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 90

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 90
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 90
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 90

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).

The latter was arrested, tried and sentenced to the penitentiary for four years. In the meantime his brother, George Shriner, arranged with a gang of desperadoes to rescue John from the Sheriff the same afternoon that the sentence was passed.

In the meantime, Sheriff Wilson conveyed the prisoner to his own house for supper, and soon after Wilcox and a companion rode up, and dis- mounting, entered the house and inquired for Mr. Wilson. They were shown into the parlor, where he was conversing with his prisoner, and present- ing a Smith & Wesson revolver, demanded the re- lease of the prisoner. Mr. Wilson dropped to the floor, then suddenly arising under the pistol. grab- bed it, and it was discharged over his head. The prisoner hurried out and mounted a horse, leaving the Sheriff and Wilcox, the desperado, scuffling for the revolver. Mrs. Wilson bravely lent a helping hand. screaming murder, and holding Wilcox for some time. Shriner finally got away. together with the other man. Wilcox was later placed in jail, and after trial sentenced to the penitentiary for four years. He was subsequently pardoned out in order to serve as a witness against George Shriner, who had employed him to do this work. Shriner was convicted, and sent to the State Prison for two years. He served his time, and is now a resident of St. Louis. John Shriner is living some- where in the far West.

Politically, Mr. Wilson gives his support to the Republican party. He is a man who makes friends wherever he goes, and has had a life big with ex- perience. Could he gather all the incidents therein in connection with his career as a public servant in various capacities, he might construct a volume which would well pay for perusal.

OHN CHRISTOPHER MALL, one of the wealthiest men of Grant Township. and pro- prietor of one of the best stoek farms in C'lay County. after a series of years indus- triously employed in accumulating a competence, is now retired from active labor. and lives at his ease on section 33. Grant Township, surrounded by

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all the comforts of life, and many of its luxuries. He is numbered among the leading German citizens of Northern Kansas, one of those who have been prominent in its growth and development. He was born in the Grand Duchy of Baden, Germany, Dec. 14. 1831, and notwithstanding he has accomplished so much, is still active and vigorous with appar- ently many years of enjoyment before him.

Franz Mall, the father of our subject, was a na- tive of the same country as his son, a butcher by trade, and also engaged in farming and grape cul- ture, besides the manufacture of wine. To him and his wife were born nine children, six sons and three daughters. The six brothers came to America, and at present four reside in Clay County, Kan., and two in Benton County, Iowa. One sister is de- ceased, while the two surviving, continue to live in Germany.

Emigrating to the United States in October, 1860, our subject came directly westward, and settled in the vicinity of Belle Plain, Iowa, where he lived six years on a farm. At the expiration of this time he changed his location to Northern Kansas, and pur- chased a quarter-section of land, paying for it $1,000 in cash, and upon this decided to erect a permanent homestead. Afterward, under the home- stead laws he pre-empted a claim of 160 acres ad- joining his first purchase. He brought the whole to a good state of cultivation, and as time passed on, being very successful as a tiller of the soil, he added to his landed possessions until he is now the owner of 520 broad acres, all improved and valu- able. The land is watered by five living springs, besides being crossed by the two branches of Mall Creek, running north and south. Along the creek are forty acres of native timber. Mr. Mall has an apple orchard comprising two acres, and one acre of grapevines. The residence is a fine, large two-story stone building, 43x32 feet in dimensions, erected in 1874, at an outlay of $3,000, besides the labor of Mr. Mall and his sons upon it. Adjacent is a fine frame barn, 30x50 feet in dimensions with eighteen-foot posts, and a shed on one side sixteen feet wide. This was built in 1882, at a cost of $1,000 besides the labor of father and sons.

All the land belonging to Mr. Mall was in its primitive condition when he assumed ownership.

He has built over five miles of hedge fencing, be- sides other fences, and has himself effected all the other improvements which attract the attention of the passing traveller. His live-stock consists of graded Short-horn cattle, Poland-China swine, and Norman horses. Everything about the premises is kept in first-class order, nothing being allowed to rnn to waste. In his farming operations, Mr. Mall has availed himself of the most approved machin- ery, and uniformly met with the success usually ac- corded the man who follows out one aim in life industriously and perseveringly.

The first marriage of Mr. Mall occurred on the -27th of February, 1855, with Miss Catherine, (daughter of Christopher Zilly), in Baden, Ger- many, where he and his wife spent the first five years of their wedded life, and where two children were born to them. Mrs. Mall, like her husband, was born in Baden, not far from his early home, and accompanied him to America. She became the mother of three children, and departed this life at their home in Iowa, Aug. 4, 1861. Left thus, stand- ing in the shadow of a great sorrow, a stranger in a strange land, far from home and kindred, and with three little children bereft of a loving mother's care, our subject, in his bereavement, had the sym- pathy of both his German and American neighbors in his Iowa home. Their eldest son, Frank, who married Miss Nanna Funk, is the father of four children-William, Delora, Ilenry, and an infant boy unnamed. He is farming in Grant Township. Kate is the wife of Miles Johns, of Ottawa County, this State; William married a Miss Bolden, and is living in Kansas City.

Mr. Mall on the 14th of December, 1862, con- tracted a second marriage with Miss Caroline, daughter of Peter Renfuse, now deceased. This lady took the part of a mother to the little step- children until having reached years of maturity, they were ready to leave the parental roof and en- ter homes of their own. Of the second union of our subject, six children have been born, viz: Laura A., Alfred S., George H., Charles, John C., and Carrie, all of whom are unmarried, and all at home with the exception of Alfred, who lives on his own farm in Union Township. Mr. and Mrs. Mall be- long to the Evangelical Association, and Mr. Mall

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is connected with the Farmers' Alliance. Ile served in the German army while in his native country. two years. Three of his brothers fought in the Civil War.

When Mr. Mall arrived in Kansas, there were neither school-houses nor schools in this section of the country. Coming from a country which recog- nized the importance of an education, he was among the first to give substantial assistance to the school fund, and it was mainly through his efforts that the first school in his district was built, the same being the fifth school organized in the county. Now there are about 100 finely equipped and suc- cessfully conducted schools in Clay County. As the result of his first efforts in the direction of a school editice, a log house was erected, which was later replaced by a commodious frame structure, the present building. The land on which the school- house was built, was deeded by Mr. Mall, so long as it is used for school purposes.

M ICHAEL MUSSELMAN. Among the foreign-born citizens of Clay Township, none have presented a more worthy career than that of Mr. Musselman. He has a fine farın well improved, occupying a portion of section 6, and has not only been successful as a tiller of the soil but in gaining the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens. Ile is a member in good standing of the Mennonite Church and usually sup- ports the Democratic party.

Mr. Musselman has just passed the sixtieth year of his age, having been born July 25, 1829 in the Kingdom of Bavaria. Ilis father, Christian Mus- selman, was born in Saxony, where he was reared to man's estate and married. After the birth of their only child the parents emigrated to America in 1846, he being then a youth of seventeen years. They settled first in Lancaster County, Pa., but sojourned there only one year, removing thence to Jo Daviess County, Ill. Michel, how- ever, remained in Pennsylvania until the spring of 1848, then joined his parents in the Prairie State where he followed farming until 1879.

In the above-mentioned year Mr. Musselman,

crossing the Mississippi, came to Northern Kansas and bought the land which he How owns and occu- pies. Later he engaged in the real estate and loan business at Clay Center, leaving the farm in the hands of his son. In January, 1888, he returned to the farm where he now proposes to remain, the sights and scenes of country life being more con- genial than the town. He has never sought office, but while a resident of Illinois, held some of the minor offices of his township there.

Mr. Musselman was first married Oct. 16, 1852. to Miss Elizabeth. daughter of John Durrstein. who spent his last years in Illinois. Of this nion there were born eleven children, ten sons and one daughter, of whom six are living -- John, Louise, Christian, Gustav, Ernest and William. John married Miss Jennie Goodin and resides in Clay Center; they have three children-Samuel, Lizzie and Frances. The mother now is deceased. Louise is the wife of Rudolph Hammer, of Jo Daviess County, Ill., and the mother of five children; Christian married Miss Kate Keiner; they occupy the homestead in Clay Township and have two children-Sally and Bertie. Gustav married Miss Lucy Dobkins and they live at Clay Center, being the parents of three children-Charles and Carl, twins, and an infant boy Clarence. Mrs. Elizabeth Musselman departed this life at her home in Jo Daviess County, Il !. , June 9, 1875. Mr. Mussel- man was married the second time, March 7, 1878, to Mrs. Ida (Fuss), Baier and of this union there have been born two children-Emma and Clara.

E DWIN J. NASON. It is not often the lot of the biographer to meet a man more gen- ial or companionable than Mr. Nason, or one who is situated amid pleasanter surroundings. He has, in fact, one of the most attractive homes in Washington County-a home built up by the hand of thrift and industry, and embellished in a manner natural to one of refined tastes and possess- ing ample means. It comprises a valuable farm, 320 acres in extent, upon which have been erected neat and substantial modern buiklings. The fields are laid out largely with hedge fencing, which is

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trimmed so accurately and true that it looks as thoughi a person might walk on top of it, and its ornamental appearance adds much to the beauty of this model farm. while there is an abundance of fruit and shade trees, the former comprising an orchard of 1,000 trees. There is also a supply of the smaller fruits. Mr. Nason makes a specialty of thoroughbred Poland-China swine and graded cat- tle, and this, in connection with his fruit operations. yields a fine income.

The subject of this notice was born in Wooster. Ohio, and spent the early years of his life in De- fiance County, receiving a fair education in the district school, and being employed mostly at farm work until a course in the Normal Institute in Williams Center, Williams County, fitted him for teaching. In November, 1861, he went to the war, enlisting in Company C, 68th Ohio Regiment. He participated in twenty-three battles, the principal of which were Ft. Donelson, Shiloh, Vicksburg, Atlanta, and went with Sherman on his famous march to the sea. He returned home in July, 1865, commissioned as First Lieutenant. Ile then re- entered the Normal Institute for a time, after which he took up the profession of teaching. This profession he followed in Ohio until 1870, and still pursued it after coming to Kansas until 1883, teach- ing one year in Washington. Soon after reaching Washington County, this State, he homesteaded 160 acres in Mill Creek Township, where he lived two years, then selling out removed to Farmington .Township, securing a part of the land which he now owns and occupies.

Mr. Nason came to Kansas a single man, but in due time made the acquaintance of Miss Emma V. Buck, to whom he was married in America City, March 22, 1874. This lady was born near Dela- ware. Ohio, and came to Kansas with her sister after reaching womanhood. Their union resulted in the birth of four children -- Lulu, George S .. Franklin M. and Sarah. The eldest and youngest child are deceased, and the wife and mother de- parted this life, at the present homestead of our subject, in Farmington Township, May 11, 1883. She was a successful teacher and a lady possessing many estimable qualities of head and heart. Her amiability and kindness had drawn around her

many warm friends, by whom she was greatly mourned, and she was likewise much missed from the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which she had for nine years been a consistent member.

Mr. Nason contracted a second marriage, May 13, 1886, at Frankfort, Kan., with Miss Ida M. Todd. who was born at that place and there reared to womanhood. After a brief season of happy wed- ded life, Mrs. Ida M. Nason died of typhoid fever, passing away seven months from the day of her marriage. She was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was a very amia- ble and accomplished lady. In his second great affliction, as in the first, Mr. Nason was tendered the sympathies of all who knew him, as one whose fondest ties had been severed, but whose faith in the promises held ont to the Christian, has ena- bled him to endure his bereavements with hope and resignation.

Mr. Nason has been connected with the Metli- odist Episcopal Church since about eighteen years of age, and a greater part of that time has offici- ated as Superintendent of the Sunday-school. He is now President of the County Sunday-school As- sociation, and has taken an especial interest in the work in Washington County. He gives his politi- cal support to the Republican party, and takes an active interest in local affairs, encouraging the measures set on foot to establish and extend the principles of that party, which have secured to the United States her union and freedom.

Of excellent old New England stock on the pa- ternal side, our subject is the son of Samuel Nason, a native of New Hampshire, a student of Dart- mouth College and a teacher by profession. The maiden name of his mother was Isabella Rippey, and she was born in Shippensburg, Pa. After marriage the parents settled in Wooster, Ohio. where the father was employed as a teacher six years. They then removed to Milford, Defiance County, where Mr. Nason followed teaching a number of years. In 1870 he determined to locate in the West, and coming to this State settled on a farm ten miles west of Washington, and followed agricultural pursuits about two years. Finally, sell- ing out, he took up his abode with his son, Edwin J., where his death occurred in November, 1885, at

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the ripe age of ninety-one years, eleven months and twenty days. The wife and mother is still living, and makes her home with our subject. They were the parents of two children only -- Edwin J. and Lucy -- the latter the wife of J. B. Frager, a farmer of Washington Township. Mr. Nason is distinguished as a liberal and public-spirited man, especially interested in agriculture-one who makes of it an art and a seience, and particularly eneour- ages the maintenance of the County Fair Associ- tion, of which he was at one time the able and efficient President.

The following quotation is from a complimentary notiee in a loeal paper: "We had the pleasure of visiting the farm and orchard of Mr. Edwin J. Na- son, three miles northeast of the city, who is one of the first fruit-raisers of Washington County. In the matter of fruit, we hardly think there is a bet- ter orchard in the State. Mr. Nason has three orehards-one about twenty years old, one about half that age, and a young one not yet bearing. His peach erop this year is simply immense. Ilis lawn is ornamented with the largest and most beau- tiful evergreens. symmetrieally trimmed, that we have seen in the West. The farm comprises 320 acres, 100 acres of which is in corn, the erop from which is estimated to be 5,000 bushels. He has also a large herd of cattle and hogs."

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C HARLES G, WOOD, formerly cashier of the Exchange Bank of Riley, is likewise a promi- nent stockholder in this institution, a thor- ough business man and one of the leading citizens of the county. He has made his way up from a mod- est position in life to one of honor and success, solely by his own unaided efforts, equipped only with the qualities which nature gave him. He was born in Rock County, Wis., April 30, 1858, and is the son of Nathan H. and Mary (Gillett) Wood, who came of excellent ancestry and made for themselves a career worthy of record and one of which their children have no reason to ever be ashamed.

Nathan H. Wood was born in Whiteball, N. Y. in 1826. He was there reared and received his early education and decided to become a member

of the legal profession, entering the law depart- ment of Union College. in Schenectady, from which he was graduated in due time with honors. In 1854, when a man of twenty-eight years, leav- ing the Empire State he established himself in Janesville, Wis., where he lived until 1858. That year, moving west of the Mississippi, he took up his abode in Leavenworth, this State, where he has sinee resided and become a leading light among his brethren at the bar. For many years he stood at the head of his profession in Leavenworth and vieinity, conducting sueeessfully some of the most important eases brought up in the courts of that region. He was at one time County Attorney of Leavenworth County, and like most all lawyers, made a fortune and has also spent one.

Mrs. Mary (Gillett) Wood was born in Akron, Ohio, and departed this life in Leavenworth, Kan .. at the early age of abont forty-two years. There had been born to her and her husband a family of six children, viz: Charles G., our subject ; Eliza- beth F., Benjamin, Frank G., Cora L. and Grace. Charles G., the eldest, was reared in Leavenworth, and received a common-school education; he was attentive to his books, and as a boy, was more than ordinarily bright and ambitious, with a good head for business. In 1875 he repaired to Clay Center and became connected with the Clay County Bank, as a elerk, in which capacity he served satisfaeto- rilly for a period of four years. In 1879 he en- gaged with the Chicago Lumber Company, doing business for the company at different points in Kansas until the spring of 1880. Then returning to Leavenworth, he followed book-keeping one year and next at Lincoln Center, in partnership with S. A. Foster, engaged in the lumber business which they prosecuted until 1885. Mr. Wood then sell- ing out repaired to Leonardville, and was em- ployed as a book-keeper until 1888, during which year he assumed the duties of cashier of the bank at Riley.

On the 31st of August, 1881, Charles (+. Wood was united in marriage with Miss Caroline Quinby, of Lincoln Center, Kan. Mrs. Wood was born in Milford, Mass., Aug. 8. 1858, and is the daughter of Oremandel and Jane (Cheney) Quinby, who were natives of Massachusetts and who are now

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living at Leavenworth. Of this union there has been born one child only, a son, Lee, June 9, 1882. Mr. Wood, politically, is a sound Republican, but has never been an office-seeker, preferring to give his time and attention to his legitimate calling. Ile was appointed by the commissioners of the county, as Treasurer, an office he now holds, in place of James M. Fortner, who defaulted.

OHN STIGGE, one of the most prominent German citizens of Lincoln Township, is a gentleman well fixed financially, and has made all he has by hard work since coming to Kansas. Ile has been a resident of this State since Oct., 28, 1869, when he ventured on what was then the frontier, and homesteaded a piece of land on section 20, Lincoln Township, where he has since resided and bent his best efforts to the ac- cummulation of a competence. The extent to which he has succeeded may be judged by the fact that he is now the owner of 357 broad acres of as good land as is to be found in the southeastern part of Washington County. Mr. Stigge has made good improvements, and has brought his land to a high state of cultivation. This has only been ef- fected by hard work and good management, and too much credit cannot be given to the proprietor of this estate, which is considered one of the most desirable in the county.

The subject of this sketch was born in the town of Grosbergthom, in the Grand Duchy of Olden- berg, Germany, Jan. 27, 1839. His father, John G. Stigge, was a native of the same place as his son, and spent his entire life upon his native soil. He followed agricultural pursuits, and was the owner of a small farm upon which he made a comfortable living for his family. He had been reared in the doctrines of the Lutheran Church, to which he ad- hered from his youth up, and in the faith of which he died in 1870, at the age of about seventy six years.

The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Alke Magagrathe. She was a native of Ger- many, and died in 1859, at the age of forty-eight years. The household circle was completed by the

birth of nine children, viz: Henry, Magagrathe, John G., Anna, John, Herman, Rebecca A. and two infants, the fifth and seventh child who died unnamed. John, the sixth in order of birth, was reared in his native Province, obtaining a good ed- ucation in the German tongue. When of suitable years he entered the army, and participated in the Franco-Prussian War, in 1866. Hle left his native land in 1868, emigrating to America and located in Des Moines, Iowa, where he lived one year and a half and until coming to Kansas.

On the 23d of January. 1871, Mr. Stigge was united in marriage with Miss Lena Tomshef, of Waterville, this State. Mrs. Stigge was like her husband a native of the Fatherland, and after a happy married life died at her home, in Lincoln Township, April 25. 1877. Mr. Stigge afterward contracted a second marriage with Miss Caroline Killman, of Washington County, and to them there have been born three children-Anna, Adolph and Frederick. Mr. Stigge was reared in the doctrines of the Lutheran Church, to which he steadfastly adheres, attending church in a building which was erected on his farm. He has a fine residence, flanked by good barns and outhouses, and represented on A another page by a fine lithographie engraving. fair assortment of fruit and shade trees, and all the other appurtenances of the well-regulated country estate, are also to be found here. Stock-raising forms one of the features of Mr. Stigge's farming operations, in which he has been very successful. He is numbered among the substantial citizens of Lincoln Township-one who has done good service in advancing its best interests.

Le EVI LOWER. Among those who have been instrumental in the development of one of the most beautiful sections of country in the world, is the subject of this notice, one of the Commissioners of Washington County, who has a very atractive homestead in Brantford Township, on the southwestern line of Washington County. His residence. a large, white frame structure, which is represented by a fine engraving on another page,

FARM RESIDENCE OF LEVI LOWER, SEC. 1. BRANTFORD TOWNSHIP, WASHINGTON CO.KAN.

RESIDENCE OF JOHN STIGGE, SEC.2. LINCOLN TOWNSHIP, WASHINGTON .CO. KAN.

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stands on an elevation, and with its adjacent out- buildings, including a large red barn, can be seen at a long distance from the public highway. A small stream, running near, supports a fine growth of timber, and the fruit and forest trees around the buildings present one of the most charming pic- tures in the landscape of this region.

He who built up this home was born in Blair County. Pa., over fifty-nine years ago, April 16, 1830. Ile lived there until approaching man's estate, then emigrating to Illinois, established him- self in Rock Island County, and lived there until the year 1870. That year found him in the wilds of Washington County, Kan., looking over an un- settled tract of country, with the firm belief that from it could be constructed a farm, which in time would yield a handsome income. He, accordingly, homesteaded 160 acres, and now, at the expiration of nineteen years, dwells in the realization of his hopes. He has now a fine tract of fertile land, yielding in abundance the rich erops of this region. Much time,labor and money have been expended in effecting the improvements which we see around him, but it has been capital admirably invested. In addition to general agriculture and fruit-raising, he is largely interested in live-stock, which like- wise yields handsome returns.

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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 90

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

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