whom are now living. Our subject was the fifth child, and was born Feb. 21, 1837. His boyhood, youth and early manhood were passed in his native land, which he left in 1867. Crossing the broad Atlantic he went at once to Chicago, III., where he sojourned a short time. Ile then came to Kansas and rented a farm for a year. At the expiration of that time he took up the homestead upon which his present residence stands. He has always been engaged in farming.

In 1867 Mr. Munstermann was united in marriage with Mary Bohn, a daughter of Henry Bohn, of Hanover, Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Bohn were the parents of five children, three of whom are now living. One of them, William Bolin, lives a mile south of his brother-in-law, Mr. Munstermann. The others . reside in Germany. Mrs. Mary Munster- mann died in 1879. In May, 1883, our subject was again married, the bride in this case being Miss Matilda Hendess, a daughter of Gottleib and Dora (Notzke) Hendess, natives of Pomerania, Germany, where they still live, and the father is engaged in farming. The family consisted of twelve eliildren, of whom Mrs. Munstermann was the third. She was born in Germany, July 17, 1850. and in 1882 came to the United States. She spent six months in New Jersey and an equal time in Chicago, after which she came to Kansas where she was married to our subject.

Emma Munstermanu, the youngest daughter of Mr. Munstermann's first marriage, was born Feb. 12, 1870, in Kansas. She is a cultured young lady,

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having been well edueated both in English and German. The children of his second marriage are: Bertha, aged five years ; Theresa, who died in 1886; Herman, aged three years and Mena aged two years. The present Mrs. Munstermann has two brothers living in America: Hermann, a mason by trade lives in New Jersey, and Bernard is unmarried and lives in this county.

Mr. and Mrs. Munstermann are members of the German Lutheran Church, in which he has been a Trustee. He votes the Republican ticket. For six years he has been a member of the School Board.

1 SRAEL MUNDIS. Washington County is the home of many men who have been in a very literal sense the architects of their own fortunes. Their energy and industry have not only secured for themselves the comforts and many of the luxuries of life, but have benefitted the State by the develop- ment of her agricultural resources, and to them all the residents of the State owe a debt of gratitude. The gentleman whose name heads this notice is one among this number. He is at this writing a resident on section 36, Farmington Township, but having retired from active life, is contemplating an early removal to Washington. He is a first-class farmer, as his thoroughly cultivated acres testify. He has made excellent improvements upon his land, the farm buildings being substantial and adequate. He is the owner of 507 acres in the county, where he has been a continuous resident since 1877.

Mr. Mundis is the son of John and Mary Ann (Everett) Mundis, both parents having been na- tives of Pennsylvania. After their marriage they first settled in Iloward County, of their native State, and from there removed to Steubenville, Ohio. Thence in the fall of 1829 they removed to St. Louis, Mo., and later to Madison County, Ill. In the latter State they settled in what was known as the Marine Settlement, where they remained until their death. The settlement took its name from the fact of its having been originated by old sea captains from New York.

Our subject was third in a family of eight chil-

dren. He was born in Steubenville, Ohio, Oct. 18, 1824. Having gone with his parents to Madison County, Ill., he there grew to manhood and his resi- dence in that county covered a period of forty-seven years. In October, 1877, he settled in this county, where he engaged in farming and stock-raising. Since coming to the county he has spent one and a half years engaged in the furniture business in Washington. With this exception he has been since his arrival a resident on his farm.

At the home of the bride in Jefferson County, Mo., Nov. 19, 1848, Mr. Mundis was united in marriage with Emma Isabella Ogle. IIer parents were William and Aurilla (Brown) Ogle, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of New York C'ity. Their first settlement after marriage was in Jefferson County, Mo., where they spent the most of their lives. and where Mr. Ogle died about 1857. The mother died in Bond County, Ills., about 1860. In Jefferson County Mrs. Mundis was born Oct. 18, 1830, the fifth in a family which comprised thirteen children. To Mr. and Mrs. Mundis have been born twelve children : John J., Lewis A., Mary A., Emily 1 .. Israel E .. George A., Roxanna M., Henry A., Thomas C., Dosha E., Lucy J., and William D. The two youngest are deceased.

In politics Mr. Mundis is a Republican. He and his wife are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which before coming to Kansas he had filled many important offices. Mrs. Mundis is a lady of fine character, a loving mother and a wife to whose ability and good management, Mr. Mundis has been largely indebted in securing the competency which they now possess. She shares with her husband in the esteem to which lie, as a man of upright character and business ability is entitled.

W ILLIAM S. MULBERY, of Grant Town- ship, Washington County, is a striking illustration of what may be accomplished by a man beginning poor in life, and pursuing a course of industry and perseverance. He is a na- tive of Sweden, and when about twenty-four years old, emigrated to the United States, and thereafter

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employed himself at whatever he could find to do, working on a gravel train and elsewhere until able to secure a piece of land. We now find him the owner of one of the most valuable farms in his township, comprising 320 well-tilled acres, with good buildings, large numbers of live-stock, and the machinery necessary for the successful prosecu- tion of agriculture. There is now little need for Mr. Mulbery to vex himself with hard labor, and he gives employment to two men usually the year round. To such men as he, is Washington County indebted for her rapid growth and development, and no man is more highly respected in his com- munity.

Soon after emigrating to America, Mr. Mulbery settled in Hannibal, Mo., but a year later, in 1874, came to Washington County, Kan., during the grasshopper raid, and purchased a part of his pre- sent farm, paying therefor the sum of $225 with a lot of furniture thrown in. A dugout stood upon the place, and seventy acres of the land had been broken. Mr. Mulbery proceeded with the improve- ment and cultivation of his land, and in 1874, com- pleted a substantial stone dwelling, 24x30 feet in dimensions, and one and one-half stories in height. His barn and other outbuildings are substantial and convenient. A spring of living water adds to the fertility of the fields, and there are other springs and wells on the place. There is an apple orchard of 160 trees, twenty-five cherry trees, besides apri- cot and peach trees which bear fruit amply suffi- cient for the family use. Mr. Mulbery in due time added 160 aeres to his landed possessions, and has now 100 acres broken, following the plow over sixty acres of this himself. The whole is enclosed with good fencing, and the latter piece of land, as well as his first purchase, is very well supplied with fruit.

Mr. Mulbery brought with him from Sweden, Scandanavian currency, which, in America amounted to about 860. He determined not to part with this excepting in a case of the greatest emergency, and accordingly preserved it in its original form for a number of years. His farm operations include stock-raising to a considerable extent, he having in 1889 about eighty head of cattle, the same number of swine, and twelve good horses. His swine, per-

haps have yielded him the most profitable returns, as each year he has sold from $1.200 to $1.400 worth.

On the 20th of March, 1879, William Mulbery was united in marriage with Miss Mary, daughter of Jacob and Saralı ( Fitch) Weaver. The mother of Mrs. Mulbery was the daughter of Joseph Fitch, of Pennsylvania, where Mrs. Weaver was born about March 11, 1834. The Weaver family left the Keystone State, and settled in Washington County, Kan., during its pioneer days. The par- ents of Mrs. Mulbery are living in Haddam, and own a farm. Four children were born to our sub- jeet and his estimable wife. viz .: Willie, Walter, Jacob, the namesake of his paternal grandfather, and Charles, an infant. Mr. Mulbery has nothing to do with politics, whatever, and is not connected with any church organization.

OHN J. MASTEN. This gentleman is every- where recognized as one among the leading farmers of Union Township where he oper- ates 280 acres of finely cultivated land on seetion 18. He is one of those men who manage to extract a large amount of comfort from life, and one who naturally draws around him hosts of friends. He has good improvements on his place, and is generally well-to-do. He came to Washing- ton County by team, in the spring of 1883, and the following fall took possession of his present farm which was then a body of raw land without im- provements.

Mr. Masten has followed the plow over the greater part of his land and himself set out most of the for- est and fruit trees which serve as fine embellish- ments, adding greatly to the homelike appearance of the premises. The land is all fenced, and 140 aeres has been brought to a good state of cultiva- tion. There is a commodious house and barn, to- gether with cattle sheds, corn-cribs, and the other structures necessary. A never-failing spring is one of the luxuries which affords comfort and refresh- ment to both man and beast. Mr. Masten makes a specialty of stock-raising. feeding usually about one

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car-load of cattle, and a goodly number of swine. He utilizes three teams in his farm work.

A native of Coshocton County, Ohio, Mr. Mas- ten was born Jan. 17, 1840, and assisted in clearing two farms from the timber. He remained at home until twenty years of age, then began operating for himself on rented land until the spring of 1863. Then resolving to seek the farther West, he set out overland by team crossing the Illinois River at Beardstown, the Mississippi at Burlington, lowa, and the Missouri at Plattsmouth. He reached Cass County, Neb., after a journey of forty-seven days, and found himself one of the first settlers in that region. He located 160 acres of land now lying three-fourths of a mile from Greenwood, and which was then in its primitive condition. It was located ou Salt Creek, and upon it Mr. Masten made good improvements. In 1874 he suffered greatly from the grasshopper plague, but notwithstanding this, did well upon the whole, and became owner of 200 acres, all of which he improved. Finally, however, on aceount of the inundation of Salt Creek, he sold out and transferred his interests to Union Town- ship.

Mr. Masten was married in Coshocton County, Ohio, Dec. 1, 1859, to Miss Sarah Mccullough. who was born there, and was the daughter of David Mc- Cullongh, a native of Ireland, and a Protestant in religion. Upon emigrating to the United States, he settled in Ohio, and there spent his last days. Of this union there have been born eleven chil- dren, viz: Samuel, Alice, William, Mary, Owen, Jane, John, Lizzie, Maggie, Fred, and Emma. The eldest son married Miss Tid Collins, and is farming in Union Township; Alice married Robert William- son, a farmer of Union Township; William remains at home; Mary is the wife of Howard Patterson, and lives on a farm in Republic County ; Jennie is the wife of Thomas Williamson, a farmer of Union Town- ship; the other children remain at home with their parents. Mr. Masten is an uncompromising Demo- crat, politieally, but never was an aspirant for office, and meddles very little with public affairs.

The father of our subject was William Masten, a native of Ohio, and the son of James Masten, who was born in Virginia, and was of Irish' descent. The latter was a Protestant in religion, and an early

settler of Coshocton County, Ohio, where he en- tered land, and building up a comfortable home- stead, there spent the remainder of his days. Will- iam Masten was a farmer and cooper by trade, and operated his own shop. Ile was also owner of a good farm. In 1866 he emigrated to Nebraska, lo- cating near Greenwood, Cass County. He improved eighty acres, then purchased property adjoining, and finally became owner of a whole section. He died in 1880. Politically, he was a Democrat, and re- ligiously, was a member in good standing of the Christian Church.

The maiden name of the mother of our subject, was Sarah Jones. She was born in Pennsylvania, and was the daughter of William Jones, a native of Wales, who emigrated to America early in life, and spent his last years in Pennsylvania, Mrs. Masten is still living at the homestead in Cass County, Neb. Grandmother Jones was of German descent, and lived to be about 100 years old. To the par- ents of our subject there were born twelve children, the eldest of whom, a daughter, Mary, Mrs. Marsh- all, is a resident of Haddam; Barbara, likewise Mrs. Marshall, lives in Greenwood, Neb .; John J. lives in Greenwood, Neb .; Jane, Mrs. Wright, is a resi- dent of Nebraska; William is a resident of Oxford, Neb .; Joseph lives in Dexter, Neb .; Della, Mrs. Bollinger is a resident of Greenwood, Neb .; George makes his home in Missouri; Loren is deceased; Huldah, Mrs. Loder lives in Greenwood, Neb .; Mattie, Mrs, Swank. died in Washington. Seth is sojourning in Lincoln, Neb.

E DWARD P. CAYWOOD, senior member of the firm of Caywood & Co., is, with his partners, an extensive dealer in all kinds of grain, they being owners of the Clifton Steam Ele- vator, which has a capacity of 75,000 bushels and is doing a very large amount of business, shipping annually from 600 to 800 car loads. This elevator was located at Vining, in 1878, and was removed to Clifton ten years later. The company handle the grain from a large territory. Mr. Cay wood and his brother, Emery W., have done business together

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for some time and have probably handled more grain than any other two men in the Republican Valley or in either the three counties of Washing- ton, Clay and Riley.

The male members of the Caywood family have been experts in the grain business for many years and operated extensively at one period in and about the city of Indianapolis, Gifford, St. Joseph, Ogden, Champaign and Urbana. They began buy- ing as early as 1870 and were very successful. The Caywood Bros., with whom we have to deal, are both natives of Fleming County, Ky. Edward P., born in 1844 and Emery W. in 1859. The subject of this sketch was reared and educated in his native county, living there until attaining his majority, and for some time prior to this being engaged as a teacher. When going to Cincinnati, he employed himself in various capacities for R. M. Bishop & Co., a large wholesale house and acquired an ex- cellent knowledge of general business methods. After three years thus occupied, he began buying grain for different companies at different points in Ohio and New York State and in 1871 embarked in business on his own account.

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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 14

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

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