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 59

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 59
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 59
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 59

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).

them to imitate his example of patience and perseverance.

The subject of this sketch was born in Greene County, Ohio, and when about three years old was taken by his parents -- Joseph C. and Margaret ( Mills) Silver -- to the vicinity of Ft. Wayne, Ind., where they lived a few years, the father engaged in carpentering. About 1855 they changed their residence to Bluffton, Wells County, that State, where they have since lived. Both are natives of New Jersey. The maternal grandmother of our subject died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Silver, after reaching the advanced age of ninety- six years.

Mr. Silver spent his early years under the paren- tal roof and in the fall of 1860, in company with his brother, Philip, fitted up teams and went up the river on a buffalo hunt, until reaching the line of Northern Nebraska, being gone about six weeks. During the time they killed about sixty buffaloes, besides a large number of elk and antelopes. Buffa- loes were not seen in Clay County, Kan., with the exception of an occasional strayer, after 1857, but elk, deer and antelopes were quite numerous later than that and one day, in the fall of 1865, Mr. Silver killed four wild turkeys in his door yard.

Sojourning in Indiana until the spring of 1857 young Silver then came to Kansas and in the spring of 1858 preempted 160 acres of land in Clay County. This occupied the southwest quarter of section 33, Sherman Township, and he put up a log cabin. 12 x 14 feet square in which he kept bache- lor's hall until acquiring a clear title to his prop- erty. He was then obliged to have money to carry on its improvement, and in July, 1859, he went into Riley County, the nearest place where he could obtain work. When on his place his nearest neigh- bor was twenty miles away and the Indians fre- quently encamped thirty miles up the river. Many of them were civilized and friendly, although they made occasional visits to scare the settlers who had come in a little earlier.

When coming to this region Mr. Silver had a capital of 842. but when settling on his claim, had about $100. During the summer of 1858 a few people came into that vicinity. Mr. Silver worked in Riley County during the winter of 1858 and the

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following spring rigged up a team of oxen and joined a wagon train going to Pike's Peak. He took tools in his wagon and worked at blacksmithing which he had learned in Indiana, remaining at the Peak until the fall of 1859. Then returning to Clay County, this State, he sojourned here but a short time, after which he spent the winter in Riley County. He returned to his new farm in the spring of 1860, where he spent the summer. plowing and improving his land. He and a hired man oc- cupied themselves in making fencing and planted eight acres of Indian corn, besides breaking thirty acres and planting it with prairie corn. The corn raised on the thirty aeres made one dinner for four persons, the season being very dry and nothing growing. Mr. Silver had also that same season an acre and three-fourths sown in wheat which yielded him eight bushels. This was threshed with a flail and the chaff blown off by shaking the wheat and chaff on a sheet in the wind.

During the second year of the Civil War Mr. Silver concluded that it was his duty to assist in the preservation of the Union, and in August, 1862 he enlisted in Company G, 11th Kansas Cavalry. and served two years and eight months, receiving his honorable discharge May 24, 1865. Ile met the enemy in battle at Prairie Grove and followed up the rebel general, Price in his raid into Missouri and along the Kansas line, participating in the three day's fight which followed. Then returning to Ft. Leavenworth, his company was made an escort to Gen. Curtis. Mr. Silver for some time operated as the company's blacksmith.

In the meantime, while still a soldier, Mr. Silver was married while home on a furlough, April 1863, to Miss Lucinda, daughter of David Edelblute, one of the pioneer settlers of Riley County, Kan. Mrs. Silver was born in Pennsylvania in 1845 and came to the West with her parents when quite young. She sojourned with her parents during the absence of her husband in the army and when he returned to the rauks of civil life, they located upon their new farm and put up another cabin to supply the place of the first one which had been burned in a prairie fire. They lived there a number of years and then Mr. Silver homesteaded eighty acres one half mile east, which they occupied until about 1882.

That year he removed to Morganville. of which he has since been a resident. His farm proper in- cludes 1,100 acres in the vicinity of Morganville, besides the comfortable town residence which he now occupies,

Mr. Silver, in 1886, invested a part of his prop- erty in a stock of general merchandise in which he has since conducted a successful trade. He was one of the men instrumental in the incorporation of the city, signing the petition, and has served as a member of the City Council. He assisted in the organization of Clay County and has taken an active part in the erection of church and school buildings and other enterprises. In religion he and his excellent wife are identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church in which Mr. Silver officiates as Steward and is recognized as a chief pillar. He belongs to George B. McClellan Post, No. 368, also Morganville Lodge, No. 322. I. O. O. F. The four children born to Mr. and Mrs. Silver are all living and named respectively, Mary E., Fred C., Lons- dale V. and Edna. The eldest, Mary E., is now the wife of G. W. Hayes, a resident of Mor- ganville, who is represented elsewhere in this volume.

For the erection of his hewn log house in the fall of 1865 Mr. Silver transported the flooring from Leavenworth. The shingles were manufac- tured from a saw log which he hauled from here to Manhattan, but the mill was not running so he was obliged to visit that place the second time be- fore getting his shingles. It must be remembered that this was in the absence of railroads or even well-regulated wagon roads, thus involving a long and tedious journey.

HILIP GUENTHIER. This enterprising young German-American citizen is carry- ing on the old homestead of his father, who is deceased. It is a well-regulated farm, 240 acres in extent, on section 21, Hanover Township, Washington County. Our subject owns 160 acres in Decatur County. His thrift and in- dustry have long been recognized among the

FARM RESIDENCE OF JENKIN JONES, SEC 36. FARMINGTONTP, WASHINGTON CO.

RESIDENCE OF MARTIN SCHROPP, SEC.23. CHARLESTON TP. WASHINGTON CO.

RESIDENCE OF HENRY SCHRÖDER, SEC.21. HANOVER TP,WASHINGTON CO.

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people of his community, where he is held in high respect. He has a niee family, including his aged mother, for whom he cares with the most filial af- fection. A man honest and upright in all his transactions, he represents in a marked degree the intelligence and worth which form the basis of all good society.

A native of Hamilton County, Ohio, the subject of this sketeli was born June 17, 1857, and is the son of Conrad and Margaret (Firnazel) Guenther, who were born in the Kingdom of Saxony, Germany, and were there reared and married. The wedding took place in 1854, and immediately afterward they set sail for America. They had no worldly posses- sions except their strong hands and courageous hearts, and when landing in Cincinnati, Ohio, were $25 in debt. They at once sought employment, the young wife working with her husband, and for a year they labored earnestly to earn a living. In que time they removed to a farm nine miles north of Cincinnati, where they lived for thirteen years. They commeneed with a horse which cost them $3, and a plow, for which they paid twenty-five cents. In due time, however, their perseverance and industry met with the usual reward. Upon first leaving the farm, they took up their abode in Reading, Ohio, where they sojourned three years, then returned to the same farm, where they re- mained nine years. During the progress of the Civil War they began to gain a foothold financially, and at one time raised ten aeres of potatoes. which they sold at $5 per barrel. Other things were in proportion, and the result was that they were en- abled to save enough money to elear off a debt of $1,200. and purchase a good team of horses be- sides. They lived upon that farm eight years after their sceond removal to it.

The parents of Mr. Guenther came to Kansas in 1878, and the father purchased the farm now owned by the widow and children. He gradually retired from active labor, and departed this life Dee. 26, 1888, after having reached his threescore and ten years. He was a man honest and upright in all his dealings, kindly and generous, and was universally respected. He lived quietly and unos- tentatiously, at peace with his neighbors, and his name was held in kindly remembrance by all who

knew him, and especially by his son. Philip, who possessed for his father a more than ordinary at- taeliment.

Mr. Gnenther, our subject, was given a good education in his youth, but at the age of nineteen years suffered from a severe attack of smallpox, and upon his recovery he had no recollection of anything that he had learned prior to this time. He thus was obliged to acquire his education over again, and although perhaps not spending as many years as before in the schoolroom, he has, by a course of reading, become well informed, and is more than ordinarily intelligent. He was always a good son to his parents, obedient and dutiful. and gave them all his earnings until advancing years caused them to turn over to him the business and the management of the farm.

On the 16th of April, 1884, occurred the mar- riage of Philip Guenther with Miss Eliza, daughter of William and Dorothea ( Myer) Holce. The par- ents of Mrs. Guenther were natives of Hanover, Germany, and when emigrating to America set- tled in Cook County, Ill. They are now quite well advaneed in years, and make their home with one of their married daughters. Mrs. Guenther was the fourth in their family of five children, and was born in Cook County, Ill., Aug. 19, 1866. She received a common-school education, and remained a member of the parental household until her mar- riage. Mr. and Mrs. Guenther are members in good standing of the German Lutheran Church, at HIanover, and Mr. Guenther, politieally, is a straight Republican, taking an active interest in the success of his party. The Guenther homestead is well-im- proved, with a good house and barn, and all other appurtenanees. There is an orchard of 150 fruit trees, besides 250 grape vines, and the smaller varieties of fruits are abundant in their season. Stock-growing forms a part of the farm opera- tions. Mr. Guenther keeping a goodly number of horses. cattle and swine. 1

The Guenther farm lies one and a half miles southeast of Hanover in a pleasant locality, and the manner in which it is kept up speaks well for the owners. The parents of Mr. Guenther endured all the hardships and privations of life in a new country when coming to Kansas, and their names

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are worthy of record among the pioneers who ven- tured upon the frontier and opened the way for those who followed.

S IMEON M. FOX came to Manhattan in 1866, when the city was still in its infancy, and has ever since been classed among its most intelligent and progressive citizens. Soon after his arrival he opened a book store, and has ever since conducted a successful business, his neatly-appointed establishment, with its well- selected assortment of reading matter, being well patronized by the many cultured and literary people of the city. A veteran of the late war, in which he enlisted in 1861, when still a college boy, his record shows him to have been a brave and capable soldier, who from a private in the ranks rose to be a commissioned officer in his regiment.

Our subject comes from sturdy New England ancestry, who settled in Connecticut in Colonial times. The State of New York was, however, his birthplace, he having been born in the town of Lansing. in Tompkins County, Aug. 28, 1841. His father, Dana Fox, was born in East Haddam, Conn., Jan. 16, 1795, a son of Moses Fox, of the same State, The family came to America at a very early day. Isaac Fox and his wife Abigail resided at Medford, Mass., as early as 1679, at which date the birth of their first child was recorded; he was un- doubtedly the youngest son of Thomas and Hannah (Brooks) Fox, of Concord, Mass. (Thomas Fox was a lineal descendant of the Rev. John Fox, the famous author of the "Book of Martyrs.") The children of Isaac Fox nearly all removed to Con- necticut, and settled at Norwich, Colchester and New London. Ebenezer, one of the younger chil- dren, settled at the latter place as early as 1722. In 1732 he removed to East Hladdam, where he died His son Ebenezer, born about 1720, married Esther Purple, a descendant of one of the old Connecticut families. They both lived to the age of ninety- five years, and at the time of their death there were living about ninety of their descendants. Moses Fox was their youngest son, born in 1765; he mar- ried, in 1787, Caroline Mack, a daughter of John

and Sarah (Beckwith) Mack. John Mack descended from Scottish ancestry, and came in direct line from John Mack, who resided at Salisbury, Mass., as early as 1696. Sarah Beckwith, the mother of Caroline, was a daughter of Joseph Beckwith, of Lyme, Conn., and Sarah ( Willey) Beckwith, his wife. The parents of Joseph were Nathaniel and Sarah (Brockway) Beckwith. The Willeys de- scended from Isaac Willey, of Boston, as early as 1640. In 1645 he came to New London, Conn., in company with John Winthrop, Jr. Joseph Beckwith lived to be over a hundred years old, and to see some of his great-grandchildren's children. Moses Fox, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a wheelwright, and carried on his trade at East lIaddam. While on a visit to his brother. Stedman, who was one of the pioneers in the set- tlement of the great State of New York, he con- tracted the seeds of what was then known as the "Genesee fever," from the effects of which he died Feb. 7, 1813, aged forty-seven.

Dana Fox, the father of our subject, was a thoughtful. studious youth, and gained a good edu- cation by attending the public schools in Connecti- cut, and hy reading good literature and studying in his spare time when the schools were not in ses- sion. When a young man, soon after the death of his father, he went to Pennsylvania and took up a tract of land near Montrose. Ile resided there about two years, when he removed to New York State, where he joined the conference, having been converted at the age of eighteen, and later hecom- ing a preacher of the Methodist persuasion. He was soon after appointed to a circuit, and became one of the pioneer circuit riders of Central and Western New York. In 1856 he came to Kansas, traveling by rail to St. Louis, then the terminus of Western railways; thence he came to Iowa Point by river. and after looking over the country, decided to lo- cate at llighiland, a few miles from the river, iu Doniphan County ; here he purchased property, and continued to reside until his death, which took place Aug. 17, 1876, at the advanced age of eighty- one years. The following are the children that blessed the wedded life of himself and wife: Jane, born Jan. 23, 1825, died Feb. 16, 1842; Dana F., born April 16, 1827, was murdered near High-

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land, Kan .. Oct. 12, 1859; Sophronia ( Mrs. Nichols) born March 9. 1829, died March 3, 1882; George G., born March 2, 1832; Charles E .. March 13. 1834; Caroline, born April 24, 1537. died July 26, 1847; Simeon's birth is recorded elsewhere.

The maiden name of the mother of the subject of this sketch was Jane Strong. She was born in Milton Township (now Lansing), in Tompkins County, N. Y. She came from a long line of not- able ancestry, and descended from John Strong, who came hither in very early colonial days. He was born in Taunton, Somersetshire. England, in 1605. and on the 20th of March. 1630, accompanied by his sister Eleanor, he set sail for the New World from Plymonth, England, in the ship "Mary and John," commanded by Capt. Squeb. The pas- sengers were landed on the New England coast, at the place where is now located the town of Dor- chester, Mass., of which they were the original founders. The wife of John Strong either died on the passage or soon after the landing, and he mar- ried, for a second wife, Abigail Ford, daughter of Thomas Ford, who came over in the same vessel. From Dorchester he removed to Taunton, Mass., in which place he held a proprietary right. Later. he was associated with Henry Wolcott, the anees- tor of Roger and Oliver Wolcott, in founding Windsor, Conn. Ile finally settled at Northamp- ton, Mass., of which place he was one of the orig- inal founders. Here he spent the rest of his days. and died in 1676. His son, Thomas Strong, by his second wife, married Rachel Holton, and died in 1689. Their son, Adino, was born in 1676, and died in 1749, leaving one son of the same name, who was born in 1708, and died in 1787. The maiden name of his wife was Deborah Prime. Their son, Benajah, was born in the year 1740. and at the time of the breaking out of the Revo- lution was in the prime of life, of fine phy- sique, standing six feet two inches in his stockings, a stalwart, resolute, bold-spirited man. He took an active part in the war, and was promoted to the rank of captain in his regiment. He was a cousin of the martyr patriot, Nathan Hale, with whom he at one time served. Benajab Strong married Jane Cochrane, the daughter of Samnel Cochrane, of Woodbury, Conn .. After her death he married

Abigail Powers, the widow of Lemuel Powers and mother of Abigail Powers, who became the wife of President Fillmore, and was the lady of the White llouse during his presidency. After the war, Benajah Strong removed from Haddam, Conn., to New York, and settled on the Hudson River, hav- ing received from the Government the right to operate a ferry across the river from the present site of Athens, which was his farm. A few years later he sold out his land, and started westward; he stopped for a time on the present site of Ithaca, then in the wilderness, but finding the location to be unhealthy, he removed around the head of the lake to higher ground, and bought a large tract of land from the Government in what was afterward the township of Lansing. Here he made his home until death called him hence, at the age of ninety- six. His son, Simeon Prime Strong, was born at Athens, N. Y. In 1774 he married Phebe Good- win, a daughter of William and Ruth (Gibbs) Goodwin, and the mother of our subject was their eldest child.

Simeon M. Fox, of whom we write, was given the advantages of a liberal education, laying the foundation in the public schools of Lansing. Later, he attended the High School at Elmira, N. Y., whither his parents had removed in 1853. At the age of nineteen he entered Genesee College, in Livingston County, N. Y., but was not destined to finish the course. Summoned home to Kansas, dur- ing his sophmore year, on account of the death of his mother, he decided not to return. It was in 1861, the battles of Bull's Run and Wilson Creek had been fought, every able-bodied man in Kansas was enlisting and going to the front. and he joined the throng. He enlisted, Sept. 25, 1861, as a pri- vate in Company C, Ist Kansas Cavalry, which was being organized at Ft. Leavenworth by Col. Jennison. The number of this regiment was changed later to the 7th, and was known as the 7th Kansas Cavalry. or, perhaps, better known as " The Jay- hawkers." This regiment saw much hard service in Missouri, Kentucky. Tennessee. Mississippi and Alabama. It veteranized in December, 1863, pre- serving its full regimental organization, and was mustered out Sept. 29, 1865, after four years of active service. The regiment participated in nearly

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ninety battles and skirmishes in the West, among them Corinth, Tupelo, Coffeeville, Hurricane Creek. Wyatt's Bridge, Iuka, Tallahatchie, Lamar and in numerous other hotly contested engage- ments. In the fall of 1861 the regiment formed a part of Gen. (then Col.) Sheridan's first brigade. Our subject followed the regiment faithfully through these trying years; always ready for duty, he proved on many an occasion that called for all the forti- tude, heroism and manliness in him, that he pos- sessed the spirit of a true soldier, and for meritori . ous conduct he was promoted to corporal, sergeant- major, and adjutant of his regiment.

Mr. Fox has been twice married, first to Miss Ella M. Kimball, of New Hampshire, a daughter of Joseph L. and Harriet (Putnam) Kimball. (Mrs. Kimball was a relative of Gen. Israel Putnam, of Revolutionary fame.) After a few years of happy wedded life, Mrs. Fox died, leaving one child, Charles. Mr. Fox was married to his present wife in September, 1876. She was formerly Miss Esther Butler, and was born in Crawford County, Pa., a daughter of Hiram and Mary (Temple) Butler. Three children have been born to them: Martha, Philip and Florence.

Well educated and of good principles, receiving from a sterling ancestry the heritage of an honor- able ebaracter, our subject is well thought of in the social and business circles of Manhattan. He is connected with the following societies: Lafayette Lodge No. 16, A. F. & A. M .; Manhattan Chapter No. 14, R. A. M .; Topeka Commandery No. 5, and Lew Gove Post No. 100, G. A. R. Mrs. Fox shares the esteem in which her husband is held. She is highly educated and of extensive reading, and is an agreeable companion. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

ENRY MOEHLMAN. The subject of this biographical outline was the first man to settle in the Moehlman Bottoms, and after whom they were named. He is one of the most prosperous farmers of this region, his series of well-tilled fields embraci. g 160 acres, upon which he has instituted modern improvements, including

a good residence and all the necessary outbuildings. He has accumulated his property by his own in- dustry, and after years spent in hard work and economy now sits under his own vine and fig-tree practically independent. Kansas, like her sister States, has been developed largely through the ef- forts of the sons of the Fatherland, and among them is the subject of this sketch, who was born in the kingdom of Prussia, in 1829. His father, Fred- erick Moehlman, was a farmer by occupation, and is now deceased. The parental family consisted of nine children, the eldest of whom, Mary, Mrs. Meyer. together with her brother Casper, remains a resident of her native country. William emigrated to America, and is now a resident of Manhattan; he is married and has a family. Lonisa became the wife of Casper Rosencritter, and died in 1888, leav- ing a family of nine children; her home was on a farm adjoining that of her brother. Albine re- mains in Germany; Herman died in infancy, and the next child born was also named Herman and likewise died.

Young Moelilman remained a resident of his na- tive province until a youth of sixteen years, and then, on the 19th of June, 1847, set out for Amer- ica, embarking on a sailing vessel at Bremen, which, after an ocean voyage of seven weeks, landed him safely in the city of New Orleans. Thence he proceeded to St. Louis, Mo., where he lived seven years and followed steamboating on the Mississippi River. In 1854 he came to Kansas, arriving in Manhattan Township on the 17th of June, and entering 160 acres of land, from which he built up his present farm. In the meantime, after the outbreak of the Civil War, he enlisted as a Union soldier in Company G, 11th Kansas In- fantry, in which he served three years. He partici- pated in the battles of Cane Hill, Prairie Grove, Van Buren, Ft. Vain, White River and Cross Hol- low, all in Arkansas, and was also in Missouri. He suffered the usual hardships and privations inci- dent to army life, but escaped wounds and capture, and upon receiving his honorable discharge re- turned onharmed to the peaceful pursuits of civil life.

When leaving the army Mr. Moehlman sought his old haunts in Manhattan Township, and in Sep-

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tember, 1866, was married to Miss Anna Fogle- sang. a native of his own country. There were born to them six children, viz. : Ilenry; Hannah, who died in infancy; Frederick; Herman, who died when two years old ; Charles and Herman (2d). Mrs. Anna Mohlman departed this life at her home in Manhattan Township, in the fall of 1877, aged forty-eight years. Mr. Moehlman is a Repub- lican in politics and a member in good standing of the Lutheran Church. He belongs to Manhattan Post, No. 100, G. A. R. For some time after coming to this State hie freighted to Big Timber and other points on the plains.

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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 59

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

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