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 156

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 156
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 156
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 156

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Jan. 8, 1872, Mr. Bredberg and Miss Wilhel- mina C. Johnson, of Junction City, were united in the bonds of matrimony. Mrs. Bredberg was born in the Province of Dalarna, Sweden, Aug. 24, 1847. and came to America in 1870. She is an amiable and intelligent lady, and a bright ornament in the social life of the thriving city of which her husband is chief magistrate. Mr. and Mrs. Bredberg are the parents of eight children, of whom the young- est, Minne, is deceased. The others are named, re- spectively : Carl L. B., Oscar H. E., Elvira E. M., Ester V.E., Ernest W.H., Leona and Rowland. They are bright and capable, and are being well and carefully educated, and give promise of great and useful lives in the future.

ULIUS W. PAUL is a well-known citizen of Riley County, and the present County Sur- veyor, the office having been filled by him since 1872, with the exception of the years 1876, 1877 and 1881. He has held other public offices in the county, having been Trustee in Man- hattan Township in 1862-63, Trustee in Grant Township in 1870, and from 1874 to 1876 ineln- sive, and for some years a Justice of the Peace. His home is located in Grant Township, the farm of 4523 acres, which is owned and operated by himself and mother. being a very fine one, and well adapted to the purpose for which it is used. that of a stock farm. Mr. Paul possesses a library which contains many valuable works, and he finds abundant recreation in their perusal.

Mr. Paul is of Seotch-Irish deseent, his grand- father, Moses Paul, who was a cabinet maker, hav- ing accompanied the great-grandfather, Gladney Paul, from the North of Ireland to Pittsburg, Pa., where John F. Paul, the father of our subject, was born in 1809. John F. Paul removed to Charles- ton, S. C., and after residing there fifteen years, changed his residence to Tennessee, where for seven years he was engaged in tilling the soil. In 1833 he removed to Missouri, where his death took

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place ten years later. His wife bore the maiden name of Mary N. Davenport, and was born May 15, 1814, in Washington County, Va. Her father's name was .Julius T. Davenport. and her mother's maiden name Mary Dolan. Her present home is directly across the road from that of her son Julius, who was the first born of three children. Sarah E. was married in 1857 to Robert Hays, and died March 24, 1880, at her home in Blue Township, Pottawatomie County, leaving seven children. Julia A. is the wife of Joseph Hays, whose sketch occu- pies another page.

He of [whom we write was born near Kings- ville,"Johnson; Co., Mo .. on the 21st of December. 1837, and in his boyhood received a common school education, later .occupying himself with work upon a farm. His first visit to this State, then known as Indian Nation, was made in com- pany with an uncle in 1846, hic being then a lad of eight years. In 1857 he spent the summer working in Paola, clerking in the store for Berry & Boone. He then returned to his native State, where the most of his life was passed until after the out- break of the Civil War.

Being an Anti-slavery Republican, and his sym- pathies being entirely with the cause of the Union, those who upheld the cause of the South made it so unpleasant for him that he had to leave his home near Morristown, Cass Co., Mo., soon after the first gun was fired in the "late unpleasantness." He succeeded in trading his Missouri farm for 192 acres located on sections 13, 14 and 23, Grant Township, and leaving Missouri July 23, 1861, reached his new home six days later, and began his residence on the Big Blue. ITis family joined him some weeks later, they having left their former home on September 21, and arrived at their new abode on the 4th day of October.

Mr. Paul remained under the parental roof until the date of his marriage, Sept. 8, 1859, that inter- esting event taking place in Cass County, Mo., the bride being Miss Nancy J. Jones, and the marriage ceremony being performed by the Rev. Oliver Guthrie. Mrs. Paul is a daughter of Eli and Ellen Jones, who were born in Tennessee, her own birth having taken place in the State wherein her mar- riage occurred, She has borne thirteen children.

Charless Ann married Francis M. Henton; they live at Pfeil Creek, in Manhattan Township, and have six children; Laura B. died when three years old; Mary E. is unmarried and lives in Kansas City ; Sarah S. died in infancy ; John W. is at home; Martha J. is living in Kansas City ; Hester E. is at home; Desereta died in infancy; Julia C., Katie N., Myrtle L., Daisy M. and Ola Hope are still at home.

During the war Mr. Paul served in the 14th Kansas State Militia under Capt. F. Mansfield and Col. Harvey. He has ever been a stanch Repub- lican, and takes a lively interest in political affairs. He has been a delegate to the county, State and congressional conventions, and is one of the most influential and prominent members of the party in Riley County. He is a man of more than ordinary intelligence, and better read than many who have had more leisure than he, and in his wide circle of acquaintances he is regarded as an upright and hon- orable man and a useful citizen.

OHN S. LEUSZLER. To this gentleman is is due the introduction of thoroughbred Short-horn cattle and Chester-White swine in Linn Township, Washington County, and it was through his efforts and those of his brothers that the first imported Clydesdale horse, Prinee Arthur II, was brought to this locality, resulting in a vast improvement in the breed of farm and road horses. This is simply a sample of his enter- prise, which is observable all through his career, and which has conspired to make bim one of the leading men of Washington County as well as one of its most successful farmers and stock-raisers. He is finely located on section 3, Linn Township, and is the owner of 320 acres of well-developed land, embellished with fine buildings and forming a piet- ure in the landscape of this region, which causes the passing traveler to take a long look as he goes by it.

A native of Buck's County, Pa., the early home of Mr. Leuszler was in Doyelstown, the county seat, and the date of his birth March 15, 1845. He is thus in the prime of life, although having ac-

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complished more than some men of twice his years. Ilis father, John Leuszler was born in Gruenberg, HIesse-Darmstadt, Germany, May 2, 1807, and emi- igiated to America. landing in New York, Sept. 7, 1831, settling in Pennsylvania, whence he removed to Medina County, Ohio, in 1852. John S. was then a lad of seven years, and after attending the common school completed his studies in the graded schools of Sharon Center. After the outbreak of the Civil War he, in 1862, enlisted in the 5th Ohio Sharpshooters, an independent company, and being mustered regularly into the service, participated in many of the important battles which followed, being at Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Lookout Mountain and Atlanta, and some of the time was on detached duty under Gen. Thomas. Ile was also in the battle of Nashville. Tenn., and marched with Thomas through that State and Kentucky, on a reviewing and inspecting expedition. At the close of the war he was mustered out at Camp Denison, Ohio, receiving an honorable discharge.

In 1866 Mr. Leuszlen coming West, located in Mahaska County, lowa, and on the 8th of July, that year. was united in marriage with Miss Alice M., cousin of the famous Gen. Meade, and daugh- ter of Azel Meade, deceased. Mrs. Lueszler was born in Elkhart County, Ind., July 16, 1850. She came West to Iowa on a visit, where she was mar- ried. as above stated. They came to Washington County in 1869. Mr. Lenszler entered 160 acres of land, comprising a part of his present farm, and was so thoroughly prospered in his subsequent op- erations as a tiller of the soil and as a stock-raiser that he doubled his landed possessions, as we have already seen. He is the only man in Washington County who has registered Chester-White swine. and he is a member of the National Chester-White Association. The excellent quality of domestic animals to be found in Northern Kansas is due; en- tirely to the efforts of such men as Mr. Leuszler. To the home of our subject and his estimable lady there have come four bright children, two sons and two daughters-Frank M., George R., Irma E. and Gertrude A., who are being given the careful home training and the education which will fit them for their proper positions as the offspring of one of the leading families of Northern Kansas, The eldest

son, Frank, is still pursuing his studies in the Washington High School, and is reading medicine under the instruction of Dr. N. M. Smith, of that city. Mr. Leuszler has never pined for official honors, reaping ample satisfaction from the con- sciousness of having done good service as a leading farmer and stock-raiser of Washington County. Socially, he belongs to the Masonic fraternity, the A. O. U. W., and Select Knights and the G. A. R. He is also identified with the Christian Advent Church,

ARTIN OLSON is one of those citizens of Washington County who owe their success in life to arduous labor and good manage- ment. Ile began life with no capital. and is now the owner of 240 acres of productive land on section 34 Strawberry Township.

Mr. Olson first opened his eyes to the light Sept. 21, 1838, in Denmark. His father was Ole Han- son, who died when his son Martin was fourteen years old. Our subject left his native land and crossed the Atlantic in the fall of 1863, making his first permanent stop at Ottawa, Canada. There his money gave out, and he worked until the spring of 1864, when he went to Chicago, III. In that city he hunted for work but failed to find it. Crossing Lake Michigan to Muskegon, Mich., he secured work in the sawmills in the summers, and in the neighboring pineries in the winters until the spring of 1870. Ile then made his way to Kansas, and in this county selected a location. Ile filed a claim on 160 acres of the land which he now occu- pies, which he eventually secured under the Home- stead Act. He had no money with which to improve his land, and had to go clear back to the Missouri River to get work. For three or four winters he labored there, the money which he was able to save during each winter being used by him the following summer for his living and the improvement of his claim. Since securing his homestead Mr. Olson has added eighty acres to his landed possessions, and now ranks among the prosperous farmers and stock-raisers of the county.

The marriage of Mr. Olson took place Sept. 26, 1887. The bride was Mrs. Anna Maria Nelson,

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daughter of Nels Johnson, and a native of Den- mark. She is possessed of all the thrift and energy which belong to her race. The result of the union has been the birth of one child-Olle M. Mrs. Olson by a former marriage is the mother of three children-Anna Belle, Carl William and Christo- pher.

Mr. Nelson is a member of the Danish Lutheran Church at Greenleaf. He is a straightforward and honorable man, and a substantial, worthy citzen.

EREMIAH D. OAKLEY, a homesteader of 1872, established himself on section 8, Lin- coln Township, Washington County, in the fall of that year. but afterward sold out and purchased 160 acres on section 10, which consti- tute his present home. By the exercise of in- dustry and economy, he has placed himself in comfortable circumstances financially and has se- cured his possessions solely by his own efforts, having started in life without means or in- fluential friends. He was only equipped with a common school education, but nature endowed him with those qualities of character which made of him an honest man and good citizen and which have given him standing among the people of his community. He has held several of the minor of- fices and is numbered among those men who rep- resent the best elements of social and business life.

Mr. Oakley traveled a long way for a permanent location, having been born in Fairfield County, Conn., Dec. 1, 1823. His father, Burr Oakley, was likewise a native of Connecticut, a cooper by trade, and died when comparatively a young man and when Jeremiah D. was quite small. The paternal grandfather of our subject was Jeremiah Oakley, a native of Cape Cod, but who removed early in life to Connecticut, where he spent the remainder of his days. Burr Oakley took for his wife Miss Mary Roberts, a native of New York State, who bore him six children, viz: Amzi. Thomas II., Aaron, Jeremiah D., Mary, deceased, and one who died in childhood. Our subject was the sixth child of the family, and remained in his native county while being reared and educated. He lived upon

the farm with his parents, becoming familiar with the various employnients of rural life, following this vocation until 1839. Then going to Putnam County, New York State, he learned shoemaking, at which he worked until the spring of 1846.

In the year above mentioned we find Mr. Oak- ley, a young man approaching the twenty-third year of his age, settled on a farm in Allegany County, N. Y. Ile lived there eight years, then selling out, proceeded northwestward into Wisconsin and re- mained a resident of that State until 1860. Then crossing the Father of Waters he established him- self in Clinton County, lowa, of which he was a resident eight years. From there be removed to Wright County, and sojourned in the Hawkeye State until 1872, during which year he became a resident of Kansas.

The 25th of December, 1846, was duly celebrated by the marriage of our subject with Miss Mehitabel Carter, the wedding taking place at the home of the bride's sister, in New York. Mrs. Oakley was born in Allegany County, N. Y .. Oct. 17, 1827, and is the daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Hulburt) Car- ter, who were natives of Massachusetts, and spent their last years in New York. Six children com- pleted the family circle of Mr. and Mrs. Oakley. being named respectively, Harriet S., Edwin C., George E., David B., Anetta and John II. Five times have they been called to mourn the death of a loved one, having now only one child, the youngest, John H., who was born Sept. 8, 1869, and makes his home with his parents.

W ILLIS P. COOK. This gentleman owns a valuable farm in Coleman Township, Wash- ington County. It comprises 120 acres in the northwestern part of section 36. The entire estate is well fenced and supplied with granaries and other well-built farm buildings. A comfort- able and substantial frame house was erected in 1886, taking the place of a dugont, which was the ouly dwelling when Mr. Cook bought the place. An orchard of 110 choice fruit trees adds beauty and profit to the farm.

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Mr. Cook is quite a young man, having been born Aug. 28, 1863. llis birth took place in Union County, Pa., where he was reared. He received a common school education in Laurelton, and aft- erward was graduated at Lock Haven, from the State Normal School. He received his diploma in 1883, and during the succeeding five years followed the profession of a pedagogue. He came to Kan- sas in 1884, making his home in Highland, Doni- phan County.

On April 27, 1887, Mr. Cook was nnited in mar- riage with Miss Olla IIoff. Immediately after their marriage they moved into the house which Mr. Cook had erected a short time before, on the land previously purchased by him. Mrs. Cook is a daughter of George and Lizzie ( Wilson) Hoff, of Wilson County, Kan. They were formerly of Menard County, Ill., from which they removed to this State in February, 1882. During the late war Mr. Hoff was a member of Company F, 114 Illi- nois infantry, and was wounded while in the service.

The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Cook were George and Millie ( Roe) Wilson, formerly of Indi- ana. Mr. Wilson was one of the pioneers of Menard County, Ill. During his early years there he was so poor that he had no horse with which to work a crop. In the spring he would buy one on time and probably raise a colt. He would then sell the horse in the fall and pay his indebtedness. Mrs. George Wilson was a daughter of Benjamin Roe, formerly of Kentucky.

The parents of our subject were William and Mary (Marston) Cook. William Cook was the son of Andrew, who was born in Scotland, and came to America with his father, James, when a child a year oldl. Andrew Cook, having arrived at man's estate, became one of the earliest pioneers in the western part of Union County, Pa. lle transacted the greater part of the legal business of that county and became one of its leading citizens. He married Miss Anna Nichol of that county. Mrs. Mary (Marston) Cook was a daughter of Alva and Mary (Purington) Marston. They were natives of Maine, and the latter of French descent. After marriage they removed to Union County, Pa., where they spent the remainder of their lives.

While a citizen of Maine, Alva Marston was a member of the State Legislature.

Willis P. Cook, of whom we write, is a man of excellent moral character and fine business abili- ties. Ilis excellent education and sterling qualities fit him for a front rank among the citizens of the county, by whom he is already regarded with great respect. Ile is a Democrat in politics and bears his share in campaign work.

ESSE T. BANISTER. an old-time freighter but now a resident of Riley County, is one of the most whole-souled and liberal-hearted men that this county can boast. He is at present engaged in farming on section 1, where he has a good farm and pleasant home. During the years when he was engaged in the freighting busi- ness it fell to his lot to see much of the rough side of life, but it did not succeed in ruining his nature or in making a rough man of him. He is a fine man of progressive ideas, hating shams, but ever ready to lend a helping hand to honest virtue, come in what guise it may.

The father of our subject, Colin J. Banister, is a native of Kentucky, where he was born in 1826. He still follows his occupation of a farmer. He is an honest man, a good citizen and enjoys the res- pect and esteem of his neighbors. The mother was Sarah (Schwartz) Banister, a native of Kentucky, and a very superior woman. The marriage of Colin J. and Sarah Banister was celebrated in their native State, after which they removed to Ray County, Mo., which continued to be their home for a number of years, but, alas, in 1851, the grim messenger of death entered the happy family and bore thence the noble wife and mother. Subse- qently the father was again united in marriage. By the first marriage there were five children, of whom only two now survive. The subject of this sketch was the third in order of birth, and first opened his eyes to the light Oct. 17, 1844, in Ray County, Mo. Ilis school advantages were exceedingly lim- ted, but he improved them to the best of his abli- ity, and succeeding in getting a fair acquaintance with the "three R's." When a mere child of ten

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he had the pluck to begin life for himself, and hir- ing himself to a farmer, he began in earnest the task of earning his own living. He worked at such labors as his youthful strength and experience fitted him for, taking an especial delight in the care and management of the horses. In 1863 he turned his face toward the setting sun. and on reaching Riley County, Kan., concluded to settle on a farm, but some time afterward. not finding it as profitable as he had hoped, he engaged as a teamster. His route was from Leavenworth to Ft. Lyon. In 1866 he became wagon-master for C. M. Dyche, and made many trips across the plains. For six months lie was Governmental Wagonmaster in the Indian Territory. If "variety is the spice of life," that pungent quality was supplied in plentiful abund- ance during his eventful career as an "old-time freighter."

In 1871 Mr. Banister returned to Riley County, and again took up the business of farming, which he continued to follow until 1873, when he left the plow and began work on the Union Pacific Rail- road as a section hand. He was employed in that capacity for the space of six months, when he was given charge of the section, and served the company in that position until 1882, in which year he re- turned to his farm in Riley County, and has confined himself to the pursuits of agriculture from that time forward.

In 1872 the subject of this sketch was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Rowe, a daughter of Will- iam Rowe of Massachusetts. After a brief mar- ried life Mrs. Rowe was called up higher, in 1878. leaving three little children to their father's care. The little ones were named John, Angeline and Arthur. Mr. Banister assumed the responsibilities of wedlock the second time in 1882, taking for his life partner Miss Mary Mason, an adopted daughter of William Powell, of Ogden. She is a good woman, and well qualified for the duties of the sta- tion she is called upon to fill. They are the par- ents of five children, of whom four are now living, as follows: Eliza, Claude, Effel and Ren.

The family are regular attendants upon the ser- vices of the Baptist Church in Ogden, and are highly esteemed in church and social circles, Mr. Banister is a member of I. O. O. F. No. 281, of

Ogden. He has been through all the chairs and is now Past Grand. The School Board of Ogden has counted him among its worthy members for several years. He is now Road Overseer, a posi- tion which he has held for many years with credit. "to himself and advantage to the township. The farm of our subject comprises 140 acres of land, all under cultivation and otherwise improved. In addition to the regular work of the farm Mr. Ban- ister also raises cattle and other stock for the mar- ket. His long experience in handling and caring for horses and cattle has abundantly qualified him for pursuing this branch of agricultural life. In political matters Mr. Banister is conservative, but usually votes the Democratic ticket.

NDREW OLANDT, late a resident of Iladdam Township and representing a large property, departed this life at his homestead on section 26, Nov. 9, 1881, when nearly sixty-six years of age, having been born Nov. 23, 1815. He had been for thirteen years practically an invalid. During the period of his early manhood, he was an energetic, stirring man and was accounted one of the representative men of this section. He was a stanch supporter of the Republican party and a consistent member of the Lutheran Church.

Mr. Olandt was a native of Kalbeasala, Prus- sia, and the son of Christ Olandt, a native of the same country, and a gardener by occupation. The mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Olandt, was likewise a native of Prussia, and both parents spent their entire lives in that country. The father served in the Prussian Army, three years, when a young man. lle was very well educated, and at one time was engaged as a merchant's book-keeper and was overseer of the Losh mines. The subject of this sketch after his marriage engaged as a book-keeper for her uncle while Mrs. Olandt received $12,000 from her father's estate. This, however, was only a small portion of what rightfully belonged to her, but she married in opposition to her father's wishes, and was thus cut off from a large portion of her inheritance.

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In 1866, Mr. and Mrs. Olandt, leaving their na- tive land, sailed for America, landing in New York City on the 10th of January, after a long ocean voyage upon which they had entered October 30. From the metropolis they then journeyed to De- troit, Michi. Mr. Olandt engaged in the lumber business in Kapock, and Mrs. Olandt invested her money in farming lands in St. Clair County, be- coming the owner of about 500 acres. Her hus- band being afflicted with asthma, they, in 1877. came to Kansas and purchased a farm in Union Township, forty acres of which had been broken and upon which the only improvement was a dug- out. They lived upon this four years then pur- chased the present homestead of the family, which is 254 acres in extent, one acre having been given for the schoolhouse. Here, Mr. Olandt spent the remainder of his days. Mrs. Olandt has managed the estate with rare good judgment. She made a specialty of live stock, breeding fine cattle and horses, the later graded stock mostly Norman and Clydes- dales, of which there were usually from twenty to thirty on the farm. In the fall of 1888, Mrs. Olandt desiring to retire from active business, sold off her live stock and now rents the greater part of the farm. She is now (October 1889) erecting a new residence, which in point of architecture, will be second to none in this part of the county. The farm is watered by Mill Creek, and is highly pro- ductive. Mrs. Olandt still retains possession of some of her Michigan property.

Six children were born to our subject and his estimable wife, the eldest of whom, Carl, died when four years old; Randolph superintends the opera- tions of the homestead; Albert is farming in U'nion Township; Emma is the wife of John Moore, a farmer of Washington. and owning a section of land; Mary is the wife of Almer Thompson, a farmer of Haddam Township; Bertha married Robert Fenton, and died leaving one child- Minnie C., who is being reared by her grand- mother. Mrs. Olandt is a prominent member of the Methodist Protestant Church at Haddam. She assisted in building two churches in Michigan.

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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 156

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

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