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 67

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 67
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 67
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 67

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. Goodnow served as a Justice of the Peace for several years and was accredited with adminis- tering justice to the people. For years lie was a successful merchant and bookseller. He was also a house-builder in his home town and in Chelsca, near Boston, getting his lumber in Maine. He was a coli- sistent temperance and anti-slavery man, always ready to aid either cause in all practical ways. He was an advocate of the Maine law, and was one of the 7000 who voted for James G. Birney in the "hard cider and log cabin" campaign of 1840 when Gen. Harrison was elected President. Al- ways after that he cast his vote so as to make it tell for freedom.

The passage of the Kansas- Nebraska Bill in 1854, which brought on the "Kansas crusade," thor- oughly aroused him, and he was one of a com-

1 pany of 200 who, with Rev. Joseph Denison. Dr. A. Hunting, and kindred spirits under the auspices of the New England Emigrant Aid Company, left Boston March 13, 1855, for Manhattan, Kan., to join his brother, Isaac T. Goodnow, who by the advice of Dr. (afterward Governor) Charles Rob. inson had preceded them one week to select a lo- eation and lay out a town. He was a member of the Manhattan Town Association. likewise one of its Directors, and was always an active, influential worker in all its business operations. He kept the

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first store on the town site. It was in Ward 4, near the present residence of Henry Hougham, where for some time he held the claim for the city. This was jumped by the ruffian Haskell, who was driven out by Judge Pipher in a grand charge in which the scared fugitive very suddenly in rapid flight and minus one shoe, disappeared over the Bluemont range.

The first store house in Manhattan was erected and occupied by Mr. Goodnow for general mer- chandise. It now stands on Vattiee Street, being the second block west of the Blue Valley Railroad. The Wooden House on the lot next west, was also built by him at a time when it was expected that the Great East and West road would cross the bridge to be erected near the foot of Bluemont. At that point the first ferry was established in 1855, and it was expected that the main business of the town would concentrate at the north part of the town site. The building of a pontoon bridge at the eastern end of Pointz avenue, by the Cincinnati and Kansas Land Company, destroyed these ex- peetations and kept the business on that thorough- fare, while the building of the Union Pacific Rail- road bridge near the same place fixed it beyond a peradventure.

Taking a great interest in the erection of Blue- mont College, Mr. Goodnow erected the first dwelling near it; this is now standing on the cor- ner aeross the road south of the old college site. It was occupied for some time as a store by the late Orville Huntress. Several other buildings were also ereeted by him for the accommodation of families and students.

During the early and trying years of the Ter- ritory's history Mr. Goodnow was a wide-awake correspondent of Eastern papers, and did his part in keeping their readers informed concerning the progress of events in Kansas. He was a repre- . sentative to several of the early free State con- ventions at Lawrence and other places. Ilis zeal and love for Kansas may be well understood when The parents of our subject, Mathias and Agnes (Winters) Weber, were born, reared and married in the Canton of Aargau, Switzerland. There they resided until after the birth of four children, when in 1853, they emigrated to the United States. They it is known that his wife, to whom he was ardently attached, never left her Eastern home. Probably not a week passed without an exchange of letters. She was an invalid for years and could not make up her mind to leave a comfortable home for a pio- | crossed the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico to

neer life on the frontier during the troublous times and outrages in Kansas.

Mr. Goodnow, however, felt it his duty to cast his lot with those endeavoring to make Kansas a free State. This necessitated journeys baek and forth until the death of his wife, which took place July 24, 1870, after a married life and residence in the same village for over forty years. Mrs. Good- now lived the life of a prayerful Christian and died beloved and respected by all who knew her.

After his wife's death Mr. Goodnow devoted all his energies to Kansas. He was an earnest and devout Christian, and liberal in his contributions to the church and to all public and private char- ities. At the State Congregational Convention, to which he was a delegate a short time before his death, with his partner, the Rev. R. D. Parker, of Manhattan, he was chosen Moderator, and presided giving general satisfaction. On the 19th of July, 1876, while in apparently good health and a mo- ment after making a pleasant remark to a friend, he fell dead from apoplexy. He was then sixty-nine years old. His funeral was largely attended, and his remains were laid to rest in a beautiful lot in Manhattan cemetery, overlooking the city wherein he had labored so long, and in which, to the end of his life, he had taken a fatherly interest.

ALENTINE WEBER. This gentleman is the owner of a beautiful farm of 400 acres, in Mulberry Township, Clay County, where he has been successfully carrying on the work of agriculture for the past twenty years. His home- stead is located on section 14, and was obtained by him from the government in 1869. It is supplied with all necessary and adequate farm buildings, conveniently located for the purpose which they serve. The entire estate is improved, and carefully and intelligently cultivated.

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New Orleans, La., and thenee sailed up the Missis- sippi River to Jo Daviess County, Ill. The father had been reared to the occupations of a farmer and stone-mason, and loeating in Galena, he there fol- lowed the latter employment. lle subsequently purchased land in Guilford Township, that county, and removed to the farm, where he died in 1886, at the age of seventy-one years. Ile was a Cath- olie in religion, and a Republican in politics. The mother of our subject is still living, being now seventy-three years old. She makes her home with her daughter Mrs. Hinton. She is also a communi- cant of the Catholic Church. The parental family consisted of one son and three daughters, our sub- jeet being the first born. One of the daughters of the family is now deceased.

Valentine Weber was born in the Canton of Aargau, Switzerland, Feb. 14, 1844, and was there- fore a lad of nine years when his parents came to the United States. The liberty loving spirit of the Swiss was roused to enthusiasm in the breast of our subject, upon the breaking out of the late Civil War. Though young in years he enlisted in defence of the Union, being enrolled in September, 1861, in Company C., 45th Illinois Infantry. The company was under the command of Capt. Burns, and the regiment under that of Col. John E. Smith. The recruits were sent at once to the front, joining the army of the Tennessee. They partici- pated in the terrible battles at Ft. Donelson. Shiloh and the Siege of Vicksburg. At the latter place Mr. Weber received a very serious wound, three buckshot from an enemy's gun having en- tered his forehead. Ile was left for dead on the field of battle, but was later conveyed to the regi- mental hospital. Having recovered from the wound and rejoined his company, he participated in numerous skirmishes and heavy engagements, and marched with Sherman to the sea. Ile was taken prisoner with the rest of his company, while guarding a railroad between Bolivar and Jackson in Tennessee, but was shortly afterward paroled. In August, 1865, he was honorably discharged at Louisville, Ky., and mustered out after a gallant service of three years and eleven months. At the expiration of his first term of three years, he had re-enlisted as a veteran. Returning to his old home

in Jo Daviess County, Ill., Mr. Weber remained there until the summer of 1869, when as before stated he came to Kansas.

Mr. Weber celebrated his marriage in Jo Daviess County, Ill., the lady with whom he was united being Miss Lena Bahr. She was born in Jo Daviess County, Nov. 8, 1851, and is a daughter of Henry and Levina Bahr. Her parents died in Guilford Township, that county, when she was quite young, and they in the prime of life. Mrs. Weber has borne her husband seven children, all still at home. They are named respectively : William, Edwin, Agnes, Henry, Ellen, Pearl and Louisa.

Mr. Weber is a sound Republican in his political views and practices. He has held the office of .Jus- tice of the Peace, and other township offices. Mrs. Weber belongs to the Methodist Church. They are highly esteemed as a lady and gentleman of excel- lent character and fine social qualities.

E LWOOD ARMSTRONG, M.D .. one of the most popular members of the medical pro- fession in the southeastern part of Wash- ington County, has been located at Greenleaf since 1881, where he is rapidly building up an extensive practice. He is still young in years, having been born Feb. 12, 1854, and is a native of Morris, Grundy Co., Ill. He received an academic educa- tion, and at the age of seventeen years began read- ing medicine under the instruction of Dr. Chester Ilard, of Ottawa, Ill. In due time he entered Rush Medical College of Chicago, from which he was graduated in 1874.

Dr. Armstrong commenced the practice of his profession at Northville, Ill., where he sojonrned until 1878. Then coming to Mitchell County, this State, he followed his profession there until the fall of 1881, when he removed to Greenleaf, which has since been the field of his labors.

The offspring of an excellent family, Dr. Arm- strong is the son of Perry A. Armstrong, who was born in Licking County, Ohio, April 2, 1822. The latter removed to LaSalle County. Ill., with his parents, when a lad of eight years, About 1842 he took up his abode in Grundy County, Ill., and has since

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been a resident of Morris. When quite young he began reading law, and in due time was graduated from the Granville (Ill.) Law School. Ile began the practice of his chosen profession at Morris, of which he was one of the first settlers, and he won an enviable reputation as a practitioner. At an early age he developed fine literary talent, and produced "Armstrong's History of the Black Hawk War," which at the time of its publication was a work attracting considerable attention. He also published other historical works, including the "Life of Shanbence." For several years he was County Clerk of Grundy County, and later repre- sented the county several terms in the State Legis- lature. He identified himself with the Masonic fraternity in 1857, and has arisen to a high posi- tion therein, attaining the 32d degree. He is also a member of the I. O. O. F., in which he has been Grand Master two terms. During the progress of the Mexican War he started for the scene of con- flict as Captain of a company, but before reaching it the war had ended, and his services were there- fore not required. Politically, he is a sound Demo- erat, and was a member of the first Constitutional Convention of Illinois.

The paternal grandparents of our subject were Joseph and Elsie (Strawn) Armstrong, who settled in Ohio at an early date. They spent their last years in LaSalle County, IH., passing away at a ripe old age. They were natives respectively of Ireland . and Pennsylvania. Grandmother Arms- trong was a descendant of the well-known Strawn family, who became prominent in Illinois, and were among the most highly respected residents of La- Salle County. The mother of Dr. Armstrong was in her girlhood Miss Mary Borbidge. She was born in Pittsburg, Pa., in 1824, and died in Morris, Ill., in 1861. Her father, James Borbidge, was a native of Ireland, whence he emigrated to America early in life, and became a wealthy importer of Pittsburg, Pa. Mrs. Mary Armstrong was reared and married in the Smoky City. Of her union with Perry A. Armstrong there were born four children, viz .: Fidelius J., deceased ; Charles D., Elwood and William E., the latter a resident of Chicago, Ill.

Dr. Armstrong is a member of the National

Association of Railway Surgeons, and local sur- geon of the central branch of the Union Pacific Railroad Company at Greenleaf, and is the owner of the leading drug-store of the city. He has been the Coroner of Washington County for the last six years. Like his worthy father, he is interested in Masonry, and is an honored member of Lodge No. 252, at Greenleaf. He also belongs to Lodge No. 106, A. O. U. W .; the Select Knights of North America, Lodge No. 60, the Modern Woodmen Lodge No. 756, and is also a K. of P. Politically, he votes the straight Republican ticket.

The marriage of Dr. Armstrong and Miss Martha J. Gransden was celebrated at the bride's home in Northville, Ill., March 8, 1876. Mrs. Armstrong was born at Northville, Ill., Feb. 4, 1859, and was the daughter of Thomas and Eliza (Powell) Grans- den, who are residents of that place. The Doctor and his estimable lady are the parents of three chil- dren: Thomas B., born March 3, 1878; Fred L., Oct. 7, 1881, and Harold E., Nov. 27, 1888.

OHN WYSS. Kansas has become the home of "many men of many climes," and among her citizens of various nationalities, none prove more reliable than those who have come from amid the grand scenery of Switzerland. The gentleman whose name heads this sketch is a native of that famous land, having been born in the Canton of Bern, in June, 1836. He is the eldest son and second child of John Wyss, Sr., and Margaret Affolter, natives of the same canton. The father followed the trade of a cooper, and spent his entire life in his native country, his death occurring when he was abont sixty years of age, He was of good repute in his canton, as a man of honor and sterl- ing integrity. His widow survived him many years, dying when quite aged. Both are active members of the German Reformed Church.

The subject of this sketch grew to man's estate in his native canton, receiving a fine education in his native tongue. He was taught the trade of cheese-making, which is one of the leading callings of that country, and followed his trade until 1868. Having determined to seek a broader field for liis

David Gilbert eniged 81.

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energies, he left his native land, taking passage at Havre on the steamer "Balona" for the United States. A period of twenty-one days was consumed in the ocean voyage, a major part of that time having been pleasantly spent. Landing was made at New York City, whence Mr. Wyss went to Ohio, where he remained some months.

From the Buckeye State, Mr. Wyss went to Henry County, Ill., where he sojourned until the spring of 1872. While in that county he met with two serious accidents, both of which occasioned much suffering, one of them leaving him a cripple. The first catastrophe was occasioned by the rearing of a horse which he was riding, the animal falling backward with his rider underneath him. Two years after his recovery from this injury, Mr. Wyss was severely kicked by a vicious horse which he was leading.

Upon leaving Illinois Mr. Wyss took up his resi- dence in this State. locating a homestead of 160 acres in Clay County, where he has since resided. The land is situated on section 9, Bloom Township, and has been made into a fine farm and a most comfortable home. Almost the entire acreage is now under the plow, and is thoroughly and in- telligently cultivated. There Mr. Wyss is success- fully carrying on general farming, and enjoying, as well as a bachelor ean, the increasing comforts due to his industry, prudence and good manage- ment.

Mr. Wyss is a sound Democrat in his political views, never failing to cast his vote on the great issues of the Republic. A man of honor, intelli- gence, and good habits, Mr. Wyss is justly re- garded as a citizen who is a credit to the section in which he lives.

AVID GILBERT. Among the citizens of solid worth who for many years have made their home in Union Township, Clay County, Mr. Gilbert is worthy of more than a passing notice. He is a farmer by occupa- tion and may usually be found at bis well-regu- lated homestead, ocenpying the southwest quarter of section 1. He was born in Baltimore, Md., Oct.

25, 1808, and is thus at this writing, October, 1889, a veteran of eighty-one years. Ilis parents were David and Jemima (Pococ) Gilbert. the former an Irishman by birth and the latter a native of Balti- more.

David Gilbert, Jr., was eight years old when his parents left Maryland and emigrated to the young State of Ohio, settling in the vicinity of Marietta, Washington County. He was there reared to man's estate'and when starting out for himself in life,settled in the open country, know as the Northwestern Territory, forty miles west of Ft. Wayne, Ind. Hc entered 160 aeres of land in what is now known as LaGrange County, Ind., but after a residence of four years returned to Washington County, Ohio. Ile was not yet satisfactorily settled and now took up his line of march across the Mississippi and for a comparatively brief time was a resident of How- ard County, lowa. On the 20th of June, 1860, he could have been found located on the Republican River in Clay County, Kan., where he homesteaded the farm which he now owns and occupies. This, as well as most of the land which he subsequently purchased and entered, is beautifully located in the Republican River Valley. He was at one time the owner of 800 acres, but has now only half that amount. having divided up the balance among his sons.

For twenty-eight years Mr. Gilbert has farmed in the river bottoms, and during that time has lost only one crop, that being caused by grasshoppers in 1869. In his farming operations on the upland he had been almost equally fortunate, losing but two erops by ehinch bugs, in 1886, and one by the drought of 1887. The greater part of his land is in a highly productive condition. He has planted 200 apple trees besides other fruit trees and made the ordinary improvements brought about by the intelligent and progressive agriculturist.

When Mr.Gilbert settled on the Republican River there were but two families west of him for a dis- tance of 125 miles. Buffalo and antelope abounded in large numbers and these furnished most of the subsistenee of the settlers. The nearest town was Atchison, and thither Mr. Gilbert had to go for his supplies, even taking his plow there to be sharpened. There were no mills then in this region and the

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bread stuff of the Gilbert family for the first year consisted of boiled corn. Mr. Gilbert has seen Kansas at its worst and at its best, but he never lost confidence in its future and still considers it one of the best States in the Union. He has passed his life in the quiet pursuits of farming and his ca- reer as a citizen has been such that he is recognized as one of the most useful members of his community. He has kept himself well posted upon matters of public interest, although never mixing in politics. His first Presidential vote was cast for Andrew Jack- son during his first candidacy for the Presidency. Until the election of 1888 he uniformly voted the Democratic ticket, but having supported old Tip- pecanoe in 1840, he felt called upon to do the same for his grandson.

Mr. Gilbert has been three times married, hav- ing children by each wife. The maiden name of his early choice was Freelove Trowbridge, of Washington County, Ohio. She left five children. namely, William, Walter, Rosalia, Sarah and Ann. His second wife was Elizabeth Sweet, of St. Joseph County, Mich .; she died leaving one son, David. The present wife of Mr. Gilbert was formerly Miss Jane Taylor and there were born to them six children-Elizabeth, Martha, Rozalia, Lucy, Henry and Josephine. Most of these have reached mature years and have families of their own. Mr. Gilbert has been for many years a consistent mem- ber of the Baptist Church and is a man held in the highest respect by all who know him. His portrait which appears in connection with this sketch is a work of art. and will be prized by all his friends.

W ILLIAM B. MARSIIALL. Could all the in- cidents in the life of Mr. Marshall, after his settlement upon the frontier of Northern Kansas, be properly detailed, they would form quite an interesting volume. He came to this section of the country when it was peopled principally by wild animals, before the advent of flouring mills, saw- mills, railroads, or even a stage-coach. Hle planted, as it were, his banner in the wilderness, and through storm and sunshine kept its colors flying, and at length came off more than conqueror over all the

difficulties which beset him. He forms one of the prominent landmarks of Riley County, and is num- bered among its most honored citizens. A life- long farmer by occupation, bis homestead is pleas- antly located on section 1, where he built up from the wilderness a good farm and is now in the en- joyment of all life's comforts.

In going back to the early history of the subject of this sketch we find that he is of New England ancestry, being the son of Moody Marshall, a na- tive of Bradford, N. H. His mother, Sarab ( Beard) Marshall, was likewise a native of the old Granite State, and born in New Boston. She came of a hardy race-the Scotch Irish, of the North of Ire- land. Moody Marshall traced his progenitors to England. Aiter their marriage the parents of our subject settled in Ware, N. H., whence later they removed to Nashua, in that State, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Their family con- sisted of eight sons and one daughter, and all of the sons grew to man's estate. The daughter, a cherished plant, was taken from the household cir- cle wben three years old.

William B. Marshall was the fifth child of his parents, and was born in Ware, N. H., April 25, 1829. I'ntil twenty years of age he remained on the farm of his parents, acquiring a common-school education,and becoming familiar with agriculture as prosecuted in New England style. The father gave to all his boys their time when arriving at the age of twenty years, and William B., when practically becoming his own man, employed himself as a farm laborer during the summer months and at- tended school during the winter for three years. He then entered a shoe manufacturing establish- ment and was employed in cutting uppers and sort- ing leather three years, when he was taken ill and obliged to relinquish it.

After his recovery Mr. Marshall being desirons of establishing a home of his own, was married in the latter part of February, 1855, in Andover, to Miss Anna J. Pillsbury. This lady was likewise a native of New Hampshire, and the daughter of the Rev. Stephen Pillsbury, a minister of the Baptist Church. On the 12th of March following, accom- panied by his wife and her brother Leonard H., and his own brother Andrew, Mr. Marshall left

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New England in charge of the Emigration Aid Society, setting out for the Territory of Kansas, making the journey by rail to Alton, and thence down the river to St. Louis, thence from St. Louis to Kansas City, and the balance of the journey was was made overland by means of ox-teams, they arriving at Lawrence in the latter part of the above- mentioned month. Two or three days later Mr. Marshall set out for Riley County, and took up a tract of land in what is now Zeandale Township, where he established a homestead and has since re- mained. He was one of the very first men to lo- cate in Riley Connty prior to the settlement of the Manhattan Colony in this region. Ile "squatted" on land which, four years latter he preempted, se- euring possession of 160 acres. He here main- tained his residence during the trying times which followed, when "bleeding Kansas " was not only harrassed by political troubles, but suffered from grasshoppers, drouth, chinch bugs and other disas- ters. Mr. Marshall was not molested on account of his political views, being a man of sound, good sense, and making it a point to attend strictly to his own concerns.

Mrs. Annie J. Marshall the young wife of our subjeet, only survived her marriage one short year, dying in February, 1856, at the homestead in Zean- dale Township. On June 21, 1861, Mr. Marshall contracted a second marriage with Miss Sarah A. Allen, a native of Columbiana County, Ohio, and born July 14, 1833. Benjamin Allen, the father of Mrs. Marshall, came to Riley County about 1865, and settled in Zeandale Township, of which he was a resident until his death. Of this union there were born five children : Anna A., the eldest, is the wife of Alfred Docking, and teaching in Spencer Academy, Indian Territory; John M. re- mains with his parents; Phebe died when an infant of six months, and William L. died at about the same age; Charles W., the youngest, continues un- der the home roof. Mrs. Sarah Marshall departed this life at her home in Zeandale Township, April 10, 1889. She was a very excellent woman, an af- fectionate and devoted wife and mother, a hospit- able neighbor, and one always ready to take an active part, as far as possible, in all religious work. She had been for many years a member in good

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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 67

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

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