Kansas

Biography of Arthur Leonard Guy

Arthur Leonard Guy. That Kansas within the last half century had made rapid strides forward and had won a foremost place among the states of the Union is gratifying to those who love her and have grown up within her borders. It is not so remarkable, however, that this is true, because she had elemental strength to draw from and a stable eitizenship to guard and guide her enterprises. One of her pioneers who came to Clay County shortly after the curtain had been rung down upon the great fractricidal period of war was William Guy, a man of great … Read more

Biography of Samuel R. Dillinger

Samuel R. Dillinger. One of the well known families of Clay County is that of Dillinger, which for many years had been active in the grain elevator business, and it had a worthy representative in Samuel R. Dillinger, who is manager of the Farmers Elevator Company at Bennington, Kansas. Mr. Dillinger was born in Des Moines County, Iowa, July 15, 1855, and is the elder of two sons born to his parents, who were Daniel and Nancy (Davis) Dillinger. His younger brother, Daniel Dillinger, came to Kansas in 1886 and is a prosperous farmer in Sherman County. In tracing his … Read more

Biography of Samuel R. Dillinger, Jr.

Samuel R. Dillinger, Jr. At all times the grain trade is one of vital importance in every country, and at the present time, when the eyes of a large portion of the earth are turned expectantly to the mighty grain yields of the United States, does the conservation of this food and its proper handling as a commercial factor take on added importance. To buy grain carefully, knowingly and economically requires something more than the trading instinet, it necessitates the possession of special talents and certain knowledge that can only come through actual experience. Samuel R. Dillinger, who is manager … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Ira Mahaffey

Ira Mahaffey has for two terms, two years each, been the affable and courteous clerk of the District Court at Concordia. Few people entirely appreciate the ability and tact required for the successful administration of such an office. Not only must the records be properly kept, legible and correct and easily grasped by the ordinary mind, but the clerk himself must be accommodating and at all times genial and attentive to those who have business with his office. All these qualities Mr. Mahaffey possesses and more too. Politically he is a republican, and while he is a strong believer in … Read more

Biography of Alvin L. Williamson

Alvin L. Williamson. The many business interests that at present serve to make Clay Center one of the important young cities of Kansas cover almost every modern activity and profession, and include also some of the oldest industries, milling for example, that aecompanied the settlement of the first pioneers in Clay County. Long before improved machinery and modern methods of using motive power had been thought of, every deep-falling stream that could be profitably dammed had a grinding mill on its bank before civilized living was accepted as complete in that section. Pioneer history is full of atories of the … Read more

Biography of Edward Grauerholz

Edward Grauerholz. On the official record of citizens who have served the community of Esbon in public capacities involving the discharge of duties of responsibility and trust the name of Edward Grauerholz frequently appears. He had been a member of the city council for several years and had also served in the position of city clerk, and since January, 1916, had had charge of the mail service of this locality, having been appointed at that time postmaster of Esbon. He had been a resident of this locality for a decade, and prior to giving the greator part of his time … Read more

Biography of Mrs. Alice M. (Beachly) Berkeley

Mrs. Alice M. (Beachly) Berkeley. Talented in music and a leading spirit in the activities that make the modern woman who had social advantages very different from her sisters of some years ago, Mrs. Alice M. (Beachly) Berkeley, of Burr Oak, needs no introduction to many residents of Jewell County. For a number of years she had occupied, her beautiful and hospitable home, which is situated on the corner of Lewis and Water streets, Burr Oak, and is one of this city’s most esteemed and admired ladles. Mrs. Berkeley was born at Meyeradale, Pennsylvania, and is a daughter of G. … Read more

Biography of Patrick Henry O’Brien

Patrick Henry O’Brien. In the numerous interests which, combined, serve to make Burr Oak an important and representative business center, lumber and banking are probably the most important, and connected with both for many years had been the name of O’Brien, a highly respected name because it is worthily borne. The branch of the O’Brien family to which Patrick Henry O’Brien, vice president of the Jewell County National Bank at Burr Oak, belongs had belonged to Kansas since early in the ’60s. Patrick Henry O’Brien was born at Minersville, Kansas, September 7, 1883, and is the son of T. P. … Read more

Biography of Charles M. Hendricks

Charles M. Hendricks came to Jewell County about thirty-three years ago in the role of a farm renter, and had made practically all his substantial success out of the fruits of Kansas agriculture and his capable business experience. He is now a banker and active citizen at Webber. Mr. Hendricks was born at Rochester, New York, January 8, 1861. His father, Lawrence Hendricks, was born in Ireland in 1836 and came to this country when eleven years of age. At Rochester, New York, he followed farming and railroad work, and from there went to Michigan and was engaged in farming … Read more

Biography of Lewis E. Schuler

Lewis E. Shuler has been identified with Jewell County around the community of Lovewell the greater part of his active life. At one time he was a Lovewell merchant. His ehief interests and activities are as an agriculturist and he owned some of the best farms in that section of the state. Mr. Shuler was born in Ogle County, Illinois, Octobor 10, 1866. In the remote ancestry he is of German stock, the Shulers having come from Germany to Pennsylvania a number of generations ago. His grandfather, William Shuler, spent many years as a farmer in Clinton County, Pennsylvania, but … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Wesley Virgil Griffitts

Wesley Virgil Griffitts is proprietor of the leading general mercantile business at Lovewell. His business experience began early in life, and the resources at his command have been the energy of his own character and such capital as he had acquired by thrifty management and hard work. Mr. Griffitts was born in Gentry County, Missouri, near Albany, April 13, 1879, and still had the promise of the best years of his life ahead of him. He is of Welsh and English descent and his family were early settlers in Kentucky. His father, Aaron Griffitts, was born in Hancock County, Illinois, … Read more

Biography of Charles S. Putt, Hon.

Hon. Charles S. Putt. Among the prominent men of Jewell County, using the tern in its broadest sense to indicate business acumen, sterling character, public service and upright citizemship, is Hon. Charles S. Putt, mayor of Mankato and one of that eity’s leading merchants. He had been a resident of this community since 1900 and in his activities had been one of the integral parts of the forces which have combined to bring the locality prominence and prosperity in both evic and commercial lines. Mayor Putt was born at Lisbon, Kendall County, Illinois, November 21, 1862, a son of John … Read more

Biography of Charles Clyde Myers

Charles Clyde Myers. A young lawyer of pronounced character, whether considered from the viewpoint of his professional attainments or from the standpoint of progressive citizenship, Charles Clyde Myers had been engaged in practice at Mankato since November, 1913, and is now serving his second term as attorney of Jewell County. Like many of the members of his profession he began his career as a school teacher, and his training had been thorough and comprehensive, so that while he had been in active practice for only comparatively a short period, he had already been able to take a leading place in … Read more

Biography of Alvin W. Miller

Alvin W. Miller, of Formoso, had spent nearly all his life in Jewell County; and since coming to Formoso had built up a large furniture and undertaking business and is widely known as that eity’s progressive mayor. Mr. Miller was born at Lena, Illinois, March 18, 1876. His father was the late T. A. Miller, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1841, was reared and educated and married in his native state and followed the trade of wagon making. For a number of years he lived at Freeport, Illinois, and in 1878 came to Jewell City, Kansas, where he followed … Read more

Biography of Andrew H. Miller

Andrew H. Miller, brother of Alvin W., is also closely identified with the business affairs of Formoso, where he is manager and treasurer of the Formoso Mercantile Company. He was born at Freeport in Stephenson County, Illinois, June 3, 1872, but, like his brother, was educated in the public schools of Jewell City. He left high school at the age of sixteen, went to work for the Robinson Mercantile Company, and had been connected with that firm almost altogether throughout his business career. In 1900 the company sent him to Formcso as manager of their large general merchandise store, which … Read more

Biography of K. Ellis Sherrill M. D.

K. Ellis Sherrill, M. D. A physician and surgeon of finisbed ability and wide experience practicing at Formoso, Doctor Sherrill located in Kansas about two years age, having previously practiced in Missouri and Arkansas. He was licensed to practice by the Missouri State Board of Examiners in 1911, by that of the Arkansas Board in 1912, and by reciprecal privileges now had the right to practice in about forty states of the Union. Doctor Sherrill was born at Bismarck in St. Francois County, Missouri, April 7, 1873. His paternal ancestry is of English descent and was established in old Virginia … Read more

Biography of Fred S. Watt

Fred S. Watt, cashier of the Lovewell State Bank, is a man of exceptlonal ability and widely known in Jewell County, and besides his banking duties is also pastor of the United Brethren Church at Lovewell. Mr. Watt was born in Webster County, Nebraska, July 30, 1879. He is of English ancestry but the family located in Pennsylvania in colonial times. His grandfather, John Watt, was born in Indiana in 1810 and in 1871 became one of the piommer settlers in Webster County, Nebraska, where he homesteaded 160 acres near Guide Rock. He was a practical farmer, and spent his … Read more

Biography of Jesse B. Horn

Jesse B. Horn is now superintendent of the city schools of Oneida in Nemaha County. He is a native of Kansas, and had spent most of his years since he attained his majority in school work either as a teacher or as an administrator of schools. His ancestry, the Horns, originated in Germany and from there came to Pennsylvania, later removing to Ohio. His grandfather, George Horn, was born in Ohio in 1824, was a blacksmith by trade, and after living for a number of years in Indiana moved in 1869 to Kansas and was a pioneer in Labette County … Read more

Biographical Sketch of O. A. Olson, Dr.

Dr. O. A. Olson is one of the well known practitioners of Concordia, where he had spent many years in his suceessful healing of many obstinate and troublesome cases both chronic and otherwise. His success had been unusual, in spite of the fact that his treatment is simple. Patients come to him from all over the state, and he had cured many aihments that have been given up by other practitioners. Doctor Olson was born in Sweden in November, 1859, and came to the United States in 1880. In his younger years he learned the stone mason’s trads, and followed … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Ralph W. McDonald

Ralph W. McDonald is proprietor and editor of the Robinson Index at Robinson, Kansas. His activities and experiences have nearly all been wrought out in the environment of a printing office and editorial sanctum. At the age of eighteen he left school and began his apprenticeship in the printing office of the Hiawatha World. He was with that paper in various capacities until July, 1914, when he removed to Robinson and bought the Index. This is one of the older papers of Brown County, having been established in 1891. Through populism and every other politicaliam it had steadfastly advocated republican … Read more