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 29

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 29
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 29
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 29

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).

Mr. Schropp upon coming to Kansas purchased 320 acres of land in Charleston Township, of which he has since been a resident, and continuously en- gaged in agricultural pursuits. In due time he sold 160 acres and has now a quarter section which he has brought to a good state of cultivation, and upon which he has effected fair improvements. He makes a specialty of stock-raising and is meeting with success. He was married in 1879 to Miss Dana Daniel, who was born in Lee County, Iowa, May 15, 1859. The parents of Mrs. Schropp were Philip and Catherine Daniel, who were born in Westphalia, Prussia, and are now residents of Col- orado. To Mr. and Mrs. Schropp there have been born two children ; Katie and Gertie.

Upon becoming a voting citizen, Mr. Schropp indentified himself with the Democratic party and takes a genuine interest in local affairs. Ile has been Township Treasurer for a period of four years and is at present Justice of the Peace. He was care- fully reared in the doctrines of the German Catholic Church, and remains loyal to his early teach- ings. Most of the labor which has been performed upon his laud has been the work of his own hands, as when coming into his possession it was in a com- paratively wild state, having been only slightly cultivated and having very few improvements. He is one of the leaders among the well-to-do German

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citizens of Charleston Township, and a man who is universally held in high esteem.

The reader will be pleased to notice elsewhere in this volume a lithographie view of Mr. Schropp's neat and commodious residence, also of the farm buildings that surround it and add to the conveni- ence of the estate.

A DELBERT MUNZ, the owner of 320 acres of land on section 32, Ogden Township, is a fine illustration of the self-made man who began in life at the foot of the ladder, and has worked his way up to a good position financially, and also in the polities of his adopted county. For the past fifteen years he has been a standing delegate to the Republican conventions at Manhattan, and has served as a Justice of the Peace for a period of ten years. He was also a Police Judge in Ogden two years, and has served several times as a juryman in the United States Circuit Court at Leavenworth and Topeka. He is a man who does his own thinking, is quiet and reserved, and commands the respect of his fellow- citizens.

The subject of this sketch, a native of the King- dom of Bavaria, was born April 1, 1828, and re- ceived a good education in the public schools of his native place. He was variously employed after leaving school until reaching his majority, and then decided upon emigrating to America. After his arrival in this country he located in Hamilton County, Ohio, and for fourteen years thereafter was engaged as a general merchant in Cincinnati. He finally resolved to seek the West, and in 1858 we find him in Kansas Territory, and shortly after- ward he established himself as a general merchant at Ogden, where he carried on a successful busi- ness fifteen years. At the expiration of this time he secured a portion of the land which he now owns and occupies, and where he has opened up one of the best farms in this region. He has the present year (1889) thirty-five licad of cattle and a goodly number of horses and swine.

Mr. Munz was married in 1861 to Miss Augusta,

daughter of Ernest and Wilhelmina Haacke, who were natives of Prussia and who spent their last years in Kansas. Of this union there were born two children-Norman and Ida. The first-men- tioned is a very bright and promising young man, and one of the chief operators in the office of the Western Union Telegraph Company, at Chicago, Ill. The danghter, Ida, has charge of the domestic affairs at the homestead, and is a most estimable young lady, performing her honsehold duties with care and fidelity, and forms a spoke in the wheel which the family could scarcely dispense with.

The father of our subject was Gotthard Munz, a native and merchant of Bavaria, and who married a maiden of his own province, Miss Tecla Wiest. They spent their entire lives in their native king- dom, the father dying in 1838, and the mother in 1850. They were the parents of eight children, of whom our subject is the only one living.

ERMAN HALVORSON has been a resident of Clay County for a score of years. His beautiful and fertile farm is located on section 12, Mulberry Township, and com- prises 248 acres, most of which is improved. His original possessions here were 160 acres which he entered under the Homestead Act in 1869. The estate is favorably situated in the first bottom of the Republican River Valley, and has been re- claimed from its primitive condition to one of high cultivation, by Mr. Halvorson. The houses, barns, etc., with which the estate is well supplied, were built by the owner's own hands, and are a credit to his mechanical ability.

Mr. Halvorson is a descendant of a good old Norwegian family. His parents lived on a farm in Central Norway, some seventy miles from its capi- tal, and there he was born Nov. 17, 1843. His parents lived and died in their native country, where the son remained until after reaching man's estate. He had learned the trade of a blacksmith, and after his apprenticeship followed that occu- pation for a number of years.

Geo W. Sutton

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Having in early manhood determined to find a home in the New World, Mr. Halvorson sailed from the port of Christiania, Aug. 22, 1866. After an nneventful voyage of two weeks, landing was made at New York City, whence he went directly to Missouri. After a short sojourn in that State he went to Chicago, Ill., where he remained about two years, working at his trade. From the metrop- olis of the Great Lakes, he came to this State in 1869, entering the homestead as above stated. He has since added 188 aeres to the original estate, and made of the place what it is to-day, a beautiful and productive farm. Since becoming a resident of Kansas, Mr. Halvorson has devoted his attention to general farming.

While in Chicago, Ill., Mr. Halvorson celebrated his marriage to Miss Helena Hanson. The bride was born in Norway Oet. 7, 183.", and when abont thirty years of age came to the United States with some friends. She at onee located in Chicago, where she lived until after her marriage. She is a notable housewife, and a lady of true worth of character. She has borne her husband seven chil- dren, one son, Herman, having died in his infancy. A son, Benjamin, is now living in Colorado. He is of age and still single. The rest of the family cirele are still at home. They are named respectively, Ilenry, Clara, Hulda, Lizzie and Nettie.

In polities Mr. Halvorson is a Republican. Like most of his countrymen, he is an excellent citizen, and a man of steady habits and fine principles.

R EV. GEORGE WASHINGTON SUTTON. M. D., who at times officiates as a minister of the Methodist Protestant Church, is also a physician and surgeon of rare attain- ments, and has for the last twenty years enjoyed an extensive and Inerative practice among the lead- ing people of Haddam and vicinity. As a man, he is enterprising and publie-spirited, and has wielded a marked influence in connection with the growth and prosperity of Washington County. He is wholly a Western man, having been born in Van Buren County, Iowa, near the town of Birming- |

ham, the date of his birth being June 16, 1836. When a lad of nine years his father died, and he was soon afterward thrown mostly upon his own resources. At an early age he evinced a desire for the study of medicine, and commenced this when a lad of fifteen, in the office of Dr. Holliday, with whom he continued until eighteen years old, and then began practicing with his tutor.

At the age of twenty, Dr. Sutton went to Warren County, Ill., and studied in the offices of different physicians, his favorite system being the eclectic. Later he removed to Bushnell, Ill., and in 1855 went to Chicago for the purpose of further pursu- ing his studies. While there he suffered a severe attack of illness, and upon his recovery, becoming greatly interested in religious work as carried on under the Methodist Protestant Church, received, in 1857, a license as an exhorter, and in 1860 was licensed as a local preacher. He began his itiner- ancy in 1869, on the Ellison cireuit, and at one meeting had between 300 and 400 accessions to the church, 200 of of which he formed into one elass. In September, 1870, he was ordained an Elder at Morrison, Whiteside Co., Ill. In 1870 he came to Kansas, and soon after was employed as a minister of the above-mentioned church. He was given charge of three circuits in the vicinity of Inde- pendence, Kan., and did a vast amount of work in the Master's vineyard for the following nine years.

In 1871, being appointed to Haddam Circuit, Dr. Sutton came to Washington County, Kan .. and organized seven or eight classes, of which he was pastor three years, and in the meantime increased his flock to 300 members. In 1877 he was assigned to a charge in Butler County, then returned to Haddam, after which the Conference was divided, and he was elected President of the North Kansas Conference, and was located in Iluron one year. In the spring of 1880 he returned to Haddam and re-organized the circuit, of which he was pastor for one year thereafter. At the expiration of this time he turned his attention more particularly to his profession. He has the largest and most com- plete medical library in Northern Kansas. As a pulpit orator he was a pronounced success.

Dr. Sutton was married in Warren County, Ill .. July 14, 1859, to Miss N. J. James, who was born

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near Rushville, Schuyler Co., Ill., July 11, 1843. Of this union there have been born nine children, the eldest of whom. a daughter, Olive M., is the wife of S. S. Rose, a farmer of Haddam Township; Effie is the wife of Eli Goeller, a farmer and stock- man of Thayer County, Neb .; Jennie is the wife of D. Zaitnan, a dairyman and fruit-grower of Repub- lic County. Kan .; Mintie is the wife of Jonas Goel- lar, a farmer living in the vicinity of Jamestown, this State; May, Orris and Elsie are at home with their parents; Orrin M. and Loy B. are deceased. The children have all been given the advantages of a good education, and occupy a leading position in the social circles of their community.

Politically, Dr. Sutton is a sound Republican, and is quite prominent in his party in this section, representing it at the county conventions and otherwise doing good service in connection there- with. Socially, he belongs to the I. O. G. T.

James J. Sutton, the father of our subject, was a native of North Carolina, and the son of Colby Sutton, a native of Scotland, who, upon emigrating to the United States, located first in North Carolina, and then removed to Tennessee, settling near Knoxville. He served as a soldier in the Revolu- tionary War, and spent his last days in Nashville. James J. fitted himself for the profession of law and located in Sangamon County, Ill., in 1827. Later he removed to Van Buren County, Iowa, where he was one of the earliest pioneers. He lo- cated in Birmingham, and engaged in the practice of law, in which he became eminent, and was con- sidered one of the leading men in the State. He finally resolved upon a removal to Oregon, and started out on his journey thither, but on reaching Ottumwa, Iowa, changed his mind and purchased a farm, where he engaged in agriculture and re- sided until his death, about 1845. There likewise he became a prominent man, and politically was a leading member of the Democratic party. Relig- iously, he was a Presbyterian.

The mother of our subject was in her girlhood Miss Louisa MeMahill. She was born in Green- brier County, Va., and was the daughter of John McMahill, a native of the North of Ireland, who upon coming to America settled first in Virginia, and later removed to the vicinity of Louisville,

Ky., where he engaged in farming and stock-rais- ing. In the meantime he served as a soldier in the War of 1812. Grandfather MeMahill carried a musket in the War of 1812, and also was on duty in the Black Hawk War. After the death of her husband Mrs. Sutton returned to Illinois, where she lived for a while, and then repaired to the home of her daughter, in Sweetwater, Tex., where her death took place. She was a lady of many es- timable qualities, and a devoted member of the Baptist Church. The parental family consisted of eight children, of whom Emily, the eldest, died when thirty-two years old; Thomas J. is a prominent lawyer of Los Angeles, C'al., and one of the leading men of the State; Susan is deceased; George W., our subject, was the fourth child; James M. is de- ceased; Delilah is a resident of California; Eliza- beth lives in Los Angeles, Cal., and Sarah is de- ceased. Thomas J., during the Indian wars on the frontier, was captain of a company.

The wife of our subject is the daughter of Daniel James, a native of Kentucky, and the son of Thomas James, who was born in Virginia. The paternal great-grandfather was a native of England, and at an early date crossed the Atlantic, settling in Kentucky. He engaged in the War of 1812, and was at the battle of New Orleans. In later years he removed to Warren County, Ill., where he spent his last days. Daniel James prosecuted farm- ing in the Prairie State, to which he removed with his parents when a boy. In 1870, crossing the Mis- sissippi, he established himself on a farm in Mont- gomery County, Kan., where he remained a number of years, until retiring from active labor. He now makes his home with his daughter, Mrs. Sut- ton. He is a Republican in politics, and a member in good standing of the Methodist Protestant Church.

Mrs. Elizabeth A. (Taylor) James, the mother of Mrs. Sutton, was born in Kentucky, and died in Bourbon County, Kan., in 1877. Grandfather Taylor served in the War of 1812. The James family consisted of eleven children, the four eldest of whom-Mary A., William J., George T. and Martha E .- are deceased; Nancy J., Mrs. Sutton, was the next in order of birth; Silas J. died in in- fancy, also Lucretia C .; Walter R. is a resident of

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Butler County, Kan. ; Susan is deceased; Mildred E. is living in Butler County, and Eliza C. is in La- clede County, Mo. George T., during the Civil War, enlisted in 1861 in the 28th Iowa Infantry, veteranized at the expiration of his term of enlist- ment, was wounded in the neck and died in the army, three months after, of chronic diarrhea, in 1863.

An excellent portrait of Dr. Sutton is presented elsewhere in the ALBUM, and will be highly valued by his many friends, among whom he has minis- tered during all the years of his residence here, both in behalf of the body and the soul.

OHN BUENTING, a resident of Hanover for the last seventeen years, is one of the most prominent German-American citizens, and has contributed largely toward its growth and development. He established himself at this point in August, 1872, and is now engaged in a profitable real-estate, loan and insurance busi- ness at the corner of Washington and Fremont streets. Ile possesses all the qualities of his substantial German ancestry, being honest, indus- trious, careful in his expenditures, meeting his obligations promptly, and living in all respects as becomes a model man and eitizen.

Mr. Buenting was born in the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg, Germany, Feb. 14, 1844, and lived there until a young man of twenty-one years. He received a practical education in the German tongue, and developed into a book-keeper in the employ of a mercantile house in Hamburg. He, however, was more than ordinarily ambitious, and determined to seek his fortunes on the other side of the Atlantic. In the meantime his father had died, and he set out alone for America, in 1865, and first made his home in Indianapolis, Ind. Ile there made the acquaintance of Miss Christiane Schmidt, to whom he was married Nov. 1, 1866. In 1867, leaving Indiana, they proceeded West- ward across the Mississippi to St. Joseph, Mo., where Mr. Buenting began operating as an insur- ance agent and was also a book-keeper, until 1872.

That year he came to Kansas, settling in Hanover when it was a hamlet of seven houses. Two years later he added to its buildings by the erection of a good frame house, which is still standing, and which was then one of the most solid structures of the city. Mr. W. A. Gilson was also putting up a residence at that time, and these two were the first frame houses in the town west of the public square.

In Hanover, Mr. Buenting first engaged in the lumber and hardware business, being the pioneer lumber merchant of the city. He thus operated until 1875, then selling out, began buying grain, and was also one of the early dealers in this com- modity, patronizing the St. Joseph & Grand Island Railroad Company. In 1880 he became interested in real estate, and at the present time has a large amount under his control. Ile deals in farm, city and suburban property, also handling property for non-residents. By strict attention to business he has become known far and wide, and in a legitimate manner he has accumulated a fine property.

Upon becoming a voting citizen, Mr. Buenting identified himself with the Republican party, but now only votes for such men and measures as meet with the approval of his conscience. He has served as Justice of the Peace for a period of eight years, and also has officiated as City Clerk and Police Judge. No man has maintained a warmer interest in the growth and prosperity of Hanover, and none have done more to bring it to its present condition. Mr. Buenting. in 1889, re- crossed the Atlantic, visiting his old home in Ger- many, starting in the month of May, and spending seven weeks among the friends of his childhood.

The father of our subject was Johan Gerhard Buenting, who married Miss Wobbina Johanna, a descendant of Peter Bode, who was a Judge of the city of Camen in 1443. Mr. Buenting has a his- tory of his mother's family direct from 1686, and traces his ancestry on his father's side from 1700. This was beautifully copied in German by him, in an appropriate book, during his recent visit to the Fatherland. It is scarcely necessary to say that this little volume is highly prized and could scarcely be purchased for any amount of money. The father of Mr. Buenting was a tanner by occu - pation, and a life-long resident of Jever. Olden-

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burg. He departed this life May 13, 1860, at the early age of forty-five years, having been born June 28, 1815. The mother was born July 31, 1817, and is still living, making her home in Leer, East Friesland.

The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Buenting,seven in number, are all living and recorded as follows: Gerhard Conrad was born July 25, 1867; Lueppo Diedrich, Feb. 10, 1869; Otto Wilhelm, May 28, 1873; Adolph Theodore, May 29, 1875; Eta Wob- bina Dorothea, Sept 14, 1878; Johann Weert. April 28, 1881; Ernst Onno, Aug. 31, 1885. They are being given careful home training and a thorough education. The eldest son is in business for him- self at St. Joseph, Mo. The second son has entered the law department of Michigan University.

OHN HENRY SCHUTTE. In the person of the subject of this notice we have that of a man who has worked his way up from the paths of poverty, to a good position in life in point of this world's goods and as a member of the community. His property embraces 240 acres of well-cultivated land on section 21, Independence Township, in the most central part of the township and in the northeastern corner of Washington County. The residence is a comfortable structure and the barn and outbuildings are all that is re- quired for the general purposes of agriculture. The farm is finely situated on the road from Hanover to Lanham. Mr. Schutte is a popular man among his fellow citizens, being more than ordinarily in- telligent and one whose honesty and integrity have never been questioned.

The only child of his parents, Frederick and Catherina (Duffe) Schutte, our subject was born in what was then the Kingdom of Ilanover, Germany, Dec. 30, 1840. His parents were natives of the same province where they were reared, married, and spent their entire lives. The father died in 1852. when his son Henry was a lad of twelve years. The mother survived her husband for a period of twenty- nine years, dying in Hanover in 1881.

Mr. Schutte remained in his native province

until reaching man's estate, engaged in farming pursuits. Upon reaching his majority he emigrated to Holland, where he sojourned six years and then, in 1868, set out for America. Landing in New York City he proceeded thence to Richmond, Va., but only remained there a short time, next going to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he lived six months. From the Buckeye State he set out for the further West and we find him on this side of the Mississippi in Burlington, Iowa. He only staid there a short time, however, then returned East as far as Illinois and from there came to Kansas in 1870, For one year he was in the employ of Mr. W. Wendel and the year following worked for Mr. Fred Brock- meyer. In the meantime he saved what he could of his earnings, preparatory to establishing a home of his own.

On the 31st of March, 1872, Mr. Schutte was united in marriage with Miss Mary Greve. This lady is the daughter of Henry and Elizabeth(Knapp) Greve, who were natives of Hanover and the par- ents of seven children. Mary, the third in order of birth, first opened her eyes to the light Aug. 17, 1843, in Hanover and lived there until a young woman of twenty-four years. In 1867 she emi- grated to America with acquaintances and for three and one-half years thereafter lived in New York City, coming then to Kansas. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Schutte homesteaded and settled upon the farm where they now reside, it he- ing then little removed from its original condition having . upon it no improvements. The present residence was put up in 1884 and the barn in 1886. There is an orchard of 175 trees, the most of which are in fine bearing condition. Mr. Schutte usually keeps forty head of cattle, nine head of horses and ninety head of swine.

The record of the six children of Mr. and Mrs. Schutte is as follows: Henry was born March 14th, 1873; William, May 15, 1874; Mena, Oct. 31, 1875; Louisa, Aug. 31, 1877; Mary, Jan. 3, 1879 and Anna, Oct. 20, 1881. Our subject and his excel- lent wife are members in good standing of the Lutheran Church in which Mr. Schutte was for a time a Trustee. He is a member of the School Board of his district upon which he has served a number of years and is at present the Treasurer.

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ITpon becoming a voting citizen he allied himself with the Republican party in which he takes an active interest and keeps himself well posted upon the political issues of the day. Mr. Schutte is in all respects a valuable member of the community and is contributing his quota to the progress and wel- fare of his township. We present to our numerous readers a lithographie engraving of the handsome home of Mr. Schutte.

NDREW KLINTBERG. This gentleman has been a resident in Clay County for nearly a score of years, and has experi- enced many hardships in his efforts to make a home here. He has succeeded in spite of all the disadvantages under which he labored, and now has a valuable estate of 240 acres, located on section 13, Sherman Township, where he resides.

Andrew Klintberg was born in Regnsjo ( Rain Lake), near the city of Soderhamn, Sweden, being a son of Andrew and Engrad (Klint) Hanson. His parents and several generations of ancestors were reared in the same county, and were adherents of the faith of the Lutheran Church. IIe learned the trade of steamboat engineering on Inland Lake, and also learned the trade of a carpenter, working at the latter some years. Three years were spent in the military service of his native land.

In July, 1867, Mr. Klintberg came to the United States, making the voyage on the steamship " City of Paris" in twelve days. He landed at New York, and thenee went at once to Chicago, Ill., ar- riving in the latter place almost penniless. He chanced to find a Norwegian who could understand the Swedish language, and who gave our subject and another Swede who was in similar eirenm- stances, each a 85 bill, and authorized the proprietor of a boarding-house to take them to an agency and have them taken to Michigan to work in a saw-mill. Thus they got from Chicago to Manistee, Mich .. and obtained work. As soon as they had made the amount they returned the $10 to their newly-made friend in Chicago.

Mr. Klintberg remained in Manistee twenty-one

months, and during that time saved money enougli · to come to Kansas and homestead 160 acres. Then again he was ont of funds, and leaving his family with another family that had settled here, he went twelve miles to where he found work. Thus he got a sack of flour, which he brought back, and then made a dug-out, in which the family lived three years. He then made another on the spot where his dwelling-house now stands, the dng-out being used for a cellar. In the second dug-out he lived four years before building the commodious and comfortable frame house which is now the family dwelling.

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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 29

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

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