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 70

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 70
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 70
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 70

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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ing. He came here laboring under a debt of $320. and is now well-to-do, owning a town residenee as well as the valuable farm before mentioned. He is one of the leading members of the Swedish Mission Church at Randolph, and serves as local preacher. He married Miss Anna S. Sehon, who was born in Smaland, Nov. 26, 1826 ; her father, Jonas Schon. was a native of the same country, and a Grenadier in the regular army. He enlisted when but seven- teen years old, and took part in the wars against Germany and Norway.

To Mr. and Mrs. John Mills nine children were horn, five of whom lived to maturity, one of them -Ida R., having since died. Those who now sur- vive are Charles J., subjeet of our sketch ; Lena, now Mrs. King of this city ; Emma, now Mrs. Ru- dolph of Topeka ; and August, who is yet at home. Charles .J. Mills and wife have no children.

W ILLIAM MOELLING owns and occupies a first-class farm in Bloom Township, Clay County. which has been thoroughly im- proved by him, and where he carries on the busi- ness of a general farmer and stock feeder. His thrifty, energetic nature is carrying him forward to a high rank among the progressive agrienIturists of that section. His estate comprises 120 fertile acres on section 20. which he purchased in 1878, at which time the family to which he belongs came to to this State from Missouri.

farmers and land-owners. coming to this county as before stated.

In this township the rites of wedlock were cele- brated between the gentleman of whom we write and Miss Johanna Eilers. The bride was born and reared in Oldenburg, Germany, her natal day be- ing July 22, 1861, and she being a daughter of Jacob and Anna (Taddiken) Eilers. The father lived and died in that Duchy, departing this life in 1870 when about forty-five years old. He was a member of the Lutheran Church, as is his widow, who having come to America in 1885, now makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Moelling. She is now fifty-nine years of age, and quite active and vigorous. Mrs. Moelling was educated in the ex- cellent schools of her native land and about the year 1877 came to the l'nited States. After spend- ing two years in New York City, she came to Kan- sas which has since been her home. She has borne her husband two children, one dying in infancy. The survivor is Anna L.,a bright miss of three years.

In his political views, Mr. Moelling agrees with the tenets of the Republican party, which finds in him a stanch adherent. He and his wife are mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church. He is highly re- spected by his fellow-citizens as a man of honor and uprightness, a reliable citizen, a kind and help- ful neighbor, and one whose domestic life is above reproach; and Mrs. Moelling enjoys the esteem of the people wherever she is known.

W ILLIAM LEWIS, a resident of Manhattan, was for many years prominently connected with the farming interests of Riley County, owning and managing a valuable farm in Manhat- tan Township, in the improvement of which he has contributed his quota toward the development of this part of Kansas. For the past few years he has been living retired from active business in the commodious, well-appointed home that he ereeted in this eity in 1885, enjoying the wealth that he has accumulated by the wise and sagacious man- agement of his affairs.

In the latter State the eyes of our subject first opened to the light on June 23, 1852, the event taking place in Kane Township. Gasconade County, and his parents being Adolph and Louisa Moelling (for whose history see sketch of August Moelling, which ocenpies another page of this BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM). He is the second son and third child in a family consisting of four sons and one daughter. all still living, married, and making their homes in this county and township. Mr. Moelling was reared by his parents in the place of his birth, receiving a good education in the school of that region, and A native of Ohio, he was born in Wayne Town- with the rest of the family, who are now thrifty , ship, Carroll County, May 7, 1820. His father,

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Joseph Lewis, was born in Westmoreland County. Pa., a son of Jonathan Lewis, a native of Wales, who was one of three brothers who came to Amer- ica in the eighteenth century. The grandfather of our subject became a pioneer of Westmoreland County, buying a tract of timber land, and busily engaging in its clearance until about 1825, when he sold it and removed to Ohio, which was then considered the Far West, and became an early set -. tler of Carroll County. He cleared a farm from the primeval forests of that region and made his home there until his death at the advanced age of one hundred and four years.

The father of our subject was one of five chil- dren in the family of his parents who were reared to maturity. He spent his early life in his native Pennsylvania, and was there married, Elizabeth Masters, a native of England who came to America with her parents, becoming his wife. He removed with his family to Ohio about 1800, and was one of the early settlers of Wayne Township, Carroll County. Ile took up a tract of heavily timbered land in that sparsely settled region where but few pioneers had preceded him. In those early days there were no carriage roads and he was obliged to pack his corn to mill, eighteen miles distant, on horseback. He was a very capable man, and being a natural mechanic, did all of his own carpentering besides building for his neighbors. Ile erected thie first gristmill ever built in that section of the coun- try. On his own land he built a log house, in which humble abode our subject was born. There being no sawed lumber in the country, he split puncheon for the floor and clapboards for the roof and door. In 1832 he sold his property in Carroll County. and, moving to Tuscarawas County in the same State, he bought a tract of land there, a few acres of which was cleared, and he improved a large farm during the fourteen years that he resided there. At the end of that time he sold the place and bought a farm in Richland County and lived there a few years. His next move was to Indiana, where he bought land in Van Wert County. After that he lived with his children, and finally died at the home of his son Jeremiah in that county, at the venerable age of ninety-eight years. His wife also died in Van Wert County. They were both con-

scientious members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and died strong in the faith, having led honest, Christian lives. They reared eleven chil -. dren to sturdy, self-reliant, trustworthy manhood and womanhood.

The subject of this biography was eleven years old when his parents removed to Tuscarawas County, and his education was continued in the pioneer schools of that region conducted in the primitive log house of the times, with the home- made furniture and heated by a fireplace, the mud and stick chimney being built on the outside of the building. A log was taken out and a row of win- dow glass, which was quite expensive at that time, was inserted to admit light, while the benches on which the scholars sat were made by splitting logs and inserting wooden pins for legs. William lived with his parents until he had grown to manhood. In 1841 he went to Richland County to work for his brother, clearing land, and after a few months he bought eighty acres of forest-covered land, five acres of which had been deadened and a small eabin built on the place. He erected a more commodions log house in the wilderness, and there commenced housekeeping in the primitive style customary among the pioneers of a thinly settled country. Having no stove Mrs. Lewis was obliged to cook their fare by the fireplace, and she had to do with- out many conveniences that housekeepers of this day consider absolutely indispensible. Both hus- band and wife worked hard and prospered accord- ingly, and from time to time Mr. Lewis was enabled to purchase land adjoining his homestead until he had 340 acres of valuable land, under high cultiva- tion and finely improved. Ile erected a set of frame buildings, and also a steam sawmill which he operated besides managing his farm. In 1871, on account of ill-health, he disposed of his property in Ohio and sought the healthful, sunny climate of Kansas, hoping to regain his wonted vigor here. He bought 234 acres of land in Riley County. pleasantly located in Manhattan Township, three and one-half miles from the city. A part of the land was im- proved and the remainder was timber land. There was a stone house in process of erection on the place, which Mr. Lewis completed, and erected be- sides a corn-erib, granary and a large stone barn.

ojour taule Alom Reynolds

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He resided on his farm until 1885, when he bought land in Manhattan and erccted his present resi- dence, a commodious frame house, finely located on the corner of Third and Fremont streets, and in this pleasant abode he and his amiable wife are en- joying the comforts of life without its cares and hard toil, the labors of their earlier years having placed them beyond the necessity of active work in life's decline.

Forty-six years ago in November, 1843, William Lewis and Sarah J. Brubaker united their lives for better or worse and have never had cause to regret that important step. Of their pleasant union seven children have been born-Jacob, William H., Jere- miah, Jonathan, George W.,John Wesley and Ilar- vey. Jacob, residing in Richland County, Ohio, is married and has four children ; William, residing in Williams County, Ohio, is married and has three children; Jeremiah, residing in Manhattan Town- ship, is married and has four children; Jonathan. residing in Manhattan Township, is married and has three children; George W. resides in Barton County, Mo .; John and Harvey reside in Manhat- tan Township.

Mrs. Lewis was born in Huron County, Ohio. March 25, 1825. Her father, Jacob Brubaker, was born in Pennsylvania and was there reared and mar- ried. About 1820 he removed to Ohio and was one of the earliest settlers of Huron County, where he bought timbered land. Building a log house, with a mud and stick chimney, he resided in that place a few years. and then moved to Richland County, which was then sparsely settled, Mansfield being but a small hamlet in which was a block house where the white people took refuge when the Indians, who still lingered there, were troublesome. Mr. Bru- baker took up a tract of wild land in the forests about fifteen miles northwest of Mansfield, and there improved a good farm, on which he spent his last days. The maiden name of his wife was Christina Hoffman, and she was a native of Penn- sylvania. She used to have to cook before the old-fashioned open fireplace, and it was her deft hand that spun and wove all the clothing used by her family. She died on the homestead in Rich- land County.

Mr. Lewis is rightly considered one of our most

estimable citizens, as in a life of nearly seventy years his acts have always been guided by honora- ble principles, and in his dealings with others he has ever been kind, generous and considerate. He and his wife are sincere Chritians. and for forty years were consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. But in 1887, without changing their religious views essentially, they united with the Mission Church at Manhattan.

LVIN REYNOLDS, Postmaster at Keats. is one of the old-timers of Riley County, and during the Civil War was a soldier in the Union army. He came to Kansas during its pioneer days, and has contributed his quota toward developing the best interests of Riley County. A self-made man in the broadest sense of the term, he, through his own efforts, worked his way up from an humble position in life, and is numbered among the leading men of the com- munity.

The third child of his parents, Elijah and Leti- tia (Ammerman) Reynolds, natives of New York State, the subject of this sketch was born Sept. 15, 1824, in Dutchess County, N. Y., and there grew to man's estate. His father was a rope-maker by trade, and both parents spent their lives in their native State, the mother dying in 1858, and the father the following year. They had a family of eight children, three of whom are living and resi- dents of New York and Kansas. Alvin, like the others, was at an early age trained to habits of in- dustry, and when a youth of sixteen years started out for himself by beginning to work on a farm. In the meantime he had learned the trade of a stone mason. After reaching his majority he em- ployed himself at farming in New York State until 1865. That year he repaired to Riley County. Kan., and soon afterward enlisted in Company G, 2d United States Cavalry, joining his regiment at Winchester, Va., remaining in that region one year. Thence they were transferred to the 7th regiment, which was employed largely in gnard and garrison duty at Ft. Leavenworth. Later they were at Ft. Riley, and when his services were no

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longer needed, Mr. Reynolds received his bonora- ble discharge, in March, 1867.

Soon after retiring from the service, we find Mr. Reynolds established at Manhattan, Kan., where he followed his trade, and in 1886 he came to what was then Wild Cat, but is now Keats village. He opened a grocery store, which he has since con- dneted, building up a good trade. He was mar- ried over thirty-three years ago, March 2, 1856, to Miss Lavina Stephens, a native of New York State. and who died in 1874. He was a second time mar- ried, Feb. 2, 1876, to Miss Etta, daughter of Will- iam and Lucinda (Goodnow ) Parkinson, natives of New England. Mrs. Reynolds was the eldest of two children, and was born April 16, 1853. in Westerly, R. I. Of her union with our subject there were born two sons-William E. and Louis. Mrs. Etta Reynolds died March 12, 1889. She was a member in good standing of the Methodist Epis- copal Church.

Mr. Reynolds takes a warm interest in politics, and votes the straight Republican ticket. He was appointed Postmaster of Wild Cat in 1886, and re- appointed since that time. The name of the village was changed to Keats in 1889. The familiar face of Mr. Reynolds is known to most of the residents of Wild Cat Township, where he long ago estab- lished himself in their esteem and confidence.

On another page will be found the portrait of Mr. Reynolds, as one of the most honored citizens of Riley County.

P HILANDER BRITON LEWIS, Attorney- at-law, Randolph, Riley County. The legal profession of Kansas is adorned by many members of the bar whose brilliant minds, scholarly attainments and legal acumen make them lights in the profession. Capt. P. B. Lewis is prominent among these men and is not only well qualified for the profession which he is fol- lowing, but for a high rank in other professions. It is a pleasure to chronicle as well as can be done in a brief sketch, his life and labors, but before

doing so it may be well to say a few words re- garding his ancestry and parentage.

The grandfather of our subject was of Welsh and English descent. He fought in the Colomal Army and died in Kentucky, to which he had removed from Virginia. In the latter State his son, John, the father of our subject, was born in the year 1790. When twenty-one years old, he went with his father to Kentucky, and the latter dying soon after he was left to support his mother. They remained in Kentucky but a year, thence remov- ing to Ohio, being among the first settlers of Springfield. There John Lewis engaged in the blacksmithing business in partnership with Mr. Smallwood. He afterwards became Government blacksmith for the Indians in Crawford County, and remained in the government employ for eight years. Henext bought 320 acres on the Reserva- tion, being almost the place where Col. Crawford was burned by the savages. This farm Mr. Lewis operated until his death in 1841. He was a Whig in politics. He had been Justice of the Peace, and Class-Leader in the Methodist Episcopal Church.

The wife of John Lewis, and the inother of our subject, was in her maidenhood Miss Sidney Sweet, and was born in Kentucky, being a daughter of Joshua Sweet, a farmer and weaver of that State. He subsequently removed to Ohio, giving his whole attention to weaving in Springfield for some years, and afterwards changed his location to l'r- bana, Champaign County. where he remained nn- til his death. Mrs. Sidney Lewis was well educated, and being possessed of much natural ability was able after her husband's death to manage the farm and successfully carry on the business connected with the estate. Her excellent religious training, combined with the other qualities she possessed, led her into prominence in the church, and she be- came a Class-Leader, taking the place formerly occupied by her lamented husband. In 1847 she sold the estate and removed to Bellefontaine, where she resided until her death in 1853. She had been twice married, her first husband being a Mr. Hedges. The result of the union was one son -Robert-now living in Missonri. Iler nnion with Mr. Lewis was blessed by the birth of eight chil-

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dren. Eliza is now the wife of the Rev. J. R. Cary, of Garden Grove, Iowa ; Mary lives in Hunts- ville, Ohio: James is engaged in carriage-manufac- turing in Garden Grove, Iowa; Ann R. is now Mrs. Crandall, of Leavenworth, Kan .; William S. a min- ister of the Methodist Episcopal Church died 1866; John C. is a farmer and merchant at St. Paul, Neb. Ile was First Lieut. of Company 1, 51st Ohio Inf., having enlisted at Canal Dover, while engaged in the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church, being enrolled in 1861, and served until he resigned on account of ill-health during the following year; Sarah E. is now Mrs. Harrod, of Huntsville, Ohio.

P. B. Lewis, of whom we write, was born near Crawfordsville, Wyandot Co., Ohio, Jan. 22, 1834, and during his boyhood. attended both sub- scription and free schools. In 1847 he went to Logan County with his mother, and about a year later engaged as a clerk in a general merchandise establishment in Hardin County. In the fall of 1849 he entered the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, taking the classical course. He spent a year in the Preparatory department, then entering the Freshman Class, continued his studies at the University until 1854, but with an attendance at irregular intervals. He then went to New Albany. Ind., and after sojourning there a few months re- turned to Logan County and began teaching school.

In the spring of 1855 Mr. Lewis began the study of law under Judge Lawrence, with whom he con- tinned twelve months. In 1857 he had been licensed as a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and leaving the office of Judge Lawrence, he entered upon the work of the ministry, which he continued until 1859, when his health became so poor that he was obliged to retire from the field. He again took up his legal studies, was admitted to the bar in 1861, and immediately began practice in Ottawa.

The attempts made upon the life of our Nation aroused in Mr. Lewis a sense of the imminent dan- ger in which the Government stood, and he deter- mined to assist in preserving the Union he had been taught to revere. He therefore enlisted in the 3d Ohio Cavalry, being mustered into service at Mon- roeville in the fall of 1861, and was at once sent to

Camp Dennison, near Cincinnati, Ohio, and was attached to Gen. Buell's army. During the follow- ing winter the command had no heavy engage- ments. but severe work began for them in the spring. They fought at Pittsburg Landing, and the siege of Corinth, taking part in the first battles there, following which Mr. Lewis was detailed for detached service as a clerk and postmaster in Gen. Wood's division. He remained in that position until Oct. 18, 1862, then being present in the terri- ble battle at Perryville. The day after the con- flict he started back to Louisville with Gen. Wood's order, having two men with him. They were cap- tured by John Morgan's men, riding directly into that band which wore the Union uniform. Mr. Lewis and his comrades were kept prisoners for twenty-two hours and then paroled, the messages which Mr. Lewis carried having been securely hid- den by him, and there being no plausible reason for their further detention. The dispatches were de- livered at Louisville in proper shape, if somewhat delayed in their transmission.

Mr. Lewis rejoined his regiment at Murfreesboro. March, 1863, and there acted as correspondent to the Cincinnati Commercial for the commissioned officers, the regiment remaining in eamp until June 23, when Mr. Lewis became Orderly Sergeant. At the conflict of Tullahoma the command forced the works, following which exploit came a succession of daily fighting till after the battle of Chickamauga, when they again went into camp. They remained at Rogersville, Ala., till the first of November, when Mr. Lewis was again detached from his com- mand and sent on recruiting service to ('olumbus. Ohio. The following spring he rejoined his regi- ment at Nashville, Tenn., having the rank of Sec- ond Lieutenant. Being detailed as Topographical Engineer. he joined Sherman on May 16, 1864, for the Grand Campaign through the southeast. llc participated in the battles at Ackworth Station, Big Shanty and Kennesaw Mountain. Early in .July, Lieutenant Lewis with five comrades was sent to Alpharetta, Ga .. to find a practical ford, and being ambushed by a party of Confederates, they were overpowered and taken prisoner. In the affray which followed the discovery of the ambuscade. Lieut. Lewis received a severe blow on the

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head from a sabre, which occasioned a pronounced astronomieal display to his vision. The prisoners were taken to Macon, thence to Savannah, thence to Charleston, S. C. Lieut. Lewis remained until his exchange, his imprisonment having extended from the 10th of July to the 28th of October. He rejoined the army at Atlanta and prepared to go home on a furlough. Two commissions were awaiting him, those of First Lieutenant and Cap- tain, and he was sworn into the latter rank on Jan. 4. 1865. His company was not in condition to fight, so they were sent to Nashville by cars and thence to Chickasaw, Ala., where they remained till March 20, 1865. At that date they again entered upon the active duties of campaign life, participating in Wilson's raid and capturing the rebels at Birmingham. Following this were the engagements at Tusealoosa,Selma, Montgomery and Columbus. The engagement at Selma on April 2d, was the hardest fight in which they took part. There 2,000 prisoners and a store of ammunition and guns were captured by the conquering army. Moving on toward Maeon, they were within seven- teen miles of that place when the news of Lee's surrender reached them.

The command went into eamp, laying plans for the capture of Jefferson Davis, and Capt. Lewis was in the brigade that accomplished that capture, and saw the noted Confederate leader at the hotel afterward. Soon after this event, Capt. Lewis was directed by Gen. Wilson to go to Andersonville, survey and outline it. He was accompanied by eleven men, and capturing the notorious Wirz, sent him to Gen. Wilson. Capt. Lewis made a com- plete survey and map of the prison, and then, being anxious to see his home and friends he resigned in July, 1865, his resignation being accepted while he was at Nashville. His service had covered a period of about four years, during which time he had never spent a day in the hospital. The profession of civil engineering which Capt. Lewis had found so useful during army life, had been learned by him when seventeen years old, while working with surveyors of the Mad River & Lake Erie Rail- road.

Returning to his native State. Capt. Lewis opened a law office in New Philadelphia, Ohio,

remaining a resident of that city until 1870, when he went to Wayne Court House, W. Va. There he engaged in legal practice, and also took charge of a select school and academy. In addition to these labors he prospeeted for mineral and coal lands. After six years spent in West Virginia, Capt. Lewis resided in Tuscola, Ill., for a few months. thenee going to Decatur County, Iowa, and in February, 1878, coming to this State. Ile located in Doniphan County and spent a year there, being ill most of the time. Randolph became his residence in July, 1879, and he engaged in legal practice and money-loaning. lIe has been very successful in building up a professional reputation, and seeures a fine share of the practice of this vieinity. In 1882 Capt. Lewis started a four-column quarto, called the Randolph Echo, turning his brilliant talents to account in journalism, and condueted the paper for six years. Ile owns a pleasant residence and lots in this city, and eight acres in Monette, a growing town in Missouri.

On January 17, 1861, Capt. Lewis became the husband of Miss Sne Frazier, a lady of education, culture and womanly grace, who was born in Canal Dover, Ohio. She began teaching at the age of fifteen years, and for seven years was the instruc- tor in one school. The happy union has been blessed by the birth of seven children, two of whom now survive. Thomas B. is a printer in Denver, C'ol .; he married Miss Florence Morgan, Charles S. is also a practical printer, but is now studying law with his father. As might be expected of the sons of such parents, both the young men have mental abilities of a high order and are practical and energetie in the use of their talents.

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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 70

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

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