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 157

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 157
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 157
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 157

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).

Mrs. Caroline ( Heins) Olandt was born in Mach- taborog, Prussia, Oct. 19, 1831. and is the daugh- rer of Carl and Caroline (Cortens) Ileins, the

former a native of Icelanr, and the latter of Isla- ben, Prussia. The paternal grandfather, likewise Carl Heins, was a native of the same provinee as his son and was an extensive farmer, owning thou- sands of acres. Carl Jr., likewise became very wealthy, owning 5,000 acres of valuable land, largely devoted to stock- raising, having about 200 milch cows and thirty-two span of fancy horses, besides draft animals. He, too, spent his entire life in Prussia. The mother was especially well educated, being the daughter of the Rev. Harmon Grad, and receiving excellent advantages. The parental family consisted of four children-Dora and Carl, deceased; Caroline and Louis, the latter also deceased. Mrs. Olandt is the sole survivor of her family. After the death of her mother she went to live with an aunt in her native place, and received excellent school advantages. She was graduated from the best schools of her native province, and grew up a highly accomplished young lady moving in the best society. She still retains her mental vigor and is a lady of more than ordinary business capacity, besides possessing cul- tured tastes. She enjoys the friendship and society of the best people in Haddam Townsnip.

Le EVI M. SHIPPER. It is interesting to note how men have emigrated from New England and have bent their energies to the building up of some portion of the great West, transferring their interests and their labors as it were to an alien soil, although under the same re- vered flag. Fortunate has it been for the country west of the Mississippi that such men have lived and that they exist at the present time. There is not within the limits of Greenleaf Township, a man who has been more interested in the growth and prosperity of the town of that name, than he with whose name we introduce this sketch. To advance its best interests, socially, morally and financially seems to be his chief thought. Ile is possessed of more than ordinary intelligence and although plain in manner and speech, exercises a marked influence in his community.

In noting the antecedents of Mr. Shippee we

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find that he is a native of Clarendon Springs, Vt., and was born March 24, 1848. His parents were Levi J. and Harriet ( Hayes) Shippee, the former of whom was a native of Shrewsbury, Vt., and born Feb. 4, 1817. In early life he became a resident of Rutland County, living there until 1856. He was for many years connected with the Western Ver- mont Railroad, but afterward engaged in mercan- tile business at Lawrence, Ill. In the year above mentioned he set out for the West and locating at Lawrence, in McHenry County, Ill., carried on general merchandising until about 1864, in the meantime accumulating a fine property. He then wisely retired from active business and remains a resident of Lawrence, where he occupies a pleasant home and is surrounded by all the comforts of life. He has been quite prominent in public affairs in that section, strongly supporting the Republican party and holding many offices of trust and respon- sibility. The paternal grandfather of our subject was Artemus Shippec, who spent his last years in Shrewsbury, Vt.

The mother of our subject in her girlhood was Miss Harriet Hayes, likewise a native of Rutland County, Vt., and born May 13, 1834. Her father, the Hon. Joseph A. Hayes, born in the Green Mountain State, was a prominent Mason and took an active part in politics. After filling various offices, he was elected to the Legislature in which body he acquitted himself with great credit. He spent his last years in Vermont. To Levi J. and Harriet Shippee there was born a family of seven children, viz: Levi M., Miranda E., Jenny M., Josie, Frederick, Frank N. and Edgar L.

Levi M. Shippee was the eldest child of bis pa- rents and was nine years old when they emigrated to Illinois where he received a common school education. He afterward officiated as clerk in the office of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad un- til reaching his majority. Afterward he learned painting at which he worked four years in one shop at Harvard, Ill. Later, until 1879, he was in the employ of the Chicago & Northwestern Rail- road Company. That year he came to Kansas and making his headquarters at Atchison, entered the employ of the Central Branch of the Union Pacific Railroad Company, with which he is still connected.

In December, 1882, he was apppointed Station Agent at Greenleaf, a position which he has since held.

It was not long after establishing himself in Greenleaf until Mr. Shippee began to manifest a warm interest in the progress and upbuilding of the town. He made himself useful to the com- munity in many ways and in 1887 was elected Mayor, serving two terms. In the meantime he was instrumental in securing water works for the city, against strong opposition, and instituted other im- provements and reforms. He has always been found willing and ready to support any enterprise which would be of public benefit and has always given freely of his time and labor to this end. A man still in the prime of life, it would seem that he is destined to leave his mark upon the sands of time in this community and make for himself a record which his children will look upon with pride.

Mr. Shippee is a Mason in high standing, hav- ing taken both the Chapter and Council degrees. He is a member of Washington Lodge, No. 5 and of Lodge No. 1 at Atchison. He also belongs to Lodge No. 277, I. O. O. F., Lodge No. 106, A. O. U. W. and M. W. A., at Greenleaf. Politically, he is independent, aiming to support principles rather than men. He was first married March 28, 1875. in Lawrence, Ill., to Miss Calla Ruggles, who was born Dec. 17, 1856 in Woodstock, Ill., and was the daughter of Creighton and Lucinda (Twitch- ell) Ruggles, who were natives of Massachusetts and now reside in Lawrence, Il1. The mother of Mrs. Shippee was a sister of the Hon. Emery Twitch- ell, who was one of the self-made men of Massa- chusetts and for a number of years was President of the Boston & Worcester Railroad. Later he was in the same official capacity in connection with the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad during the first few years after its construction. He was a man of fine abilities, prominent in politics, and represented the Boston district in Congress for several terms.

There were born to Mr. and Mrs. Shippee three children-Frank R., Anna M. and Calla E .; the mother departed this life in 1879, soon after the removal to this State. In 1881 Mr. Shippee con-

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traeted a second marriage with Miss Jenny Loner- gan, of Atchison, Kan. This lady was born Feb. 6, 1861, and is the daughter of Timothy and Catherine (Kennedy ) Lonergan ; the father deceased and the mother now living in Atchison, Kan. There have been born of this union three children- Blanche, Mamie and George.

0 BADIAH C. AXTELL, M. D. The medi- cal profession of Washington County, re- eognizes Dr. Axtell as one of its leading members and one who is in the enjoyment of an extensive practice. Ile is a straightforward, reli- able man, both in a business point of view and as a practitioner, and has given that close attention to the duties of his calling which has enabled him to maintain a high position therein. He is a native of Morrow County, Ohio, and was born April 29, 1833. Ilis father was Joel Axtell, a native of Washington County, Pa., and born Jan. 11, 1802.

The father of our subject when a lad of eight years left Pennsylvania and removed to the vi- cinity of the present site of Mt. Vernon, Ohio,. where the boy was reared to inan's estate and educated in the common school. He removed to Morrow County when a young man and entered a tract of land, building up a homestead where he spent the remainder of his life, passing away in 1884. Ile accumulated a good property and was prominent in his community, being an active member of the Presbyterian Church and the uni- form encourager of the enterprises calculated to benefit his fellow-men. The paternal grandfather of our subjeet was Thomas Axtell, a native of Pennsylvania, who spent his last years in the Buckeye State. Ile served as a soldier in the War of 1812.

The Axtell family is of Scotel extraction. They traee their ancestry back to Thomas and Daniel Axtell, two brothers, who emigrated to America on the "Mayflower."

The maiden name of the mother of our subject was Jane Campbell. She was born in Northumber- land County, Pa. in 1796, and was there reared to womanhood. Her marriage wish Joel Axtell oe-

curred about 1827, in Knox County, Ohio. She died about 1862, in Morrow County, that State. Iler parents were Robert and Mary Campbell, of New Jersey, who were also of Scotch descent. To Joel and Jane Axtell there was born a family of seven children, who are recorded as follows: Robert, the eldest, is farming in Morrow County, Ohio; Thomas, who also follows agricultural pur- suits, died in California, in 1886; Hannah M. and Phoebe A., died in Morrow County, Ohio; Obadiah C .. the subject of this sketeh, was the fourth child; Simeon B., is farming in Morrow County, Ohio; and Euniee J. is a native of Williams County, that State.

Dr. Axtell spent his childhood and youth at the old homestead in Morrow County. Ohio, attending the common school and assisting his parents on the farm. He was mainly occupied in agricultural pursuits until a man of twenty-seven years, when he turned bis attention to the study of medieine under the instruction of Dr. Charles Kelly, of Mt. Gilead, Ohio. In due time he entered the medical department of the Michigan State University, at Ann Arbor, and when leaving that institution re- turned to Ohio, and commeneed the practice of his profession in Knox County. He remained a resi- dent of his native State until 1872, then coming to Kansas, located in Pottawatomie County, and practiced there until 1883. We next find him in Junction City, after which he removed to Irving and purchased an interest in a drug store. He con- ducted this and followed his profession at Irving until the year 1885, in which year he removed to Greenleaf, where he has sinee remained. and now has all the business that he ean properly attend to. Politieally, the Doctor is a staneh Demoerat, and socially, is a member in good-standing of the Ma- sonie fraternity and the I. O. O. F., belonging to the lodges at Greenleaf.

Dr. Axtell in the year 1860. was wedded to Miss Elizabeth Wythe, of Mt. Vernon, Ohio. Mrs. Ax- tell was born in Knox County, that State, April 16, 1842, and is the daughter of William and Maria (Cummings) Wythe. She became the mother of four children, and departed this life Jan. 17, 1883. Their eldest son. Frank D., married Miss Lyda Spaulding, of Pottawatomie County, this State,

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where they now reside and have one child, a son -- George; Fred W., married Miss Mattie Clark, of Waterville, and they have three children-Earl C., Jay and Fred; they are residents of Waterville; Joel is unmarried and living in St. Francis, Chey- enne County, this State; Della died when fourteen months old.

In 1887, Dr. Axtell contracted a second mar- riage with Miss Jenny Lafferty, of Trenton, Mo .. This lady was born in Harrison County. Ohio, April 16, 1849 and is the daughter of Jacob Laff- erty, who is now deceased; one child has been born of this marriage, a daughter, Wilma C.

OSEPH W. EMERSON, late one of the lead- ing men of Zeandale Township, settled within its limits in 1866 and departed this life at his homestead on section 8, Feb. 6, 1889, He was born at South Reading, now Wakefield, Mass., Nov. 25, 1817, and learned the trade of a carpenter. In due time he developed into a builder and architect, and in March, 1855, came to the Territory of Kansas in company with Dr. Charles Robinson. He was engaged at his trade as a carpenter until after the outbreak of the Civil War and then enlisted in July, 1861, as a Union soldier in Company A, 5th Kansas Cavalry, in which he served over three years in the capacity of Color-bearer. In the meantime, on the 30th of August, 1864, he was married in Topeka to Mrs. Emeline II. Mabie.

Shortly after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Em- erson visited the East where they spent several months, then returning to Topeka, this State, they lived there until October, 1866. Thence, coming to Riley County, they settled upon a homestead which Mrs. Emerson still owns and occupies. No children were born to them but they adopted a boy Herbert B., who died at the homestead in Zeandale Township, April 1, 1879, when a promising youth of sixteen years. After coming to the above-men- tioned township, Mr. Emerson followed his trade for a while and subsequently gave his attention al- most exclusively to farming and stock-raising. He made good improvements upon his homestead and

since his decease his widow has displayed rare good judgment in the management of the estate, which constitutes one of the finest homes in this part of the country.

Mrs. Emeline H. Emerson was born at Goshen. Conn., May 17, 1821, and lived there until a maiden of seventeen years. She then went to Camillus, N. Y .. and entered the Female Seminary at Auburn, where she took a regular course and fitted herself for a teaclier. . She followed her pro- fession several terms at Camillus and later taught in Cortland County until her first marriage. On the 31st of March, 1851, she was wedded at the town of Scott, that county, to Mr. Hiram Mabie. Mr. Mabie was a native of Danube. Herkimer County, N. Y., and they lived in Cortland County until 1857. During a portion of the time, Mrs. Mabie held the position of Principal of the Union school at MeGranville.

In March, 1857, Mr. Mabie came to Kansas and in the following December was joined by his wife. They settled in the township of Wabaunsee, near where Wamego now stands, and there Mr. Mabie died on the 5th of May, 1859, Mrs. Mabie followed the profession of a teacher several terms in that county. In December, 1860, she went to Topeka and taught two years in a private school and two years in the first public school established in Topeka after Kansas became a State. She was re- markably successful as an instructor and a great favorite with pupils and parents. She began her labors with five pupils and in a short time the num- ber was increased to seventy. In the meantime she made the acquaintance of Mr. Joseph W. Emerson, and they were united in marriage on the 30th of August, 1864.

While living with her first husband Mrs. Emer- son adopted a little girl, Laura E., who became the wife of Lauren Newell of Zeandale Township, where she is now living. Mrs. Newell possesses fine literary ability and is a correspondent for a large number of papers, and is also writing for firms in twelve different States for musical publica- tions. She is one of those sweet singers whose tal- ents are largely devoted to furthering the cause of Christianity and her songs of prayer and praise are rung out by youthful voices on many a holy day,

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their inspiring words being set to music by com- posers of wide repute.

Mrs, Emerson is a member in good standing of the Congregational Church and during the greater part of her life has been actively engaged in relig- ions work. While a resident of Topeka she con- dueted a class in three different Sunday-schools. She united with the Presbyterian Church at Camil- lus. N. Y., when a young lady of nineteen years, and has never severed her membership with a relig -. ious body since that time. She has not only done much for the cause of Christianity, but has also labored in the educational field in her own home, having conducted a public school therein for a period of seven years prior to the erection of the school building that is now located near her resi- denee.

The father of Mrs. Emerson was John Osborn, a native of Stratford, Conn .; he married Miss Sarah Humphrey, likewise a native of that State. and they settled in Goshen, where they spent the greater part of their lives. Finally they removed to Camillus, N. Y., where they died. Their family consisted of ten children, four sons and six daugh- ters, of whom Mrs. Emerson was the youngest. Two of these children are living and located in Kansas and New York respectively.

OSEPH W. LANGDON. To no class of men is Washington more indebted for its growth and importance as a busy and flour- ishing eity than to the active, enterprising, business-like dealers in real estate. And as a fine representative of this class it gives us much pleas- ure to be able to place in this volume a sketch of the life of the gentleman whose name is at the head of this biographieal review. He comes of a long line of distinguished ancestry on both sides of the house, among whom are numbered some that occupied prominent places in the early Colonial and later history of New England. The Langdons date back to one George Langdon, who, one tradition says. emigrated to America from the north of England, and another has it that he came from the southern part of Scotland. He settled in

Weathersfield, Conn., in the early years of the settlement of that town in Colonial times, and he subsequently went from there to Northampton. Mass. Ilis son Joseph Langdon was the next in the line of deseent. Ile was first married Oet. 1, 1683, to Susannah Root, a daughter of John and Mary (Kilbourne) Root. of Badley, Northampton- shire, England. After her death, he married Mary Royce, a widow, and they had eight children. Ebenezer Langdon was the next in order of birth. He married Jemima Cowles, daughter of Isaac and Mary ( Andrews) Cowles, and they had ten child- ren. Their son Joseph eame next in the line of the progenitors of our subject, and he was born Dee. 12, 1740. Ile was a resident of Farmington, and died there Feb. 26, 1812. The maiden name of his wife was Ruth Hooker, a descendant of a famous English divine and sebolar, of whom further men- tion is made in these pages, and she was a daughter of Capt. Joseph and Sarah (Lewis) Hooker. The next in line of descent was Reuben, grandfather of our subject, who was born in Farmington, Conn., Oet. 18, 1777. He became a resident of Hartford, Conn., and was one of the most prominent business men of that eity in his day. Ile was a merchant there, and also engaged in banking, was one of the incorporators of the first savings bank ever estab- lished in Hartford, and was president of that insti- tution many years. He died in that eity Oet. 9. 1849. The maiden name of his wife was Patience Gilbert, daughter of the Hon. Sylvester and Patience (Barber) Gilbert. They had nine children. eight of whom were reared to maturity, of whom the following is recorded: Sylvester, the eldest son, engaged in the mercantile business in Hart- ford; Joseph succeeded his father in business, and carried it on fifty-four years; George, the second son, father of our subjeet; Charles H, was in the mercantile business in New York, as was Reuben J .: Abby E. married Prof. S, Hart, and after his death established a select school for girls in Farmington, N. Y .; Ann S. married the Rev. Edwin R. Gilbert, who was for many years the pastor of the First Congregational Church of Wallingford, Conn .; Elizabeth O. married James C. Woodruff, a mer- chant of New York ; Ellen died at the age of seven years.

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Before referring to the father of our subject, we will go back'a little to the history of the family, and touch on the record of the Hooker family, from which the great-grandmother of our subject sprang. The following is taken from a history of that famous family, which was commenced about 100 years ago and finally completed by Captain Edward Hooker, of the U. S. N. at Brooklyn. N. Y., who brought the annals down to 1887. "The Hookers date their ancestry back to Thomas Hooker, who was born in Mafield, County of Leicester, England, in 1586, and at fourteen years of age was sent to school at Market Bosworth, twenty-five miles distant, and he afterward entered Emanuel College, Cambridge, where he took the degree of A. B. in January, 1608 and of A. M. in 1611. About 1620 he was appointed to the living of Esher, in Surrey. He is described at that time as "A great Scholar, and acute disputant, and strong, learned, wise and modest man." In 1625 or '26 he was appointed lecturer in connection with St. Mary's Church, at Chelmsford, England, in Essex County, lectureships of that order being the ontgrowth of the Puritan movement, preaching being in demand but not supplied by the conserva- tive clergy. Attracting the attention of Arch-bishop Laud, who disapproved of his heretical preach- ing, Hooker was obliged to retire from that posi- tion, and he then opened a private school, having as assistant John Elliot, afterwards distinguished as the "Apostle of the Indians" for the grand work he did among them in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. In 1630 Hooker was summoned as a non- conformist to appear before the Iligh Commis- sion Court, but he escaped to Holland, and became asaociate pastor 'of a British chapel at Delft, and later occupied the same position at Rotterdam. In 1633 he returned to England in disguise, and sailing thence to the New England colonies, he settled in Newton, and was at once chosen pastor of the church there, to which many of his former parishioners in England belonged. In 1636 his church moved en masse to Connecticut and formed a town, named, first Newtown, and later called Ilartford, and there the pilgrimage of that great and good man on earth ceased July 7, 1647, and in a few days he was borne to his last resting /

place amid the prayers and tears of his beloved people. His youngest son Samuel was the next in line. He was graduated from Harvard College in 1653, and was married at Plymouth, Mass., Sept. 22, 1658, to Mary, daughter of Capt. Thomas and Mary (Brown) Willet. He was installed pastor of the Congregational Church at Farmington, Conn., and continued in charge of it the remainder of his life, which was closed Nov. 6, 1697. His son, the Hon. John Hooker, was the next in descent, and he was born in Farmington, Conn., Feb. 20, 1665. He arose to a position of eminence, was a represen- tative in the general assembly in his native state, and was Judge of the Supreme Court. He married Abigail Standley. Their son Joseph was the next in line, his birth occurring Feb. 15, 1705. He was captain of the State Militia. He married Sarah Lewis," and it was their daughter Ruth who became great-grandmother of the present Joseph Langdon, of whom we write, by her marriage with his ances- tor of the same name.

The Rev. George Langdon, the father of our sub- ject, was born in New London, Conn., Jan. 14, 1814. lle was graduated from Yale College at the age of twenty-four, and from East Windsor Theological Seminary at the age of twenty-seven, and soon entered upon his career as a Congregational minis- ter, his first pastorate being at Gilson, Cheshire County, N. H. From there he went to Downer's Grove, Ill., from there to Crystal Lake, and after preaching some years, accepted a call in 1852 to take charge of the church at Cincinnatns, N. Y. His natural gifts and training eminently fitted him for the ministry, and he was a power in the pulpit. He was absorbed in his profession, but his physique was not equal to the demands made upon it by his work, and he was obliged to resign his pastorate on account of ill-health. He then devoted himself to the mercantile business in Pittsfield, Mass., for a period of six years, and after that, moving to New Jersey, engaged in the culture of fruit at Lakewood, and he and his wife still live there in the very pleasant home that they have built up, and he has retired from active life.

The maiden name of the mother of our subject was Emma Olivia Barstow, and she was born in Can- terbury, Conn .. a daughter of Spaulding and Emma

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Temperance (Holmes) Barstow, coming of illustri- ons ancestry on both the paternal and maternal side. Her parents were natives of Connecticut, and were united in marriage Nov. 18. 1818. Her father removed from the town of his nativity to Woodstock, where he bought a home, and resided till his death, which occurred Dec. 5, 1852. He was one of the leading citizens of his community, a member of the Congregational Church and he served as Justice of the Peace, and was a member of the State Legislature in 1831. He was the fa- ther of three daughters, of whom the mother of our subject was the second in order of birth. She was finely educated, a graduate of Norwich Academy, Connecticut, and was married at twenty years of age. Her paternal ancestry has been traced back to 1271. At that time, and during the reign of Henry III, William and Christiana De Burstowe were residents of Suffolk, England. Their descend- ants changed the name to Barstow, and in 1635, or thereabouts, four Barstow brothers, named William, George, Michael and John, came to America, George and William embarking September 25, in the ship "True Love." William settled in Scituate, George in Dedham, Mass., Michael in Watertown, and .Jolm in Cambridge, and the latter was the ancestor of our subject. Ile married Lydia Iiatch in 1678, and they had seven children. He after- ward became a resident of Scituate. His son Job, the next in line, married Rebecca Bushnell in 1707, and they took up their abode in Norwich, Conn., where he died in 1767, aged eighty-four years. He was the father of nine children, and his son John a forefather of our subject, married Jerusha New- comb in 1746. They settled in Canterbury, Conn., and there he died in 1796 at the age of seventy- one. His son Samuel Barstow was the great-grand- father of our subject. He was three times married, first to Mary Adams, secondly to Hannah Spauld- ing, and his third wife was Amy Fitch. He died in 1822, aged seventy-two. Ilis son Spaulding, grandfather of our subjeet. was by his second wife. As before recorded, he married into the Holmes family, and his wife was a cousin of the famous author and scholar, Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes. The Holmes family were among the first settlers of Roxbury, Mass., which was settled in 1630. In

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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 157

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

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