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 140
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 140
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 140
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After his return from the army Mr. Nendel worked on his father's farm for a year and a half. Ile then learned the trade of a tanner, at which he worked for twelve years. In 1877 he became a resident of Kansas, his first settlement being made on the place which he still occupies.
Mr. Nendel takes an active interest in the polit- ical issues of the day and votes the Democratic ticket. Ile and his mother are members of the Catholic Church in Lanham. He is a man of unim- peachable character, diligent and thrifty, and of a warm-hearted nature.
MAR POWELL is one of the most dis- tinguished and successful members of the bar in Washington County. He has one of the most attractive homes in Washington, pleas- antly located on the corner of Fourth and D streets, and he and his wife are among its most popular and highly esteemed citizens.
Mr. Powell was born in Coxsackie, Greene Co., N. Y., May 5, 1855. His father, Thomas C. Pow-
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ell. was a native of the same place, while his grand- father. Elisha Powell, was, it is thought, born in Dutchess County, N. Y., a son of one Thomas Powell, who was born of English parents. He was a farmer and died in Greene County. The grand - father of our subject was a farmer also, and he was a pioneer settler near Coxsackie, where he and his brother Jonathan II. bought a tract of timbered land, cleared a farm, and continued to reside thereon till death. The father of our subject was bred to agricultural pursuits, and carried on farm- ing on a part of the old homestead till 1865. In that year lie came westward as far as Illinois, and settling in Chenoa, MeLean County, he bought a farm there, on which he resided a few years, and then moved to town in order to obtain better edu- cational advantages for his children, though still superintending the cultivation of his farm. In 1874 he came to Kansas, and locating in Marshall County, bought a tract of wild prairie land near Vermillion, and improved it into a good farm, with substantial buildings, well-tilled fields, and a fine orchard of choice fruit trees. In 1885 he removed to Marysville, and now lives there retired, in the enjoyment of an ample income that he has acquired by industry, good management, and shrewd invest- ments. The maiden name of the mother of our subject was Hannah E. Greene, and she was born in Albany County, N. Y., a daughter of Daniel Greene. Her father was a farmer, and in 1856 he removed to Marshall County, Ill., and located on a tract of land near Chillicothe, and from the wild prairie redeemed a fine farm, which remained his home until death closed his earthly carcer. The parents of our subject have three children-Omar. Frank G., and Fred. Frank is a merchant and Fred is an attorney in Marysville.
Our subject was quite young when his parents moved to Illinois, and he obtained the preliminaries of his education in the district school in the town- ship where his father settled, and later attended school in Chenoa. He was fond of study, and in order to obtain money to advance his education taught school, and engaged in that profession after coming to Kansas. in Marshall County, and subse- quently became a student at that excellent institu- tion of learning, the Agricultural College at
Manhattan, Kan. While teaching in 1877, he commenced the study of law, and in 1878, entered the law office of Hutchinson & Mann, at Marysville, Kan. He was admitted to the bar in Marcb, 1880, .Judge A. S. Wilson, presiding; coming to Wash- ington in September, 1880, he has since been in active practice here.
Mr. Powell was united in marriage with Miss Luella Walter, Sept. 11, 1883, and to them has been born one child, Grace. Mrs. Powell's father. the Rev. Alfred II. Walter, was born in Wayne County, Ohio, and received his early education in the public schools of his native State, and was further advanced in learning by attendance at the the Wesleyan University, at Delaware, Ohio. He commenced the study of medicine, but before his graduation decided to enter the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church, being naturally of a deeply religious nature and having a drawing to- ward that profession, and he left college to take charge of a church in Ohio. In 1849, from his native State he went to Wisconsin, and was located in Lancaster for a time, and afterward preached in different places in that State till 1863. He then entered the army as chaplain of the 20th Wisconsin Infantry, and was with that regiment till the close of the war, rendering invaluable service to his comrades, attending devotedly both to their spirit- ual and bodily wants. After he left the army he preached in Green Bay and Milwaukee, and in 1873 came to Kansas. He was located first in Atchison; and later resided in Ft. Scott, and afterward in Emporia. In 1884 he retired from the ministry on account of ill health, and died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Powell, Sept. 1, 1887. Ile was a man of eminent Christian piety and of noble character, and did a grand work for his church. both in the pulpit and out of it. His benign influ- ence was widely felt, and he was venerated and be- loved by all who came under it, and his memory is cherished in the hearts of many to whom he admin- istered the consolations of religion. The maiden name of his wife, who was a worthy companion of such a man, was Elizabeth B. Combe, and she was born in Devonshire, England, coming to America with her parents when she was young. She de- parted this life in November, 1884. The paternal
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grandmother of Mrs. Powell was Elizabeth Carroll, and she was a native of Dublin, Ireland. She was well educated, and was a teacher in the publie schools of Ohio some years. She now lives with her children in Nebraska, at the venerable age of ninety-two years. Mrs. Powell is a lady of supe- rior culture and refinement. Inheriting from her parents a fine intelleet, she was given every edu- cational advantage, and at the youthful age of seventeen was graduated from Milwaukee College. Her mother was an invalid for several years, and she unselfishly gave up her personal hopes and am - bitions and devoted herself to caring for her. She has been prominently connected with the W. C. T. U. since 1885, and for two years was superin- tendent of the Anti-Tobacco department of that society. In 1886 she joined the Kearney Corps, No. 67, W. R. C., and was immediately elected president of that organization to fill an nnexpired term, and in December, 1886, was elected to that position at the yearly meeting, and was re-elected in December, 1887, to that important office. In February, 1888, she was elected department presi- dent of the W. R. C., and in the same year was ap- pointed National Aide, and is Chairman of the Ex- ecutive Committee. In 1889 she was presented with a very fine gold badge. studded with dia- monds. by the Department of Kansas. She is one of the most gifted, ardent and enthusiastic work- ers in the W. R. C. cause in Kansas, and has done as much as any one woman in the State to promote it and make it a living issue, to bring it and keep it before the minds and hearts of the people.
When Mr. Powell came to Washington his capi- tal was his education and what he had managed to save from his salary as a teacher, and although still a young man, he is one of the most substantial men of the county, and has already attained to a brilliant position among the leading members of the legal profession in Kansas, his ability as a jurist being of a high order, his professional learning being extensive, and his devotion to his work un- tiring. He is a man of unblemished honor and of the highest integrity, has never willfully wronged any one or betrayed a confidence, and is held in implicit trust by all who have dealings with him. He is a busy man, for besides attending to his ex-
tensive law practice, he 'has charge of the invest- ments of many Eastern capitalists, handling large sums of money for them. He is a stanch Repub- lican, and has mingled in the political and public life of this section of the country. He has served as delegate to numerous conventions of his party ; he was City Attorney two terms and was at one time County Attorney, but refused to serve a sec- ond term, as the duties of office interfered with his general practice, and he was Police Judge one term. He is a Director of and Attorney for the Washington National Bank. He is a member of Frontier Lodge, No. 104, A. F. & A. M .; of Tyrian Chapter, No. 59, and of Coronado Commandry, No. 59. K. T. Both he and his wife are members in high standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
ILLIAM A. NYE is the leading merchant of Morrow, Washington County, where he is engaged in the sale of dry-goods, groceries and other merchandise. Since April 1885, he has had a place among the business men of that thriv - ing town, although the same business has not en- gaged his attention during the whole time.
The father of our subject, W. A. Nye, is a resi- dent of Wapello County, Iowa, and one of the oldest living pioneers of that State. He has a farm of 300 aeres near Chillicothe, where he is engaged in farming and breeding fine stoek. He is of Ger- man descent, and has resided in Iowa since 1843. The estate which he now owns, was entered by him prior to the admission of Iowa as a State. Before the war he was engaged in a general merchandise trade in Chillicothe, and continued in that business for several years. He has held a number of town- ship offices, and was Treasurer of Wapello County from 1881 to 1885. He is of Republican politics, and has been delegate to county, State and eon- gressional conventions. Ile was married in the county where he resides, to Rebecca Wicker, who died in 1854. The result of that union was five children, all still living. George L., is a farmer; he married Jane Dudley, who has borne him six children; during the war he served in the 7th lowa Cavalry, being Sergeant of his company.
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Jolın W. is living in Monroe County, Iowa; he married Eliza Wolf, and they have four children ; he also was a member of the 7th Iowa Cavalry. Sam- uel A., is living in Wapello County, Iowa, engaged in farming; he married Lydia Wolf,and has two chil- dren. Mary E. is unmarried and is living at home.
In 1855 the father of our subject was married a second time, the bride being Mrs. Mary Persons. The result of the union has been six children: Charles H., the first born, died when eight years old. Luella is unmarried and at home. Ida K. married W. D. Strong; he was for a number of years proprietor and principal of the Ottumwa (Iowa) Business College, and is now a teacher there; they have one child. Emma is single and is teaching in the Ottumwa public school. Frank and Ed B. are unmarried and at home.
The gentleman whose name heads this notice was born Dec. 2. 1849 in Wapello County, Iowa. Ile attended school until seventeen years of age, when he left home and engaged as clerk for Taylor, Blake and & Co., druggists in Ottumwa. With that firm he remained for three years. The fol- lowing six years were spent in Springfield, Keokuk County, as drug clerk for C. C. Wilson. He next went to Rose Hill, Mahaska County, where he clerked in a drug store for one year. In the spring of 1877, our subject came to Kansas, and settled on land three miles north of Morrow, in Mill Creek Township, where he was engaged in farming for six years. In April, 1885, he removed into Morrow and engaged in the hardware and drug business with T. J. Cummins under the firm name of Nye & Cummins. Mr. Nye subsequently bonght out his partner's interest and continued the business alone until the spring of 1889. He then sold out to V. T. Reeve, and bought the general merchandise stock of Alexander Me Laren.
The wife of Mr. Nye was born in Iowa, and their marriage took place in December, 1874, in Springfield, Keckuk County. She bore the maiden name of Addie M. Lash, and is one of the five liv- ing children born to William and Mary Lash. She is a well-informed lady, with attractive manners. She has borne her husband three children-Carrie A., Hugh B. and Mabel.
The father of Mrs. Nye was born in Kentucky, |
in 1817, and the mother in Indiana, in 1818, and of their surviving children we append some brief notes. Jennie, widow of Joseph Melntire, has two children living, and resides in Keokuk County. lowa. Daniel married Mrs. Dora Start; they have two children living; he is guard in the State pri- son at Denver, Col. Mary was the wife of Wil- liam Jennings; she died when about forty years old, leaving six children. Martha married Frank McCoy ; she died at the age of twenty-five, leaving two children. Harriet married 11. Bradley ; she died when about twenty-five years of age, leaving no family. Edward died at the age of twenty-seven, leaving a widow and two children. Elmore lives in Oskaloosa, Iowa; he married Miss Eva Stout; they have one child. Ambrose C., is living iu El- wood, Neb., and engaged in farming ; he married Barbara Fritzler, and has one child.
Mr. Nye served as Township Clerk in Keokuk County, Iowa. He has been Justice of the Peace and a member of the School Board in Mill Creek Township. His political sympathy and vote are given to the Republican party. lle is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Nye is a well-informed man, with keen business ability and good principles, and is a prominent citizen of the town where he has made his home.
- AMES PATTERSON is conspicuous among the Scotch residents of Clay County, who having left the land of the thistle and the gorse, have fought the battle of life in a foreign land among strangers, with no less courage than their ancestors displayed when struggling for freedom against the tyranny and oppression of a relentless foc. Coming to Kansas in 1875, Mr. Patterson has since that time been an important factor in the life of Clay County, both socially and politically. He and his family live happily in a pleasant country residence, surrounded by all that tends to make existence a pleasure. Some of their children have left the parental roof, but others yet remain to brighten the declining days of the father and mother.
The boyhood days of our subject were quietly
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and industriously passed in Ayrshire, Scotland, where he was born March 26, 1832. Ilis mother, who had been in her youth Margaret Bryce, died in Scotland in May, 1833, when her son, James, was yet an infant. The father, John Patterson, was a second time married, Isabelle Miller becoming his wife. In the summer of 1847, the family decided to emigrate to America. Embarking from the port of Glasgow on the sailing ship "Vermont," they were on the ocean seven weeks and three days, and anchored in New York Harbor, August 4, of that year. James Patterson was at that time a lad of fifteen years, so he can recall vividly the scenes of the voyage, as well as life in his lowland home. The ancestors of the Patterson family, as far back as their lineage can be traced, were members of the Presbyterian Church and natives of Scotland. John Patterson later in life united with that branch of the church which is known as the Free Church of the Presbyterian Society.
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After landing in New York City, the family proceeded to Troy, N. Y. where James began to work as a farm laborer, continuing thus employed until the fall of 1850, when he removed to Huron County, Canada, There he was engaged about eighteen months in clearing land from heavy tim- ber, the work being done for his brother, and on its completion he was employed by another farmer in Brantford Plains for four years. He prudently saved all his earnings, and so was enabled to take up 100 acres of Government land in the heavy timber. This he improved and made his home for a period of twenty years, transforming the dense forest into a garden farm, with good buildings, and orchard.
As soon as able, Mr. Patterson established a home of his own, which, small and scantily fur- nished at first. now illustrates the results of perse- verance and industry. However, without the aid of his amiable and devoted wife, our subject woukl doubtless have been less prosperous than he is. He certainly regards that day as one of the most fortunate in his existence when Miss Isabelle Watt became his wife. The wedding ceremony was celebrated Sept. 18, 1856, in Canada. Mrs. Patter- son is the daughter of George and Grace (Dean) Watt, and has become the mother of a fine famn-
ily of children, recorded as follows: John W., George, deceased ; Grace, now the wife of Philip Ross and a resident of Washington County, Kan .; Margaret. deceased; Mary, Mrs. Thomas Marshall of Washington County ; Isabelle, who is the wife of John Marshall and lives in Clifton, Washington County ; Ellen, Mrs. John R. Granger, a resident of Washington County, Kan .; James A., Elizabeth, now Mrs. William H. Funnell, of Washington County Kan .; Jennie, Rosa, Martha L. and Jessie A., are all yet under the home roof, and are bright, well educated and refined. It is a pleasant sight to witness so large a family living with one inter- est and one aim before them, striving to rightly discharge their duties to society and to each other. They are warmly devoted to one another, and grace any society which they enter.
After many years of happy wedded life, Mr. and Mrs. Patterson saw prospects brightening in the far West, as Kansas was then considered, and finally determined to remove hither in April of the year 1875. A few months prior to his removal he bought 160 acres, which is comprised in his present farm, and paid for it $1,000. IIe also about the same time sold his improved land in Canada for $3,500, thus gaining a good profit on the original investment. The land which he purchased here was unbroken, the only improvement consisting of a well, which proved to be a good one, when cleaned of the stones that had fallen into it. The family were compelled to endure the many hard- ships attendant upon life on the frontier. The lumber for the erection of his large and comfor- table residence, and the barn. was shipped from Ft. Madison, Iowa. IIe has gradually brought the land under good cultivation, and has every reason to feel proud of his financial success, having built a good barn, corn-cribs, and a granary, with all other outbuildings needed on a modern farm. Ile has added eighty acres to his first purchase, also purchasing 160 acres in Washington County, be- sides a tract comprising the same amount of land in Hayes Township, Clay County. Ile is the owner of a house and lot in Clifton, so that he may be justly called one of the chief landholders of Clay County.
Worshiping with the Presbyterian Church in
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Clifton, Mr. Patterson and his family contributed liberally of their means and labor to assist in its prosperity and upbuilding. Ile has been Elder of the church in Clifton for about twelve years, and gave considerable financial assistance in the eree- tion of the church edifice in that place. Politically he votes with the Republican party, and held the office of Justice of the Peace for one year .. He has been a member of the School Board for about two years, and has always discharged his duties in con- nection therewith, with his customary ability and to the entire satisfaction of the citizens.
YLVESTER THOMPSON is a gentleman actively engaged in the business of stock- dealing at Leonardville, Riley County. When he started out in life to do for him- self he had no capital that could be represented by dollars and cents, but he had the ability "to do and to dare" and the physical strength to enable him to cope with the many difficulties that must be overcome if one would wrest a favor from Dame Fortune's grasp. Competition for the fickle lady's bounty is so keen, that unless one possesses a fine constitution the nervous system is apt to break down, perhaps in the very moment of victory, and the miserable contestant is robbed of all enjoy- ment of his too dearly-bought victory. But our subject being well equipped for the struggle, it is not surprising to learn that he has been successful in securing, if not a fortune, at least a large share of earthly goods, and as he is still in the very prime of life it is not too much to predict that he will finally score a triumphant success in the race for fame and fortune.
Mr. Thompson was born in Mercer County, Pa., Aug. 27, 1816, and is a son of John W. and Rebecca (Mckay) Thompson. John W. Thomp- son was a native of Mercer County, Pa., and passed the closing years of his life in that county. Ile was a worthy man, a well-to-do farmer who stood high in the estimation of his neighbors, an earnest and uncompromising member of the United Pres- byterian Church, an affectionate husband and fa- ther and a warm friend of the poor. This branch
of the Thompson family is of Irish extraction. Rebecca Mckay was born in Butler County, Pa .. and still survives, making her home where she has passed so many years of her life-at the old home- stead in Mercer County, Pa. John W. and Re- becca Thompson had eight children born to them, namely : Matilda, Marilla, Harriet, Sylvester, Samuel, Moses, Aaron and Rachel.
Sylvester Thompson, the one of whom we write, was reared in Mercer County, Pa., on the farm of his parents and was educated in the common schools of that State. Upon arriving at man's estate he continued to follow agricultural pursuits in the same county in which his youth had been passed, until 1878, when he emigrated to Riley County. Kan., where he has since resided, being engaged in the business of buying and shipping stock. As indicated above he has been successful and is on the high road to wealth. In 1882 he moved to Leonardville in which place he now resides. Politically, he adheres firmly to the principles of the Republican party and takes a reasonable share in the management of party affairs.
In March 1866. our subject was married to Miss Gusta U'nangst, a native of Mercer County, Pa. She was born in 1846 and is a daughter of Thomas and Susan Unangst, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. T. have two children, both daughters, who are named, May and Maudie. The eldest one, May, is the wife of Fred E. Colt, a druggist and one of the leading business men of Leonardville. Mandie is still at home with her parents.
Le AMBERT ERPELDING. The German who is industrious, temperate, and frugal, and few Germans fail in those particulars, invariably "gets along." He seems to have a pecu- liar faculty for making the best of everything, and that is one reason why he is among the best class of citizens which crowded Europe sends to these hospitable shores. Such an one is the gentle- man whose life is briefly outlined in this sketch. Lambert Erpelding was born in Germany, near the famous city of Metz, on the 5th of January, 1819. to John and Mary ( Bremmer) Erpelding, both of
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whom were natives of Germany. They passed their entire lives in their native land, and their remains are peacefully reposing in a portion of "mother earth," which owns the rule of the Emperor of United Germany. The subject of this sketch is the third in a family of seven children born to them. Ile was reared and educated in Germany, and when quite young learned the mechanic's (or machinist's) trade and worked at it in the world-renowned city of Cologne ou the Rhine, until 1848, when he emi- grated to America and located in Chicago, where he was a Master Mechanic in the well-known Mc- Cormick Reaper Works, for upwards of thirty years. He invested in lands in Riley County, Kansas, in 1869, but did not move to the State till 1884, when be took up his residence at Leonardville, where three of his sons have been in business for several years.
Although our subject came to this country a poor man, in pocket, he brought with him a force of character that has carried him successfully through all the trials of life and now, at its evening, he is reaping the reward of bis patient industry and business foresight, in the enjoyment of an ample fortune and the love and esteem of his children and friends. His spacious and elegant residence is the finest in Leonardville, and his friends are always welcome within its hospitable walls. Besides his handsome town property, he owns 1.000 acres of good land in the vicinity of Leonardville, and is one of the wealthiest men in Riley County.
Mr. Erpelding is prominent in the I. O. O. F. fraternity and is held in high regard by his brother members. Politically, he is a stanch, old-fashioned Democrat, but does not concern himself much about party affairs, and has no ambition for office. In 1851 he was married to Miss Amelia Nockin, of Chicago, a native of Germany, but of French an- cestry, and a fine, intelligent lady fully able to prop- erly conduct her branch of domestic partnership. Their union resulted in the birth of five children, as follows: Frank, Joseph, who is deceased; Amelia; George and John are extensive merchants in Leon- ardville, and are worthy sons of their excellent parents, who in turn take great pride in the success which has attended their career; Frank is the pro-
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