USA > Missouri > Cass County > History of Cass County, Missouri > Part 49
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J. Z. Hartzler, president of the Commercial State Bank of East Lynne, and owner of the Gray Gables Stock Farm, is a native of Pennsyl- vania, born in 1851, and a son of Joseph and Barbara (Zook) Hartzler, also Pennsylvanians.
J. Z. Hartzler was educated in the common schools in Pennsylvania. He came to Cass County in 1873 and worked at the carpenter's trade for a time, and in 1875 went to Reno County, Kansas. After remaining there about a year he returned to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and in 1882 came back to Cass County and engaged in farming and stock raising, In 1894 he bought his present place of three hundred forty acres which is known as Gray Gables Stock Farm. In 1898 he began raising, in a small way, registered white faced cattle. He gradually increased his herd and now usually has on hand about seventy-five head. His cattle are high class and he always has a ready market at good prices. He also has some very fine Percheron horses, although he is perhaps better known as a breeder of white faced cattle.
Mr. Hartzler was one of the organizers of the Farmers Bank of East Lynne and for a number of years was vice-president of that institu- tion. In 1912 he helped organize the Commercial State Bank of East Lynne and has served in the capacity as president since that bank was organized. This bank was organized in October, 1912, with a capital stock of ten thousand dollars and its first officers were: J. Z. Hartzler, president; N. D. Hartzler, vice-president; W. P. Edmonson, cashier. Its present officers are: J. Z. Hartzler, president; Fred H. Kinney, vice- president, and C. T. Plank, cashier. The directors are: C. C. Plank, E. Edmonds, D. L. Clark, William Boydston and B. J. Yoder. A recent report shows deposits of fifty thousand dollars and undivided profits of three thousand two hundred. This bank has always been under success-
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ful management and some of the most substantial men of Cass County are identified with it.
Mr. Hartzler was married in 1876 to Miss Mary A. Byler, a daughter of John L. and Elizabeth (Hartzler) Byler, natives of Pennsylvania. Mrs. J. Z. Hartzler is one of seven children born to her parents as follows: Eli, Newton, Kansas; Mrs. Eri Yoder, Goshen, Indiana; Joseph H., Belle- ville, Pennsylvania; Christian H., West Liberty, Ohio; Mary, the wife of J. Z. Hartzler; Mrs. Hanna Plank, Goshen, Indiana; and John L., Newton, Kansas.
To J. Z. Hartzler and wife have been born the following children: Elmer J., La Junta, Colorado; J. E., Goshen, Indiana; Joseph G., Bran- don, Colorado; Mrs. Sadie L. Miller, Wellman, Iowa; Sherman A., at home; Mrs. Bertha Ann Yoder, Peoria, Illinois; Martin Mckinley, on the home farm; Herbert LeRoy, Wellman, Iowa; Fannie Mildred, resides at home; and William Milo, who died at the age of six years.
Mr. Hartzler's farm is well improved and thoroughly equipped with all modern methods of improvements. He has his own electric light plant with which his residence is lighted and his place is also equipped with a complete water works system. Mr. Hartzler has never aspired to hold political office although he takes a lively interest in local affairs and the welfare of the community, being an especial friend of the public school system. For twenty-five years he has been a member of the East Lynne school board.
Hial H. Miller, agent for the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad Company at East Lynne, is prominently identified with local affairs in that section of the county. Mr. Miller is a native son of Cass County, and was born in Polk township in 1886, a son of William L. and Sallie E. (Aldridge) Miller. The father was born in Howard County, Missouri, in 1847, a son of John and Elizabeth (Boulware) Miller, natives of Pennsyl- vania.
During the Civil war William L. Miller served in the Confederate army under General Price and at the close of the war he settled in Cooper County, where he was married to Cora Cordry, in 1872. She died in 1874, and the following year Mr. Miller came to Cass County, locating north of Harrisonville. He then went to Camp Branch township where he remained one year when he went to Polk township and for eight years was engaged in farming there. In 1887 Mr. Miller settled in East Lynne
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where he has been engaged in the dray and transfer business for twenty- five years. In 1885 he was married to Sallie Aldridge and one child was born to this union, Hial H., the subject of this sketch.
Hial H. Miller was educated in the public schools of East Lynne and was graduated from the High School in the class of. 1900. He then entered the employ of the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railroad Company and learned station work and telegraphy and has been local agent for that company at East Lynne since 1902. In addition to being a railroad man Mr. Miller is something of a successful farmer and stock fancier. He owns a farm of forty-four and one-half acres, twelve of which are within the corporate limits of East Lynne. He has a well improved place and makes a specialty of fancy stock. He has registered Jersey cows, pure blood Duroc Jersey hogs, and barred Plymouth Rock chickens.
Mr. Miller was married March 28, 1915, to Miss Ada Lee Wagner, daughter of P. S. and Mary (Lee) Wagner, pioneer settlers of Index township and now residents of Pleasant Hill township. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have one son, Downing, born August 25, 1916.
Mr. Miller is a democrat who takes an active part in politics and is committeeman of Camp Branch township. He is past master of the Masonic Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons No. 372, East Lynne, and is the present secretary of that organization. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and treasurer of the East Lynne school board.
Charles E. Famuliner, a prominent farmer and stockman of Camp Branch township, is a native of Ohio, born in Ross County, in 1845. His parents were Charles and Sarah (Pieper) Famuliner, both natives of Ohio, who removed to Illinois in an early day and spent the remainder of their lives in that state. They were the parents of the following chil- dren: John W., Monticello, Illinois; Mrs. Mary E. Clark, Monticello, Illinois; P. M., Butler, Missouri; Jonathan, Garden City, Missouri ; Charles E., the subject of this sketch; George W., deceased; William, who served in the Union army during the Civil war, and died shortly afterwards in Illinois; Mrs. Katharine McRoberts, who died in Labette County, Kansas; and Elize, deceased.
Charles E. Famuliner was reared to manhood in Illinois. There he received his education in the public schools. In 1874 he came to Cass County, locating in Camp Branch township. He and his brothers John,
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George, P. M., and Jonathan bought seven hundred sixty acres of land from different parties in this part of the county. The present home- place of Charles E. was purchased from a man named Coleman who lived in St. Louis. It was unbroken prairie land when Mr. Famuliner bought it and it cost about fourteen dollars and fifty cents per acre.
Upon locating here Mr. Famuliner immediately began farming and stock raising and from the start took a special pride in keeping registered stock, especially as head of his herds. He has kept Shorthorn cattle and has been an extensive feeder, having fed as high as five car loads of cattle and hogs annually. He raises Poland China hogs, and has met with considerable success in raising mules as well as Percheron horses and Shropshire sheep. He follows out his theory of high grade stock even to his chickens and when he began farming in Cass County, he started with White Bramah chickens and still has the same stock. Mr. Famu- liner has been very successful in his undertakings and is one of the large land owners of the county. He owns over eleven hundred acres in Cass County and nine hundred acres in Colorado.
October 3, 1877, Mr. Famuliner was united in marriage with Miss Mary Alice Blaine of Austin, Missouri, a daughter of James and Eunice (Beard) Blaine, who settled in this county just after the Civil war. Mrs. Famuliner's parents are both deceased and their remains are buried in the Austin Cemetery. Six children were born to Mrs. Famuliner's parents, the others being as follows: Mrs. Mary McCanse, Cozard, Nebraska; William Blaine, Garden City, Missouri; Charles, Adrian, Missouri; Frankie and Dollie, deceased.
To Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Famuliner have been born the following children: George W., farmer and stockman, Camp Branch township; Clara Alice, who died in infancy; Lulu, who married Alonzo Burch, cashier of the Citizens Bank of Belton; Arthur, farmer and stockman, Camp Branch township; Chauncey, farmer and stockman, Camp Branch township.
Mr. Famuliner is a stockholder in the Commercial State Bank at East Lynne and was one of the organizers of that institution. Notwith- standing that his time has been largely occupied with his private affairs Mr. Famuliner takes a commendable interest in the welfare of the com- munity and is always ready to co-operate with any local enterprise for the public good. He has served on the local school board for a number of years and is a progressive and substantial citizen.
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The appearance of the Famuliner farm and home bespeaks the thrift and enterprise of the owner. The farm buildings are of the type best adapted for the convenience of carrying on farming and stock raising on an extensive scale. There are five barns and practically four sets of improvements. The place is well supplied with water from five ponds.
The Famuliner residence is a substantial fourteen room structure, built in 1890, and this, the home, is Mrs. Famuliner's particular domain, over which she presides with the true domestic instinct of the mother of our boyhood days. She is a woman of refinement and her home reflects her nature in no unmistakable terms. Mrs. Famuliner takes a laudable interest in the well-being of her broad circle of friends and acquaintances. She has made it a practice for years, whenever she receives an invitation to a wedding, to present the bride as a wedding gift a quilt made by her own hands.
Alonzo Myers, a Civil war veteran and prosperous farmer and stock- man of Camp Branch township, is a native of Fleming County, Kentucky. He was born in 1844, a son of Henry and Marjorie (Myers) Myers, both natives of Kentucky. Henry Myers was the son of John Myers, whose father was one of the very early settlers of Kentucky, locating there about the time that Daniel Boone explored the "dark bloody ground."
Alonzo Myers was the only child born to his parents. He was reared in his native state. In the early part of the Civil War, he enlisted in the First Kentucky regiment, which was an organization of Confederate troops and known as the Home Guards. Later however he entered the federal service, enlisting in the Tenth Kentucky cavalry, and served in the Union army from 1862 until after the close of the war. He was mustered out of service at Maysville, Kentucky. During his term of service his command operated in Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia, and Kentucky. He was severely wounded in a skirmish near Owensville; however he recovered and rejoined his regiment. He was in a number of engagements including Perrysville and Richmond, Kentucky, and at the latter place took part in three different engagements over the same ground. He was captured twice but succeeded in escaping both times.
At the close of the war Mr. Myers went to Illinois for a short time, when he returned to Kentucky. Here he was engaged in lumbering and building mills for a time. In 1877 he came to Cass County, Missouri. He first settled near Latour, and from there moved to Archie, where he
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remained until 1895. He then went to Lees Summit and shortly after- wards settled in Camp Branch township on his present place of three hundred twenty acres which he purchased from the heirs of C. P. Yoder. Mr. Myers has successfully carried on general farming and stock raising and raises quite a number of horses and hogs. During recent years he rents his farm and has practically retired from active participation in farm work. The Myers' residence is an old Cass County landmark. It ·was erected in 1874 by C. P. Yoder and is a twenty-one room brick structure, located three and three-fourths miles northwest of Garden City.
Mr. Myers was united in marriage in 1874 with Miss Mary E. Hayden of Moores Ferry, Kentucky. She is a daughter of Captain B. T. Hayden and Emily Filson, both now deceased. Captain Hayden was a Civil war veteran and served for over four years in Company A, Seventh Kentucky cavalry.
To Alonzo Myers and wife were born the following children: Emma Wynona, who married Dr. G. F. Hauser, LaCrosse, Wisconsin; William Leonard, farmer, Camp Branch township; and Beulah Wave, who resides at home with her parents.
William Kanzler, a successful farmer and stockman of Camp Branch township, is a native of Pennsylvania. He was born in Allegheny County, September 8, 1848. His parents were Peter and Susan (Reinhard) Kanz- ler, natives of Baden, Germany. They were the parents of four children, as follows: Mrs. Catherine Lazro, Wooster, Ohio; William, the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Susan Zinsmaster, Emsworth, Pennsylvania; and Adam, Grove City, Pennsylvania.
Mr. Kanzler received his education in the public schools of Pitts- burgh, Pennsylvania. When fourteen years old he started to make his own way in the world and went to work for a neighbor. Two years later his father was injured while operating a strip coal mine and young Kanzler returned home to assist in the operation of the mine, while his father was recovering from the injury. At the age of nineteen he went to Wooster, Ohio, and entered the employ of Ephram Quinby, remaining with him for fourteen years. In 1880, Mr. Kanzler came to Cass County settling in Camp Branch township and in January, 1881, purchased eighty acres of land of C. A. Brous, which he still owns. The place was partially improved and there was a house 14 x 16 on it which is still standing and now used for a work-shop. Mr. Kanzler paid twenty dollars per acre for
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his farm and it now would be conservatively estimated at probably one hundred twenty-five dollars per acre. The place is one of the best im- proved farms in Cass County, with a splendid nine-room modern house, built in 1896, with all modern improvements, including a hot water system, bath and other conveniences. The barn and other farm buildings are in thorough keeping with the residence. Mr. Kanzler raises stock quite extensively and is inclined to keep only the best grade of horses, cattle and hogs. He raises Percheron horses, Shorthorn cattle and pure blood Poland China hogs. In short he is a twentieth century farmer and stockman.
Mr. Kanzler was united in marriage in 1870 at Wooster, Ohio, with Miss Amelia Hirschy, a native of Fredericksburg, Ohio. She is a daugh- ter of Henry and Mary (Hurst) Hirschy. The former was born October 30, 1815, in Switzerland, and lived to the advanced age of ninety years. The mother was born in 1828 and died in 1892. They were the parents of the following children: Mrs. Charles A. Ahrens, Kitchner, Ontario; Mrs. Horace Carr, Kansas City, Missouri; and Amelia, the wife of William Kanzler, the subject of this sketch. Mrs. Kanzler's father was a skilled mechanic. A turning lathe which he made in 1838 is now in Mr. Kanzler's work-shop.
To Mr. and Mrs. Kanzler have been born two sons: William P., a graduate of the Harrisonville High School, class of 1892, who later learned the carpenter's trade and built the present Kanzler home, and is now deputy postmaster of Chanute, Kansas; and Walter H., who graduated from the Harrisonville High School in the class of 1909, and the Missouri University in the class of 1914, is an electrical engineer in the employ of Fairbanks and Morse, Kansas City, Missouri. He has the supervision of the erecting of engines for that company.
Mr. and Mrs. Kanzler are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Pleasant Valley. Mrs. Kanzler has been a Sunday School teacher for the past fourteen years.
Ira Hartzler, a well-known, successful auctioneer of Camp Branch township, is a native of Cass County. He was born in Index township, in 1881, and is a son of J. J. and Magdalena (Mast) Hartzler, natives of Pennsylvania. J. J. Hartzler came to Cass County in 1880, and settled three and one-half miles northeast of the present town of Garden City. Here he purchased a farm where he remained and was successfully en-
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gaged in farming and stock raising until 1912, when he removed to Camp Branch township.
Ira Hartzler is one of a family of eight children born to his parents, as follows: Samuel M., who died at the age of twenty-five; Sarah, resides at home; Chauncey A., Bureau County, Illinois; Mary, now the widow of M. S. King, Camp Branch township; Ira, the subject of this sketch; Anna, married William Eigsta, Bureau County, Illinois; Joseph D., Livingston County, Illinois; and Levi J., on the home place.
Mr. Hartzler was reared on the home farm in Cass County, and received his education in the Clearfork school, Camp Branch township. In 1912 he took a course in the Missouri Auction School of Kansas City, Missouri, where he was graduated in October, 1912. Since that time he has been engaged in auctioneering. His first sale was the Mattie Troyer sale held in Index township. Mr. Hartzler is recognized as a very capable auctioneer, and is past master in the art of public salesmanship. His business has gradually developed, as his ability has been recognized by the public, and during the past season his time has been fully occupied with sales for which he has been engaged for several weeks ahead. He is a close student of the art of public salesmanship and possesses unusual natural talent in that direction. His work covers a large scope of terri- tory including Cass and adjoining counties.
Mr. Hartzler was married in Camp Branch township, January 1, 1905, to Miss Martha M. Yoder, daughter of C. D. and Elizabeth (Garber) Yoder, of Camp Branch township. C. D. Yoder is a son of Reuben and Martha Yoder, pioneers of Camp Branch township. To Mr. and Mrs. Hartzler have been born two children: Bernice and Iona Ruth.
Mr. Hartzler is a progressive young man and a hustler. He and his wife are very prominent in the community.
S. W. Boydston, a successful farmer and stockman of Camp Branch township, is a native of Missouri, and belongs to a pioneer family of this state. He was born in Platt County, in 1867, and is a son of Nathaniel Boydston and Margaret (Forbian) Broadhurst. The father was a native of Tennessee, born in 1811, and was a soldier in the Black Hawk Indian war. Nathaniel Boydston was a son of Thomas Boydston. The Boyds- tons came to Missouri in 1831 locating in Clay County. In 1838 Thomas Boydston removed to Buchanan County, where he died in 1862. Nathaniel Boydston, father of S. W., lived near Platt City until 1844, then removed
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to Buchanan County. In 1850 he went to California, remaining there about one year, when he returned by way of Nicaraugua route, and while enroute to New York, the vessel foundered off Cape Hatteras. However he succeeded in reaching New York and from there returned to his Missouri home. He remained in Buchanan County until 1856, when he removed to Jackson County, Kansas, remaining there until 1863.
Nathaniel Boydston was twice married. His first wife's name was Dina Forbian, to whom he was married July 22, 1836. Ten children were born to this union. The mother died January 16, 1861. April 27, 1862, Nathaniel Boydston was married to Margaret Forbian Broadhurst, widow of Reverend Jacob Broadhurst and sister of Mr. Boydston's first wife, and the following children were born to this union: William L., East Lynne, Missouri; Mrs. Birdie Sweeney, East Lynne, Missouri; and S. W., the subject of this sketch.
S. W. Boydston was educated in the public schools of Platt County. In 1887 he came to Cass County with his parents, locating at East Lynne, and remaining with his parents until death had called them away. Mr. Boydston has made farming and stock raising the principal occupation of his life, and has met with very satisfactory success in that line of endeavor. He owns one hundred twenty acres in Polk township, one hundred eighteen acres in Camp Branch township, and one hundred sixty acres in Pleasant Hill township. In 1914 he built a fine modern residence in East Lynne. His place is well improved with a large barn which he built in 1898 and other farm buildings and conveniences in proportion. Mr. Boydston is unmarried. He is one of Cass County's progressive and most substantial citizens.
John L. Kohler, owner and proprietor of Lone Elm Valley Stock Farm, is a native son of Cass County. He was born in Grand River township, September 10, 1868, and is a son of John and Margaret N. (Watkins) Kohler, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Pennsylvania. John Kohler came to America with his parents when he was about ten years old, and grew to manhood in Ohio. In 1866 he came to Missouri and located in Cass County. He was married in Logan County, Ohio, before coming here, and he and his wife came to this state in company with Jacob Kircher. They drove the entire distance with lumber wagons. After coming here John Kohler bought sixty acres of land in Grand River township where he made his home until 1902, when
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he moved to Harrisonville, where he is now living retired. He has added to his original acreage from time to time and is now a large landowner and one of Cass County's well-to-do citizens. To John Kohler and wife were born the following children: John L., the subject of this sketch ; D. H., Coffeeville, Kansas; Mrs. Maggie Wolfe, Creighton, Missouri; E. D., Olathe, Kansas; A. W., Harrisonville, Missouri; I. M., on the home farm; and a daughter, Sallie, died in infancy.
John L. Kohler received his education in the public schools of Harri- sonville. He remained on the home farm until he was twenty-one years old. He then worked for J. W. Kirk of Camp Branch township for one year, when he rented the Peter Keller farm and began farming for him- self. In 1901 he bought the Joel Warren farm of one hundred twenty-five acres at twenty dollars per acre. This place was practically unimproved and Mr. Kohler proceeded to make necessary improvements and has built four barns, 28 × 40, 50 x 54, 40 x 52, and 42 x 60 feet in dimensions respectively, and a good farm residence. He has his place under an excellent state of cultivation. Mr. Kohler is a good farmer and especially a good stockman. He raises Polled Durham and Shorthorn cattle, grade hogs and Shropshire sheep. His place is well stocked. He now has about one hundred head of cattle, and the same number of hogs.
Mr. Kohler was married January 6, 1892, to Miss Lulu Benight, daughter of Samuel D. and Dorothy (Peyton) Benight, of Harrisonville. Mrs. Kohler was born in Harrisonville. Her father came here from Buchanan County in 1868. He was a native of Virginia. For a number of years he practiced law in Harrisonville and served two terms as probate judge of Cass County. He died January 10, 1879, aged forty-seven years. His wife died June 20, 1912, at the age of seventy-five years. They were the parents of the following children besides Mrs. Kohler: Mrs. Juan Cherry, who resides near Ogden, Utah; and Mrs. Etta Wherry, Kansas City, Missouri; and Thaddeus and Sarah Elizabeth, deceased.
To Mr. and Mrs. Kohler have been born two children: Catherine and Harold. Mr. and Mrs. Kohler are well known in the community and rank among Cass County's representative people.
Colbert N. Hayes, owner and proprietor of Walnut Valley Stock Farm, and a successful farmer and stockman of Camp Branch township, was born in Hancock County, Tennessee, in 1846. He is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Ogan) Hayes, natives of Tennessee. Both parents are
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now deceased. They came to Cass County in 1870 and spent about thirty-two years of their lives in this county. The father moved to Woodward County, Oklahoma, where he spent the remainder of his life. He died there at the age of ninety-one years. His wife also passed away in Oklahoma, at the age of eighty-nine. Thomas Hayes was a son of Thomas Hayes and his grandfather also was named Thomas and was a native of North Carolina.
Colbert N. Hayes is one of a family of thriteen children born to his parents, twelve of whom grew to maturity and ten are still living. They are as follows: William C., Woodward County, Oklahoma; Hester A., Pleasant Hill; Colbert N., the subject of this sketch; Zachary T., Mont- gomery County, Missouri; John H., Paradise Valley, Nevada; Colby C., died in infancy; Thomas W., Woodward County, Oklahoma; Sarah C., Woodward County, Oklahoma; James M., Woodward County, Oklahoma; Hannah A., Houston, Texas; Luther C., Kansas City, Missouri; George B., was killed in a mine accident at Bisbee, Arizona; and Peter O., died in Woodward County, Oklahoma.
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