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 49

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 49
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 49
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 49

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Clydesdale and Norman horses. Ile has been eminently successful thus far in life and possesses those qualities of character which have com- mended him to the esteem and confidence of his fellow-citizens.

The subject of this sketch was born in the city of Glasgow, Scotland, Sept. 11, 1840, and is the son of Alexander Spiers. Sr., and his wife. Eliza- beth Peters, who were likewise natives of Glasgow and the latter long since deceased. They emi- grated to America when Alex, Jr., was a small boy, settling in Delaware County, N. Y. and there the father prosecuted farming until retiring from ac- tive labor. The parental household included eight children, five of whom are living, viz : Elizabeth. Mrs. Kipp, Alexander, Joana, Mary and James P. One daughter died in the bloom of womanhood. She acquired a fine education, having been gradu- ated from the New York State Normal school, and at the time of her decease was a successful teacher in San Francisco, Cal. James P. was graduated from Lowell's Commercial College in Binghamton, N. Y., and is now a real estate dealer of Oklahoma. Joana completed her studies in the Otsego, (N. Y.) Academy, and is teaching near the old homestead. The father is still living and has now arrived at the age of seventy-six years.

Mr. Spiers learned carpentering in early man- hood at which he worked until the outbreak of the Civil War. He then enliste ! in Company A, Ist New York Volunteer Engineers, and saw much hard service, going to the front in South Carolina, and under the command of Gen. Sherman fighting in the rear of Charleston, and at Honey Hill, S. C. He endured all the dangers and hardships of life in the army but fortunately escaped without serious injury and was given his honorable discharge at the close of the war.

In the year above mentioned Mr. Spiers pro- ceeded southwestward and followed his trade of a carpenter at various points on the river in Missouri and Nebraska, until the fall of 1869. Then com- ing to Kansas he homesteaded a part of his present land, taking possession in January, 1870, and upon this he has since lived. Hle proceeded with its im- provement and cultivation until 1874 and on the 24th of March, that year. was united in marriage

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with Miss Mary C., daughter of William H. Parks of Lawrence, Kan. Mrs. Spiers was born in Ohio.

For the last ten years Mr. Spiers has served as Township Clerk and for a long period was Clerk of the School Board. He has always been inter- ested in educational matters, believing that the rising generation should be given all the advan- tages which will make of them honest and worthy members of society. He has been a member of the Republican party since hecoming a voting citi- zen and keeps himself well posted upon matters of general interest pertaining to this county and State. He is a member in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

M INCHER CONDRAY. This gentleman is the owner and occupant of 400 acres in Grant Township, Riley County, where he devotes himself to general farming and to the raising of cattle and hogs for the market, being also a breeder of Short-horn cattle. A part of his present fine estate was secured under the Preemption Act, in April, 1885, and he has been a continuous resident thereon from that time until the present day. His handsome stone resi- dence is in the southern edge of Stockdale, the site of which town was laid ont by him. He is a quiet. unobtrusive and intelligent gentleman, carefully weighing matters which are brought to his observa- tion, and showing great decision of character when once he has come to a conclusion on any subject. As a citizen, he belongs to what may be well con- sidered the solid class in the community, and par- ticularly in educational matters is warmly interested in the progress of the county.

Mr. Condray is a son of Henry and Deborah (Littler) Condray, who were natives of Tennessee and North Carolina respectively, the father being a blacksmith and farmer. Ilenry Condray left his native State with his parents when quite small. and after some years spent in Kentucky, moved to In- diana about the year 1820, being an early settler in the section where he located. He served for &

number of years as a Justice of the Peace in the Hoosier State.

In the spring of 1855, Mr. Condray and his family set their faces toward the West, and in April of that year arrived in this county at the mouth of Mill Creek, having made their journey overland in wagons. The father took up a claim of 160 acres at the mouth of Mill Creek, where he erected a blacksmith's shop and mill. The father is now living at Randolph, and was eighty-one years of age in August, 1889. The mother of our subject died in Indiana in the year 1835, when he was less than three years old. She had borne her husband two children-our subject and a sister, Catherine. The latter was born in 1834, and died in Oregon, Kan., in 1879. In 1856 she was united in marriage with William Frakes, theirs being the first marriage ceremony in Grant Township. She left two children.

Henry Condray was married a second time, in Jackson County, Ind., the bride being Miss Jane Stanfield, who bore him three children-William, John and Tamar-her two sons being, with their father, the first settlers in Grant Township, as it is at present constituted. William is now living in Man- hattan, where he runs the engine in the Higgin- botham mill. He married Miss Caroline Ellis, and they have two children. John resides in Randolph. He was born in Jackson County, Ind., Aug. 11, 1843. He served in the 5th Kansas Regiment from April 13, 1862, to April 3, 1865. He was the Clerk of Jackson Township from 1872 to 1875; was Constable in 1874-75; Trustee from 1876 to 1880; County Commissioner from 1880 to 1886, and is at present Township Clerk. Ilis first wife, ho bore the maiden name of Martha Parson, left two children, and his second wife was Mrs. C'aro- line Anders. Tamar is the widow of John Whitson, is the mother of five children, and lives in Arkan- sas. The third wife of Henry Condray is still liv- ing, and prior to her marriage with him was the widow of Mr. James Stevens.

Mincher Condray. the subject of this sketch, was born in Jackson County, Ind., Dec. 13, 1832, and lived until twenty-two years of age in his native State. He received but limited common-school privileges, the facilities for obtaining an education

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not being extensive at that time in the section where he lived. He improved the opportunities afforded him, and in the intervals worked upon a farm. Having accompanied his father's family to Kansas, as before stated, he has become the pos- sessor of a valuable tract of land, and has risen to a prominent position among the citizens of the county and township. Ile was married Aug. 26. 1866, to Miss May. daughter of Franklin and Lydia Tatlock, of Indiana. He has a large and interest- ing family, ten children having been born to him- self and wife, and they are furnished with excellent educational advantages, it being the aim of their parents to give them thorough culture and instil into their minds the best principles. Cora Effie ,

the first-born, is now the wife of Isaac Vernon. a farmer in Gary County, and they have two chil- dren. Anna Beatrice, Unity B., Henry Franklin, Edna Erastus, William O., Guy S., Mincher, Ruth and Roy make up the group around the family fireside.

During the late war, Mr. Condray served as Second Lieutenant of Company C, 17th Kansas In- fantry. He was County Commissioner during the years of 1864-65-66 and -67; was Justice of the Peace two years; also served as Road Overseer several years, and is now a member of the School Board. In politics he is a Republican, and has been a delegate to County and Congressional con- ventions. He belongs to the social order of the A. F. & A. M., and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

William, our subject's brother, served in the 6th Kansas Regiment three years, then veteranized in the same regiment and served one year, and at the close of the war received his discharge.

UDOLPH NIEHENKE. Besides the honor of being one of the oldest settlers of Riley County, the subject of this notice is one of Dits best educated citizens and a man of marked influence, especially among his countrymen. He was designed for the priesthood in his younger years, and was given the training and education necessary thereto. Upon coming to America, how-

ever, he changed his plans, and has now for many years been engaged in agricultural pursuits, in which he has been uniformly prosperous.

Mr. Niehenke was born in the Kingdom of Han- over, March 8, 1825, and there spent his childhood and youth, emigrating to America in 1847, when twenty-two years old. Being of an adventurous disposition, he soon enlisted in the United States regular army and served until 1849, in the mean- time participating in the Mexican War. Upon being mustered out he located in the city of St. Louis, where be sojourned about three years and until 1852. We next find him in Vandalia, Ill., where he engaged as clerk in a dry-goods store and remained until 1855.

We now find our subject back again in St. Louis, whence, in 1857, he came to Kansas Territory, and preempted land in Center Township, Riley County. He occupied this until 1859, then pur- chased 225 acres on section 34. ('enter Township, where he has since made his home. Here he has effected all the improvements naturally suggested to the ambitious and enterprising man. He is an independent voter, and has held several of the minor offices. The offshoot of a nationality be- lieving in compulsory education, he is naturally interested in the establishment and maintenance of schools, and believes that the young should be given every advantage which will make of them worthy and intelligent members of society.

While a resident of St. Louis, Mr. Niehenke was married, in 1860, to Miss Charlotte Boettcher. After thirteen years of wedded life Mrs. Niehenke departed hence, in 1873. Of her union with our subject there were born eleven children, seven of whom are living-Louis, Ralph, John. Kate, Emma, Annie and Minnie. In 1873 Mr. Niehenke contracted a second marriage with Miss Barbara Welter. Of this union there has been no issue. Louis and Katherine ( Averbeck) Niehenke, the parents of our subject, were natives of Germany and spent their entire lives there. Their family consisted of seven children, of whom Rudolph was the fifth in order of birth. and is the only member of the family who emigrated to America. Although approaching the sixty- fifth year of his age, Mr. Niehenke is remarkably bright and active, and can

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accomplish more than many a younger man. IIe comes of a substantial race, and of a nationality which has contributed largely to the growth and development of the Great West.

NDREW M. LARSON. The sons of Scan- dinavia have borne no unimportant part in the settlement and development of the Great West, and they have been almost uniformly men of good habits, sober, industrious and well-to-do. The subject of this notice is one of the most worthy representatives of the Swedish nationality, and takes the lead among his country- men in Grant Township, Washington County. He has constructed one of its most valuable farms, and illustrated in a marked manner what may be accomplished by steady perseverance and industry. We now find him in the midst of comfort and plenty, a man respected by his neighbors and one who has contributed in no small degree to the welfare and prosperity of his township.

Mr. Larson was born in Seone, in the southern part of Sweden, Oct. 29, 1838, and lived there until a man of thirty years, receiving a practical education in the common school. He has been a reader all his life, and has thus acquired a useful fund of information. When a young man he at- tended drawing school, and became quite proficient in this art. He likewise learned the trade of a brick and stone mason, at which he worked during the summer season. He thus occupied himself until coming to America. He first took up his abode in this country in Galesburg, Ill., but only remained there one year. going then to Keokuk, lowa, in March, 1870, and remaining there until in July, 1871. In the meantime he had been married, March 20, that same year, to Mrs. Annie Charlotte Anderson, the widow of Lars John Anderson. In July, leaving Keokuk with $40 in his pocket, he came to Grant Township. Washington County, and after paying his homestead fees and railroad fare, had about $6 remaining, and was in debt $10 for money borrowed. He thus was unable to send for his family until he could secure work, but this he succeeded in doing, and was joined by them in

September following. He worked at his trade until the weather forbade this, then moved his fam- ily to a hole in the ground, which is now the cellar of his present residence, making a roof of prairie grass. They took possession of this in February. when the water was frozen in the bottom, moving in upon the ice. This constituted their dwelling for two years, Mr. Larson in the meantime being unable to made any repairs more than to put on a covering of boards. Ile secured a blind horse for a job of work that first fall, and when moving into their dug-out, a neighbor who had a cow for sale, brought it over to them and told them they might pay for it when they could.

The next spring, by doubling teams with one of his neighbors. Mr. Larson broke three acres of ground, which, with one acre he had hired broken the year before, made four acres ready for cultiva- tion. Mrs. Larson planted potatoes and corn with a hoe, and was successful in raising a large crop of each. By the following June ten acres had been broken, and the next season Mr. Larson raised some of the largest watermelons he had ever seen. That year also he put in ten acres of wheat, and four acres of corn and potatoes. He sowed seven bushels of wheat from which he harvested seventy- five bushels in the fall. In the meantime he worked at his trade for the consideration of having more breaking done and for seed wheat.

In 1871 Mr. Larson traded mason work for two colts with one of his neighbors, and he still has these, now grown to old horses. From this time on he was prospered in his labors, and in 1881 pur- chased the first check rower used in a corn field in this section. He kept on working at his trade until in this manner he acquired seven horses and two head of cattle, while his stepsons carried on the farm. Finally, in 1876. with his accumulated capital, he purchased the quarter-section adjoining the north side of his farm. for which he paid $540. Ilis father-in-law came over from the old country, and settled on a piece of land south of him, and this land Mr. Larson also secured. paying therefor $235. but legal complications arose, which increased the cost to 8700. In 1883 he purchased a quarter- section a half mile south, for which he paid $1.500. On the two home farms 180 acres have been broken,

FARM RESIDENCE OF A.M.LARSON, SEC.32. GRANT TP., WASHINGTON CO., KAN.

RESIDENCE OF JOHN GNAGY, SEC.28, BARNES TP, WASHINGTON CO. KAN.

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and on the south farm ninety acres. On the $700- place he has fifty acres broken. This has now be- come the property of his two step-sons, but Mr. Larson superintends the operations with hired help.

In 1876 was built the commodious stone resi- dence now occupied by Mr. Larson and his family. This is twenty-five feet square, besides the kiteben, and the contrast between this dwelling and the dug-out is very marked. Mr. Larson's barn is 40x46 feet in dimensions, with a hay loft above and room for all his grain inside, lle has two corn-cribs and is now completing the third large cattle shed, this latter being 36x47 feet in dimen- sions. The farm is all enclosed with good fencing. and Mr. Larson has an orchard of 250 apple trees, besides quantities of plum and pear trees, and the smaller fruits. He has likewise set out large num- bers of cottonwood and walnut trees to shelter his cattle, of which he has this year (1889) about ninety head. Ile feeds large numbers each year. buying quantities of corn for this purpose. He also has eleven borses and 200 head of swine. It will thus be seen that in a financial point of view the man who came to Grant Township with com- paratively nothing, is now independent, financially.

Mrs. Larson had by her_first marriage three chil- dren, and by her union with our subject there has been born one child, Amanda, who is now a charm- ing young lady of sixteen years, having been born in the dugout before-mentioned Sept. 26, 1873. Miss Amanda is quite an accomplished musician, and all of the children of this family have been given a good education. Annie, the daughter of Mrs. Larson by her first husband. is the wife of Charles ITamerback ; they live near the homestead and have four children. The stepsons of Mr. Larson took his own name. Charles is married and lives on land which he homesteaded in Wallace County, this State; he has no children. Albert is unmarried, and is also living on land which he homesteaded in the above-mentioned county. Mrs. Larson's first children were all born in Soderman- land, Sweden.

The principles of the Republican party receive the cordial endorsement of Mr. Larson, who has served his township and county in various ways. He is now Treasurer of the School Board, He was

reared in the doctrines of the Lutheran Church, to the principles of which he still adheres. The father of our subject, was Lars Larson, and his mother was Kresti Monsdotter. The former was born Dec. 14, 1803, and died in Sweden at the ad- vanced age of eighty-six years, passing to rest Sept. 28, 1889, while the latter died in November, 1864. She was born Feb. 1, 1809, and was accordingly at the time of her death, fifty-five years of age.

Elsewhere in the Aun'y appears a fine lithio- graphic engraving of the house of our subject and his wife. It is one of the neatest and cosiest in the entire community, and is the abode of peace and hospitality.

OIIN GNAGY, of Barnes Township, Wash- ton County, is looked upon as one of its most popular and successful men. His in- dustry and perseverance, which were ob. servable as the leading elements of his character at an early age, have resulted in the accumulation of a fine property. embracing 320 acres of choice land, well improved with suitable buildings and in a high state of cultivation. The residence is con- spicuous as being one of the finest in Barnes Township, and with its surroundings is represented by a view elsewhere in this volume. This pretty place completes the idea of the modern rural home. Mr. Gnagy is considerably interested in live-stock, and as a breeder of Hereford cattle is a pronounced success. He commenced his life work poor in pocket, and every dollar of his possession has been earned by himself. He is a man of high moral char- acter, a member in good standing of the Christian Church at Barnes, and never refuses to lend a helping hand to the various enterprises calculated for the advancement of his township. In former years, politically, he was a Greenbacker, but is now in sympathy with the Union Labor party. He has never been ambitious of oflice, and with the exeep- tion of serving one term as County Commissioner, has declined its cares and responsibilities.

Mr. Gnagy is an Ohio man, and was born Feb. 7, 1827, in Tuscarawas County, that State. Ilis fa- ther, Abraham Gnagy, was born in Westmoreland

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County, Pa., and emigrated to. the Buckeye State when a boy, living there until 1854. Then, dis- posing of his interests in that region, he pushed on farther westward into Whitley County, Ind., but only lived five years thereafter, his death taking place in 1859. He was a carpenter by trade, an honest and industrious man, but one who failed to accumulate much property. For many years prior to his death he was a member in good standing of the United Brethren Church, a moral, upright man, who unfailingly defended the right and frowned upon wrong-doing. The paternal grandfather was Christ Gnagy, who was likewise born in Pennsyl- vania and who traced his ancestry to Germany.

Mr. Gnagy's mother bore the maiden name of Susan Seese. She likewise was born in Pennsylva- nia, and was the daughter of George and Mary Seese, also natives of that State and of German ex- traction. To Abraham and Susan Gnagy there was born a family of twelve children, as follows: Margaret, George, John, Christina, Elizabetlı, Christ, Moses, Abraham, Isaac, Mary, Jeremialı and Mathias. John, the third child, was reared on the farm in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, receiving a common school education. He learned carpenter- ing of his father, at which he worked considerably and also operated as a millwright. In 1848 he re- moved to Williams County, Ohio, where he so- journed until 1856, then changed his residence to DeKalb County, Ind. From there in 1869 he came to Kansas and homesteaded 150 acres of land on section 28, Barnes Township. He has since been engaged in farming and carpentering, adding to his landed possessions as his capital increased, and has found his real estate to be a safe and profitable investment yielding handsome returns.

While a resident of Williams County, Ohio, Mr. Gnagy was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Wright, the wedding taking place at the bride's home in St. Joseph Township, Feb. 7, 1859. Mrs. Gnagy was born in New York State, Ang. 3, 1832, and is the daughter of Alexander and Orpha Wright, who were also natives of that State. This union resulted in the birth of ten children, five sons and five daughters, who were named respectively. Jay, Cynthia, Sarah, Orpha, K., Olive, L., M .. Mary and I. N. The initials given comprise the

only name of those children. They still form a bright and interesting family circle, unbroken by death. Jay was married to Miss Sarah Wanamaker, of Washington County, this State, and they are the parents of five children, Maggie, John, Clarence, Augustus and Olive. Cynthia is the wife of Ira Wanamaker, a farmer of Washington County, and they have ten children, Ella, George, Charles, Will- iam, Cora, Benjamin, Maggie, K., Annie and Fred- die. Sarah married John Hinkle, a farmer, and they have four children, Charles, Elmer, Oscar and Clara. Orpha is the wife of Charles Roper, a farmer, and they have four children, Walter, Fred- erick, Frank and Ida. K. married Miss Annie Wishe, and they have two children, Maude, and a babe, unnamed. Olive is the wife of August Wishe, a farmer, and they are the parents of one child, Clara. The children are all residents of Washing- ton County, and forty-three members of this fam- ily are living within a few miles of each other. Up to this time there has been only one death since the marriage of our subject and his estimable part- ner. They form a large representation of honor- able and intelligent people, and are performing their full share in promoting the interests, socially. morally and financially, of Barnes Township and vicinity.

- REDERICK C. VOGELSANG. This hard- working, unassuming German citizen, of Linn Township, has by a life of persever- ing industry, become the owner of a fine farm on section 27, which he has developed thoroughly and upon which he has erected substantial buildings. He has planted forest and fruit trees, and instituted all the improvements naturally expected of the well-regulated farmer, and is with his family en- joying all the comforts of life. He is a native of the West, having been born in St. Louis County, Mo., April 21, 1854. When quite young, he went with his parents to Madison County, Ill., where he was reared on a farm and acquired his education in the common school.

Mr. Vogelsang came to Kansas in September, 1884, landing in Washington County on the 7th of that month, and a few days afterward settled on

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the land which he now owns and occupies. This embraces 160 acres, and is now largely devoted to farming and stock-raising. While a resident of Madison County, Ill., Mr. Vogelsang was married May 12, 1881. to Miss Caroline Cording. This lady was born March 12, 1865, in Madison County, III., and is the daughter of Ernest Cording, who spent his last days in that county. They have one adopted child, a daughter, Anna. Mr. Vogel- sang votes with the Democratie party, but has never been inclined to seek official honors. Ile and his excellent wife, religiously, are members in good standing of the Lutheran Church, in which our subject has been Trustee two years.

Henry Vogelsang, the father of our subject, was born in Prussia, and emigrated to the United States about 1849. He spent his last years in Madison County, Ill. The maiden name of the mother was Louise Tempel, and she was a native of the same country as her husband. Of their union there were born eight children, five of whom are living, namely : Mary, Mrs. Roffman; Frederick C .; Min- nie, Mrs. Bowman; Bertha, Mrs. Multhan ; and Jo- hanna, Mrs. Ruehle. The deceased were Henry. Louie, and Augusta, (Mrs. Wilde.)

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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 49

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

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