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 27

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 27
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 27
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 27

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).

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and the farm machinery reflect great credit upon the proprietor, who spent the first few years of his residence in Clay County toiling early and late in order to gain a foothold. His land is finely located and well watered by Mullberry Creek, which winds romantically through it.

Mr. Hanson came to Kansas from Galena, Ill, in 1872. For two years prior to that time he had been employed as a pressman in the office of the Galena Gazette. A native of Denmark, he was born in Lolland, Oct. 26, 1844, and is the half brother of Hans Hanson, a biography of whom,. with a full history of the family, appears on an- other page in this volume. Claus was the eldest child of his mother, whose maiden name was Anna Clauson, and he was reared and educated in his na- tive place. When a young man of twenty-three years he determined to emigrate to the United States, and set ont April 3, 1867, for Copenhagen, where he took passage on the steamer " Holsatia " bound for New York City, and which landed him safely at destination after a voyage of three weeks. Thence he went directly to Wisconsin,'locating first in Osh- kosh, but not long afterward went up into the copper mines of Lake Superior.

After six months spent in the above mentioned regions Mr. Hanson made his way to Dubuque, Iowa, and thence eastward to Galena, Ill., where he spent two years. Then being seized with a fit of home- sickness, he recrossed the Atlantic where he spent. the greater part of a year among his old friends and associates. In 1872 he organized a colony of Danes and accompanied them across the Atlantic and to this State, where they are mostly now lo- cated and doing well.

Upon coming to Kansas Mr. Hanson first lo- cated in Riley County, where most of the colony above mentioned established themselves and where he, himself, homesteaded a piece of land. Then coming to Clay County, he lived in a dugout on his present home for two years when he was mar- ried in Bloom Township, to Miss Anna Roenick. This young lady was a native of Prussia, whence she emigrated to America with her parents at the age of seventeen years, having been born in 1854. They located at once in Bloom Township where her father died when quite aged. The mother and

most of her children are still living there, the former being quite well advanced in years. Of this marriage there have been born a son and daugh- ter-Charles W. and Celia May. Mr. Hanson, po- litically, affiliates with the Democratic party, while he and his estimable wife are members in good standing of the Lutheran Church. They are in possession of a large share of this world's goods as the result of their industry and economy and main- tain in a marked degree the esteem and confidence of their neighbors.

RANK C. MERRICK, a citizen of sterling qualities and who is considered one of the best men of Strawberry Township, began life at the foot of the ladder and worked his way upward against many difficulties, so that lie is now in comfortable circumstances. His occupation is that of a farmer and he operates 120 acres of land on section 19, where he has effected good improve- ments and makes a speciality of live stock, inelud- ing graded Short-horn cattle, thoroughbred Poland-China swine and Norman horses. Ile has an interest in a thoroughbred imported Norman stallion, the property of a joint stock company, a magnificent animal of great value.

The early home of our subject was in Winnebago County, Ill., and the date of his birth June 20, 1847. Ilis father, George B. Merrick, long since deceased, was a native of Massachusetts and reared to farming pursuits. Leaving New England in 1837, the latter emigrated to Illinois, passing through the present great city of Chicago when it was a hamlet of two or three stores and a few small dwellings. He settled in a wild country and for some time engaged in freighting goods with an ox team from Chicago to Galena.

The maiden name of the mother of our subject was Kissiah Holt. George B. Merrick was three times married and the father of twelve children, all of whom are living. Frank C. was the eldest born. The others were named respectively. George F., Iloratio A. and Hollis N.,( twins,) Charles, Beatta L., (Mrs. Totten,) Arthur, Dwight, Helen, Alfred,

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Lulu and Gordon. Frank C. attended the common school of his native county, mostly during the win- ter season and was bred to farming pursuits which he chose for his life vocation. He came to Kansas in the fall of 1872, and in the following spring settled on eighty acres of land which he had home- steaded, and to which he subsequently added until it attained to its present proportions.

The marriage . of Frank C. Merrick and Miss Nancy J.Totten occurred at the bride's home in Mar- ble Rock, Iowa, Dee. 31, 1869. They have no child- ren. Both are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mrs. Merrick, in particular is an energetic worker in the Master's vineyard. She is greatly interested in the Sunday- school and at one time held a license to exhort. Mr. Merrick, politically, supports the principles of the Republican party, and he and his wife are both Prohibitionists. He has never aspired to oflice, preferring to give his attention to his legitimate call- ing and is more fond of the quiet of his own home than the turmoil and responsibility of public life.

George B. Merrick departed this life at his home in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, in the spring of 1875, having survived his estimable partner Kis- siah, a period of twenty-two years, her death taking place in the spring of 1853.

REDERICK HOSS. Northern Kansas has been the scene of many a man's struggles and also the triumph of many, and among those who have overcome the difficulties of life on the frontier, may be properly mentioned Mr. Hoss, who came to this vicinity poor in purse and is now well to do. He is a fine representative of the enter- prising German element which has been so efficient in the settlement of the great West, and occupies a leading position among his countrymen in Goshen Township. He is a farmer by occupation and his property includes 190 acres of land, comprising a well-regulated homestead on section 13.

A native of the city of Murach, in the Kingdom of Wurtemberg, Germany, Mr. Iloss was born Nov. 22. 1846, and lived there until 1865. In the

meantime he learned the potter's trade and received a good education in the public schools, At an early age he began laying his plans, for the future and determined to have something and to be some. body in the world. Not being satisfied with his prospects in the Fatherland, he determined to emi- grate to America, and on the 9th of December, 1865, repaired to the city of Hamburg and ein- barked on the steamer "Jacksonia" bound for New York City. Ile landed at his destination on the 27th of the above mentioned month and thence proceeded directly to Philadelphia, Pa., where he sojourned for about six months. Next he went into New Jersey, but three months later we find him in the city of Chicago, Ill. where he joined his parents, Fred and Mary (Batt) Hoss, who had come to America in June, 1866.

Remaining in Chicago until October, 1869, Mr. Hoss now set out for the farther West and coming to Clay County, Kan., homesteaded 160 acres in Goshen Township from which he built up his pres- ent homestead. His first dwelling was a little frame house, 12x16 feet in dimensions and he lived there alone until the spring of 1870, He was then joined by his parents and his sister Pauline. His father home- steaded 120 acres adjoining on the north. They all lived together until the death of the father, which oc- curred May 4, 1888. The mother continued with her children and died May 2, 1889. Since then Frederick and his sister Pauline have lived alone.

To the parents of our subject there were born five children. One brother, Adolph, and a sister, Mary, the wife of Ilenry Milhausen, are residents of Chicago. Fredricka is in California. Upon coming to Kansas, Mr. Hoss had no money and at once began working by the day and month in order to get the wherewithal to improve his land. Upon the arrival of his father here, Frederick had only $10 which he paid out for 100 lbs. of flour and this was all the wheat flour the family had for that year, their other provisions being corn and meal. In due time they raised their own wheat, which they transported to Clay Center for grinding.

The land which Mr. Hoss entered from the Gov- ernment now presents a widely different appear- ance from that which it presented when he settled upon it. It is now embellished with a substantial

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frame residence, a good stable. eorn cribs, granary, an orchard of 100 apple trees and a great many forest trees. It is mostly feneed and the greater part in a good state of cultivation. Miss Pauline owns ninety aeres of the land which her father homesteaded and this also is improved.

The Hoss family is of pure German ancestry and as far back as is known, belonged to the Evangelieal Lutheran Church and were natives and residents of Wurtemburg. Upon one occasion soon after the settlement of the parents of Mr. Hoss in Goshen Township, a band of wild Indians passed through the country on a hunting tour. The mother of our subjeet had spent all her life in a city and the wild and uneouth appearance of the savages fright- ened her almost to death. The Indians, however, offered no molestation, simply riding by the house, and camped in a grove on the ereek and engaged in a deer chase.

Mr. Hoss meddles very little with matters out- side of his farming interests and has no ambition for office. He usually votes the Democratie ticket and is looked upon as a peaceable and law-abiding citizen, one who is prompt to meet his obligations and who is always the upholder of law and order, presenting in his own career the best illustration of his principles.

ENKIN JONES. For the last five years Mr. .lones has been numbered among the pro- perty owners of Farmington Township. In March, 1879, he purchased 160 aeres of land on seetion 36, but did not really commence its im- provement and cultivation until 1883, in which year he moved his family upon it, while he followed his trade as an iron worker, in Chicago, III. In March, 1888 he abandoned work at his trade and has sinee given his attention to agricultural pur- suits. His thrift and industry, already made ap- parent in his operations, will no doubt result in the building up of one of the finest homesteads in the neighborhood.

The sixth child of his parents, Mr. Jones was born on the other side of the Atlantie, in South

Wales, April 22, 1829. In that same country his parents lived and died, the mother when she had reached the advanced age of eighty-four years, while the father was only fifty-four at the time of his decease. The opening years of the life of our subject were spent in his native land, which he left when a youth of about seventeen years, going to Monmouthshire. England, where he was employed in a rolling mill until 1860. He then determined upon coming to America and after a safe and un- eventful voyage landed in New York City, in De- cember of that year and in due time emigrated to Allentown, Pa. He there found employment in a rolling mill, remaining eight months. Thence he went to Troy, N. Y., where he was joined by his family who had just emigrated from the Old Coun- try. They lived in Troy about eighteen months, then returning to Pennsylvania, Mr. Jones settled in Columbia, Lancaster County, where he followed his trade two and one-half years. We next find him in South Chicago, Ill., where he sojourned, working in the Union Rolling Mills four and one- half years. From there he went to Canada and in llamilton, Ontario, followed his trade fifteen months. He then purchased a hotel which he con- dueted about nine months, after which he sold out and returning to Northern Illinois, was employed in the North Chicago Rolling Mills for a period of eighteen years and until coming to Kansas.

Mr. Jones was married in South Wales, May 11, 1857, to Miss Anne Lewis. This lady was born in Monmouthshire, England, Feb. 15, 1833 and was the daughter of John and Mary (James) Lewis, who were natives of South Wales and who spent their last days in England. Their family consisted of one son and three daughters, Mrs. Jones being the third child. Of her union with our subjeet there have been born eight children and the survivors are recorded as follows: Mary E. is the wife of George F. Trishman and lives in San Franseiseo, Cal .; Eleanor J. is at home with her parents ; Try- phena is the wife of Charles E. Carrell of Beatrice, Neb .; William T. and Charles J. remain at home with their parents. Those deceased are Thomas, Eleanor and Margaret, who died in infancy.

Mr. and Mrs. Jones in their religious views en- dorse the doctrines of the Presbyterian Church.

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Mr. Jones was the subject of very early religious training and when a youth of fifteen years began preaching in the Calvinistie Church, and followed this for several years after he began working at his trade. Upon becoming a voting citizen of the United States, he allied himself with the Republican party of whose principles he is a stanch supporter.

Thoroughly in sympathy with American institu- tions, Mr. Jones, in the spring of 1863, a year after the outbreak of the Civil War, enlisted as a Union soldier in Company E, Illinois Infantry, C'ol. Norton's regiment, and served nine months. He participated in the battle of Gettysburg and other minor engagements, serving under Gen. Sickles. While a resident of his native country he served all through the Russian War, in the British army under Gen. Cathgart, and was twice wounded, once in the thigh and once in the foot. He has traveled over a goodly portion of the earth's surface and has had considerable experience, both on land and water. IIe is well informed and an hour may be passed in his society with great satisfaction. He has a very comfortable home, which, with the sur- rounding farm buildings, and a goodly portion of the estate. is represented by a view on another page of this work. He and his intelligent family are respected wherever known.

C HRISTIAN ALBRIGHT, a prominent and successful business man of Washington, where he is engaged in dealing in stock, is one of the pioneers of Washington County, and was one of the first settlers on these prairies when deer, antelopes, wild turkeys and other game were roam- ing at will where are now fine farms, pleasant homes, and busy, thriving towns. He was born in Bedford County, Pa., June 16, 1836, and his father, Solomon Albright, was born in the same county, May 8, 1812. The grandfather of our subject, Christian Albright, was born either in Maryland or Pennsylvania, and was a blacksmith by trade carry- ing on his calling in Bedford County, Pa., until death put an end to his earthly career. 'The father of our subject became an adept at his father's trade,

and besides was engaged with his sire in the trans- portation business in the days before the introduc- tion of railways and canals, they having teams which they hired other men to drive, occasionally making trips themselves and carrying produce from Bedford County, Pa., to Baltimore, Md., and return- ing with their wagons laden with merchandise. In those days blacksmiths had to make their own nails and horse-shoes, and they did a thriving trade. In 1850 the father of our subject removed with his family to Washington County, Wis., becoming a pioneer of that section of the country, the removal thither being made with team to Cleveland, Ohio, and thence by the lakes to Port Washington. Mr. Albright bought eighty-six acres of heavily timbered land, sixteen miles west of Point Washington. pay- ing $6 an acre for it. He built a hewed-log house for a dwelling, and then devoted his time to clear- ing his land and improving a farm, which he now has in a fine condition, well fenced, under admira- ble tillage, and provided with an excellent set of buildings, including a subtantial brick house and a good frame barn, and there he and his estim- able wife are living in comfort and ease, respected and beloved by all about them for their many kindly traits of head and heart. Mrs. Albright's maiden name was Anna Woolford, and she was born in the same county as her husband, a daugli- ter of Christian and Phebe Woolford, natives, re- spectively of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The parents of our subject have had eight children, as follows: Christian, Phebe, Levi, Jobn. Mary, Charlie, Edward A. and Willet. Levi, John and our subject served in the army during the late war.

Our subject was a bright lad of fourteen years when his parents removed to Wisconsin, where he attended school in the primitive log house, and at other times assisted his father in clearing his land. In 1804 he enlisted in the United States construction department, serving in Tennessee un- til after the close of the war, proving a valuable assistant. After his return from the South, Mr. Albright resumed farming in Wisconsin, where he continued to live until 1868. In that year he came to Kansas to east in his lot with the pioneers that had preceded him. and he soon made a claim to a tract of land on section 17, township 2, range 3.

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now included in Farmington Township. He at once commenced to break the prairie sod, and in March settled on his land with his family, and was one of the first settlers on the prairies of Washing- ton County, where deer and antelope roamed at will and buffaloes were plentiful not far distant. Washington was but a small hamlet, with only one store, a log blacksmith-shop and two frame build- ings on the town site. Waterville was the nearest railway station, and the markets were not very accessible. Mr. Albright resided on his farm until 1874, in the meantime making many valuable im- provements. In that year he traded it for prop- erty in Washington, and has been a resident of this city since then, and for the past thirteen years has dealt extensively in stock and hogs, shipping to Chicago a few years, and of late to Kansas City.

Mr. Albright and Miss Mary M. Young were united in marriage in 1861, and of their pleasant union one child, Ada G., bas been born, Farming- ton Township being her birthplace. Mrs. Albright is a native of Canada, a daughter of William and Mary (Graham) Young, natives of Scotland. She is a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is a consistent Christian.

Mr. Albright is a man of sound discretion, of excellent business principles, his personal habits are irreproachable, and his standing in business and social circles is of the highest. In politics he is a straight Republican. He has mingled in public life and proved an invaluable civic official while he was serving as Township Trustee and Clerk of the Township.

B ARTON S. WILSON, a pioneer though not among the earliest settlers of Washington County, is a prominent farmer of Washing- ton Township, where he owns a well-ap- pointed, highly productive farm that compares favorably with the best in the locality. He is a native of Illinois, born March 23, 1851, in Cass County, five miles west of Tallula. His father, Smith Wilson. was a Southerner hy birth, Ken- tucky his native State, while his father, John Wil- son, is thought to have been a native of New Jersey.

being a son of one Benjamin Wilson, who from the best information at hand is supposed to have originated in New England. He was a shoemaker by trade, and spent his last years in New Jersey. The grandfather of our subject early learned the trade of a carpenter, and going to North Carolina when a young man, he lived in that State a few years. In 1820, accompanied by his family, he re- turned to the North, and selecting the young State of Illinois as the site of his future home, he located in Cass County, and thus became one of its earliest pioneers. In the many years of his residence there he bore an honorable part in its upbuilding, be- ing an important factor in developing its agricul- tural resources, and he lived to see a populous, thriving and wealthy community where he bad found a wild and desolate country, the home of the Indians and the haunt of prairie wolves, bears, deer and other wild animals. He improved a good farm, planted a fine orchard, erected substantial farm buildings, and at the time of his death at the vener- able age of eighty-nine years, was comfortably well off in this world's goods. He was a veteran of the War of 1812, in which he did gallant service. The land that he bought from the Government was partly prairie and partly timber land, and he first erected a log house to shelter his family. The father of our subject was young when his parents took up their abode in Illinois, and he was reared to a vigorous manhood amid the wild pioneer scenes of his early home in Cass Connty, and was there married to Mary C. McHaley. She was born in Ohio and was a daughter of John McHaley, a na- tive of Germany, who lived for a time in the Buck- eye State, and then moved to Indiana, where he died. While yet in the prime of life, being but forty years of age, Mr. Wilson's useful carcer was cut short by his death in 1852. The following is recorded of the six children born of his marriage: Benjamin F. and Catherine are dead ; George W. lives in Wilson County Kan .; Mary J. is dead ; Margaret A. married John Biggs, and lives near Morrow this county ; Barton S. is the subject of this biograph- ical review. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Wilson, a woman of much force of character and capability, and of sterling worth, bravely worked to support her children and keep them together, and

FARM RESIDENCE OF J . F. DAGUE, SEC . 11. BRANT FORD TP. WASHINGTON CO.

RESIDENCE OF G. H. DARROW, GREENLEAF WASHINGTON CO.

FARM RESIDENCE OF JAMES PUGH, SEC.19. GRANT TP. WASHINGTON CO.

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now in her old age she is tenderly cared for by our subject and is a welcome inmate of his household.

He of whom we write remained at home with his mother till he was ten years old, and then the manly, self-helpful little lad determined to earn his own living, and from that time he became self-support- ing. He worked by the month on a farm, and at- tended school as opportunity offered in the winter seasons, and by diligent attention to his books gleaned a very good education. He continued to live in his native State, with the exception of one year that he spent in Iowa, till 1870. He then emigrated to Kansas, his mother and one sister ac- companying him, coming with a team and bringing a part of their household goods. On arriving here Mr. Wilson made a claim to a tract of land on sec- tion 30. of what is now Washington Township. and after erecting a frame house 14 x 14 feet to shelter the family, he at once commenced the pioneer task of breaking the prairie sod and im- proving a farm. Like his grandfather before him he had to build up a home in a wild, sparsely set- tled country, where the presence of deer. antelopes and other game showed that civilization was not very far advanced. Waterville several miles away was the nearest railway station, market and depot for supplies, and he used to have to haul his grain to that distant point to dispose of it. Since coming here he has witnessed many marvellous changes and has aided in bringing them about, as it is owing to the zeal of him and his fellow-farmers, that Washington Township is so prosperous to-day. He has worked hard to bring his fine farm to its present high state of cultivation and provide it with com- fortable, neatly arranged buildings and good ma- chinery.

Mr. Wilson was married in March, 1870 to Francelia Baker. She was born in the State of New York, and is a daughter of William and Ellen Baker. Five children have resulted from this mar- riage, four of whom are living-Ida E., Minnie I., Howard L., Arvel ; Clara L. died in infancy.

Mr. and Mrs. Wilson are genial, hospitable peo- ple, with generous, kindly hearts, and are highly thought of by their neighbors and other friends. He started out in life a poor boy, and by those traits of character that mark him an intelligent, in-

dustrious, capable, honest man and a trustworthy citizen, he has made his way upward till he stands among our most substantial farmers. Ile has de- cided opinions of his own on all matters with which he is familiar, especially in politics, and he is now independent in regard to voting. though for many years he supported the Republican party.

G EORGE II. DARROW. Prominent among the men who have developed the best inter- ests of Washington County, and especially of Greenleaf Township, may be mentioned the gentleman of whose life history this is a brief ree- ord. In connection with his personal sketch we call the attention of the reader to a fine view of his home with its pleasant surroundings, which may be found on another page of this volume. Mr. Dar- row bears an honorable record not only as an enterprising and energetic citizen, but also as a veteran of the Civil War, and a successful merchant both in the East and in the West.

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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 27

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

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