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 155

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 155
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 155
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 155


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Mrs. Caroline (Crawford) Lindner, the mother of our subject, was born in the State of New York. in 1824, and was the daughter of William and Caro- line Crawford, who were among the first persons landing at old Ft. Harmer, now Marietta, Ohio. They settled on a tract of land from which the father cleared a farm, mostly with his own hands, at a a time when most of his neighbors were Indians, and he was twelve miles from a trading post. l'pon that place he lived and died, passing away abont 1845. The mother survived her husband a number of years, passing away April 22, 1881, at the advanced age of eighty-five years. Miss Caro- line grew to womanhood on the farm thus built up from the wilderness, and was there married to Dr. Lindner.


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The subject of this sketch spent his early years on the farm near where the town of Marietta, finally grew up, and in the latter completed his early studies. During the second year of the Civil War he enlisted, on May 28, 1862, in Company F, 85th Ohio Infantry, but on account of his age was rejected. After a few weeks there was a call for more volunteers, and he was the first man to enroll his name in the same regiment among those who desired to go to the front. At the expiration of the three months he enlisted in Company G, 36th Ohio Infantry, which was assigned to the 14th Corps, Army of the Cumberland. They were ordered to Ringgold, Ga., then returned and set out with Sheridan ou his famous campaign through the Shenandoah Valley. Mr. Lindner assisted in the fight at Winchester, Fisher Hill and Cedar Creek. and for three years thereafter was on duty constantly, never missing a day. At the close of the war he received his honorable discharge and was mnstered out at Columbus, Ohio. He had been promoted to a Corporal, and was frequently assigned to special service. He was only twenty years old at the close of the war, after serving three years and three months.


Upon retiring from the service, Mr. Lindner at- tended the Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio, one term, and later taught five terms in Washington County. He thien began the study of medicine under the instruction of Dr. John Bohl, of Water- town, Ohio, taking his lectures at the Cincinnati Miami Medical College, from which he was grad- uated. In 1869 he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Bohl, and later came to Junction City, arriving in Clay County on the 3d of March, 1870. Part of the journey was made on a construction train, and later the Doctor walked across the plains. and for the first time saw a prairie. He purchased a compass, shot-gun and and haversack, and jour- neyed four or five days until reaching Waterville. Ilere he located for practice, and at the same time took up a homestead claim in what is now Garfield Township. He built a little 12x16 stone house, the first structure of this material in the county. quarrying the stone himself. Later. he began breaking the soil and putting up a stable and other buildings.


Early in the winter following, Dr. Lindner re- turned to Ohio for his wife, coming back in De- cember, and about that time the emigrants began to arrive in goodly numbers, and his practice increased accordingly. He remained on his farm until 1872, then removing to Morganville, which was at that time looked upon as the terminus of the C. B. & U. P. Railroad. In January, 1874, on ac- count of the illness of their child, Mrs. Lindner returned to Ohio and died there. Dr. Lindner after the last sad rites were performed came back to Kansas and on the 2d of March, 1875, settled on a part of the present site of Clay Center. In the pros- ecution of his chosen calling he rode over Cloud, Riley and Washington counties, going frequently thirty and forty miles each way. In 1881 for the third time he returned to Cincinnati, Ohio, for a course of lectures and then spent two years in Florida, where he purchased and still owns a home, and usually spends his winters there.


Upon his return to Kansas, in 1883, Dr. Lindner became interested in the Farmers & Merchants' Bank of Clay Center and likewise in real-estate in this city and various other parts of Kansas. He is a favorite both in business and social circles and belongs to Lodge No. 34, Bethany Chapter and Coronado Commandery No. 20, K. T. To the Doctor and his estimable wife have been born four children, three of whom are living, namely: Blanche, Eaton and Carl Jr., and who are all at home with their parents, and will be given the best advantages which ample means can afford.


HARLES E. GEAR, County Clerk of Clay County, is well known and highly esteemed, both as a citizen and public servant. He has been one of the most successful farmers in Mulberry Township, Clay County, and has a well-regulated estate which is pleasantly located on sections 14 and 24, the residence being on the latter. Ilis landed possessions comprise 240 acres, all of which have been brought to a good state of cultivation and npon which the proprietor has erected substantial farm buildings. He has a fine lot of fruit trees, both small and large, on the 80-


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aere tract and the whole premises are highly indi- cative of enterprise and progress.


Mr. Gear came to Clay County in 1874, and purchased land although not settling here until four years later. He has made all the improve- ments where he lives. these involving the labors of several years and the outlay of considerable hard cash. Prior to his removal to Kansas he had been a resident of Jo Daviess County, Ill., of which he was a native, having been born in Guilford Town- ship, April 7, 1840. His father, William T. Gear, was a native of New York State, and a son of Charles Gear, likewise born there and who, in 1827, in company with his brother, Capt. H. H. Gear, re- moved to Illinois and located in what is now Gal- ena, on the Fever River. They had become con- siderably interested in the lead mines and assisted in building up the town of Galena, being very suc- cessful and were included among its leading citizens. Some time prior to the death of Charles Gear, he removed to Shullsburg, Wis., and died there in 1853, at the age of sixty-one years. He was a Whig, politically, and had served in Jo Daviess County. Ill., as a Justice of the Peace for many years. Ile was prominent in the Masonic fraternity -in fact the father of Masonry in Northern Illinois.


William T. Gear, the father of our subject was nine years old when his father, Charles, removed to Jo Daviess County, Ill., and he was there reared in the mining regions, assisting in smelting and other work connected therewith. Ile received a limited education and like his father before him, attained to a useful and vigorous manhood. After remov . ing to Wisconsin, he became County Surveyor of La Fayette County, also Postmaster of Benton, and for some time was Register of Deeds. In 1852, in company with others, lie crossed the plains to Cali- fornia with mule teams and after six years spent in the mining regions of Sacramento and Marysville,re- turned, in the spring of 1857, to his family, they in the meantime having returned to Illinois. On the Pacific Slope he had had a varied experience with a cosmopolitan people and Indians. He continued a resident of Jo Daviess County, Ill., until his de- eease in 1880, which eame about in a sudden and painful manner, he having been thrown from a load


of hay drawn by a runaway team. lle was then sixty-two years old. He had been prominent in local affairs and represented Guilford Township, in the County Board of Supervisors. Politically, he was first a Whig and then a Republican.


The father of our subject was married in Jo Da- viess County, Ill., to Miss Eliza Day, a native of New Hampshire and the daughter of an old New England family. She emigrated with her parents when quite young to Sangamon County, Ill., whence later they removed to .Jo Daviess County. The maternal grandparents of our subject were Erastus and Exie (Mason) Day. They spent their last days in New Diggings, Wis., dying when ripe in years. Mrs. Eliza Gear is still living, mak- ing her home with a daughter in Sheffield, Iowa, and is now seventy years old. She and her hus- band united' with the Methodist Episcopal Church early in life. The latter, like his father before him, was an active member of the Masonic fra- ternity.


Charles E. Gear was the second of nine children. five sons and four daughters, all of whom are liv- ing and seven are married. Charles spent his child- hood and youth under the parental roof and acquired a practical education in the common schools. Ile taught school thereafter at times and also engaged as clerk in a store at Galena, until coming to Kan- sas. He was married May 10, 1870, in Galena, to Miss Camilla Burton, who was born near that city in its infancy, Oet. 28, 1851, and is the daughter of Benjamin, a brother of John Burton of Jo Daviess County. Benjamin Burton was born in York- shire, England. whence he emigrated at an early day to Northern Illinois, dying there in 1873 at the age of sixty-seven years. He was a success- ful man financially and a useful member of the community. His wife, Mrs. Lavina (Tippet) Bur- ton, passed away many years prior to the decease of her husband and when her daughter, Mrs. Gear, was a child of five years. The latter was reared by her father and stepmother. Of her union with our subject there have been born two children-Mabel E. and Mason C. Mr. and Mrs. Gear are members of the Baptist Church in which our subject officiates as Superintendent of the Sunday-school. Politi- cally, Mr. Gear is a sound Republican and may


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always be found encouraging the enterprises caleu- lated for the welfare and advancement of the people around him. He is one of the Township Trustees and for the past nine years has officiated either as Township Clerk or Trustee; also as a member of the School Board. Socially, he is iden- tified with the A. O. U. W., of Clifton. He was nominated in October, 1889, by the Republican party as County Clerk of Riley County, and was elected by 42 majority.


G EORGE W. PETERSON, one of the self- made men of Riley County, is the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He was born in Sweden in 1859, on the first day of that year. His parents, Charles J. and Charlotta ( An- derson) Peterson, natives of Sweden, emigrated to America in 1866, and settled in Jamestown, N. Y. Mrs. Peterson died there some years ago, but Mr. Peterson still makes it his home, and continues to work at his trade of a cabinet-maker. They were the parents of five children, viz : Josephine, George W., Aliee, Frank and Emma.


George W. Peterson was six years of age when his parents came to this country, henee he does not remember mueh of his native land, but is a true American in thought and speech. He was reared in Jamestown, and attended its common schools, where he received a fair cdueation, but he has added to what he received in school by a diligent course of reading and study, selecting such subjeets as seemed of most practical importanee. He is, there- fore, very well informed in all branches of knowl- edge pertaining to practical affairs, and well quali- fied to take a leading part in business cireles. However, while making "practical" knowledge his main study, he has not wholly neglected the minor graces and refinements of civilized life, hut is suf- fieently well versed in the subjeets of modern philosophy and æsthetical culture to be able to take his place in the most cultivated society.


In 1778 Mr. Peterson emigrated to Kansas, and found employment as a clerk, following that oceu- pation in Blue Rapids, Mariadahl, Randolph and


Leonardville. He moved to the latter place in 1884. and has sinee given the greater part of his time to farming. He owns 280 acres of fine land in Sherman and Bala Townships, and is also owner of the grain elevator at Leonardville, ‘besides other valuable real estate. He is at present con- nected with the J. H. Jenkins banking establislı- ment, at Leonardville, his varied acquirements making him an important acquisition to that eon- cern. He is reasonably active in political matters, and has been rewarded by his party, Republican. with an office of trust and responsibility, viz; Town- ship Trustee of Bala Township. and upon the com- pletion of his term of office was re-elected by an emphatic majority, in 1888, and is, therefore. the present ineumbent. He is popular with all classes, and although he started in life quite poor, has, by the exercise of good judgment and legitimate busi- ness methods, acquired a large share of wealth without sacrificing his integrity.


As long as he lives, our subjeet will remember the 10th of February, 1883, as on that day he took to wife the amiable and accomplished Miss Bettie Anderson, of Randolph, Kan. She was born in Butler County, Kan., in 1864, and is a daughter of Samuel and Margaret Anderson, natives of Sweden, who came to America many years ago. Mrs. Peter- son is a true woman in every relation in life, and a valued member of the social cirele in which they move. Two children have come to share their home and loving care, named by the fond parents, Earl W. and Arthur G. They are bright and affection- ate little fellows, and give promise of making an honorable career for themselves, when time shall have added a few years more to their present number.


ILLIARD F. ROBERTS is contributing his quota to the agricultural interests of Washington County by tilling 170 acres of land on seetion 29, Charleston Town- ship, seventy acres of which belong to his wife. Mr. Roberts, without making any great stir in the world, may be classed among the steady-going citi- zens who assist in forming the solid basis of the community, upholding its best interests, morally,


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socially and financially. He is a native of Law- rence County, Ky,, and was born Feb. 27, 1854, being the son of George W. and .Iulia (Burton) Roberts.


The subject of this sketch was less than a year old when his parents, leaving Kentucky, emigrated across the Mississippi into Western Missouri. The following year, however, they removed to Leaven- worth, Kan., and later to Johnson County. In that county Milliard F. grew to man's estate, acquiring his education in the district schools. In 1875 he took up his abode in Washington County, locating first on section 17, Charleston Township, where he purchased 160 acres of land. Upon this he effected considerable improvement, then, selling out, pur- chased land on section 25, and repeated the pro- cess, improving this farm also. After leaving this, he improved another farm on section 28. and be- came the owner of a farm on section 20.


Mr. Roberts settled on the farm which he now operates in 1888. His family consists of his wife and three children, the latter named respectively: Leonard, Lester and Clyde. IIis estimable wife, to whom he was married in 1878, was formerly Miss Ophelia, daughter of A. J. and Mary Ann Thompson. Mrs. Roberts was born in Union County, Iowa, May 4, 1855, and remained there with her parents until 1878. Politically, Mr. Rob- erts votes the straight Republican ticket, and has served as Township Trustee for the last two years. Ile is quite prominent in local affairs, and is fre- qently sent as a delegate to county conventions.


Le EWIS A. PALMER, editor and proprietor of the Local News, is a native of Warren County, Pa., born Jan. 15, 1865. His par- ents are Richard and Susan (Binehower) Palmer, the former horn in the eastern part of New York in 1833, and the latter in Ashland County, Ohio. in 1837. Richard Palmer was brought up to farming, which avocation he followed in Warren County. Pa., both before and after his marriage. combining with it the business of lumbering. He was married in Ohio, where he became acquainted with his wife while traveling, selling musical in-


struments, he being quite a musician. After his marriage, he returned to Pennsylvania, where he lived on a farm in Warren County, owned by his father, Levi Palmer, who is still living there, at an advanced age. He continued to live there until he and his wife emigrated to Kansas, in 1870, with the five children born to them in Pennsylvania. They came direct to Clay County, where Mr. Palmer took up a homestead, on which he still lives. The country was then new and unsettled, and he had but a few neighbors within a distance of five miles. When he had procured his home- stead, Mr. Palmer had but a couple of dollars. in his pocket, but by industry and good management, he acquired means, and he now owns a fine farm of 200 acres of land, with good buildings, orchard, well fenced, and all under a good state of cultiva- tion. He is a self-made man, who never had any early advantages, and all that he has is the direct result of his own labors. His wife died Aug. 26. 1889.


Mrs. Palmer was a daughter of German parents, who were eminent in business circles in Ashland County, Ohio, and were wealthy and respected. Her first husband was a Mr. Freer, by whom she became the mother of one child, Alice, who makes her home with her step-father. Mrs. Palmer was an industrious. energetic, and capable woman, who took a great pride in bringing up her children to be good men and women. She was also an earnest Christian. and for the last fifteen or twenty years of lier life was a devout and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1880 she be- became an invalid, but struggled on for several years. and in the winter of 1884-85 had a wonder- ful operation performed at St. Luke's Hospital, Chicago, by which a large tumor, weighing forty- one pounds, was removed. She at once improved. and for about two years was in excellent health. when she was attacked by an internal cancerons af- fection, which terminated her life after intense suf- fering, which she bore with sweet Christian patience and resignation. She was a good wife and mother. and her loss was a great blow to her bereaved hus- band and affectionate children.


Besides the five children born in Pennsylvania, Mr. and Mrs. Palmer had one born in Kansas. The


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names of the children, in the order of their births, are as follows: Levi died in Clay County, Kan., at the age of nineteen ; Kittie was a school teacher, and is now the wife of Charles Harbaugh, a well- to-do farmer of Clay County; Lewis A. came next; Lester, Elva and Inez, are all unmarried, and all teachers, and all make their homes with their father, excepting Lewis A., who resides in Clifton. The children have inherited the musical talent of their father, and are all musicians of considerable celeb- rity. The youngest four form a quartette whose services are in great demand, and all sing in the choir of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at Clifton.


Lewis A. Palmer was but five years old when his parents came to Kansas. His education was ob- tained in the district schools of Clay County, sup- plemented by a term in the graded school at Clifton. At the age of nineteen he began teach- ing school in Clay County. Ile taught one term, and then went on to his father's farm, and for two ycars he farmed in summer and taught school in winter. When twenty-one years old, he took a trip to the western part of Kansas, and in Graham County took up a homestead, which was contested, and he by that transaction lost all his means, and for a month worked in a hotel as night-clerk for his board and lodging. Ile bettered himself some- what by going to another hotel, in which he staid but another month, when he procured a situation as grain buyer and book-keeper for a milling com- pany. In that position he remained eight months, when he returned home. The following season he worked for his father, and the next winter taught school, and then bought an interest in the paper which he now owns. On the 1st of March, 1889, he became sole proprietor of the office. Since then he has greatly improved it, and has won for the paper a good name, which it had lacked in its earlier days. It is now counted one of the bright, newsy papers of Washington and Clay counties. Since Mr. Palmer took possession of the paper it has gained over 300 subseribers, and its circulation is still steadily increasing. The office is well supplied with the facilities for job printing. of which it has a large trade, and the paper has likewise a fine patronage, Mr. Palmer's conduct of it giving satis- faction to the business men and people generally.


Mr. Palmer is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, in Clifton, and was Superintendent of its Sabbatlı-school in 1888. He is Correspond- ing Secretary of the Y. M. C. A., and is a young gentleman who has the entire confidence and re- spect of the people among whom he lives. His suc- cess is indeed flattering to him, as be started for himself without the aid of a dollar, and what he has since accumulated is entirely the result of his own industry, good management, and upright life and conduct.


B D ENEDICT L. BREDBERG. The polished Mayor of Leonardville, Riley County, is the gentleman whose life is briefly outlined in the following sketch, and it is hoped that a perusal of it will encourage a proper ambition in the young of either sex who may chance to read it. Mr. Bredberg was born in Mariestad, Westergot- land, Sweden, May 27, 1848, to Chamberlain Ben- edict C. and Aurora E. (Anderson ) Bredberg.


Benedict C. Bredberg was born in the same place as our subject, in 1810, and departed this life in 1863. Ile was a very wealthy man, and for many years was Chamberlain (a title given by the Crown) of the "Orebro" private bank at Mariestad. He and his family were all members of the Lutheran Church, which is the State Church of Sweden, and his grandfather, Benedict Bredberg, was a noted Lutheran divine of Sweden, and held a government position in the church similar to that of a bishop in this country. He was a man of great wealth and prominence, and was loved and revered in every portion of his native country. Aurora E. Ander- son, the mother of our subject, was also born in Mariestad, April 5, 1824, and journeyed to her heavenly home in 1884. She was a daughter of Alderman John Anderson of Mariestad, Sweden. He was a government official, also an extensive manufacturer of and dealer in leather. The union of Benedict C. and Aurora E. Bredberg was ce- mented and blessed by the birth of three children, named respectively: Hermena E. M., Hulda C. A., and Benedict L. The two sisters are still residents of Sweden,


Our subject was reared at his parents' home in


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Mariestad, and enjoyed the best educational ad- vantages that his native land could afford. After finishing his elementary course of instruction at home he went to some of the most noted institu- tions of learning in Sweden, and upon the comple- tion of his various courses was graduated with high honor. Upon leaving school he was master of nine languages, speaking and writing all of them fluently. In 1869 he emigrated to America and located at Junction City, Kan., and while there worked at anything honorable that he could get to do. After eleven months spent in that manner he found employment at clerking, working in that ea- pacity in Junction City, Manhattan and Leonard- ville until 1882. At Manhattan he was employed by E. B. Purcell for five years; at Leonard- ville he was with the Erpelding Brothers for up- ward of a year. In 1883 he engaged in the mer- cantile business at Leonardville, and has success- fully conducted it from that time to the present. He is in the book, stationery and jewelry business, and is also proprietor of a flour and feed store. He is highly estecmed in social and business circles, and is worth about 85,000, although he came to this country with only $80 in his possession. Pluek and perseverance have placed him where he is, and go far to show what can be done by skill, deter- mination and energy in carving out a fortune. He owns some fine property in Leonardville, and is the present Mayor. Politically, Mr. Bredberg is a Democrat, and takes a deep interest in all matters relating to the welfare of his adopted country. He served one term as School Director of the city schools, his term ending in July, 1889.


Mr. Bredberg is a member of the I. O. O. F., of considerable prominence in Kansas, being connected with Lodge No. 17 at Manhattan, No. 222 at Leon- ardville, and Encampment No. 42 at Manhattan, and is Past Grand in each. He has served as Junior Warden of the Encampment, and is now Representative to the Grand Lodge. He has been prominently connected with the K. of P. for sev- eral years, and is P. C. of Phoenix Lodge, No. 35, at Manhattan; he also belongs to Lodge No. 106 at Leonardville, and has been Representative to the Grand Lodge of this order for six years. He has held the position of Grand Inner Guard of the


Grand Lodge, and has also held those of District Deputy Grand Master and District Deputy Grand Chancellor of these orders.




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