Bartholomew John Bux. By many years of industry, directed by sound judgment and thorough common sense, B. J. Bux had become one of the most prosperous citizens of Kansas, owner of many valuable farms, and is now living retired at Meriden, where he is one of the directors of the State Bank.
A resident of Kansas since he was six years of age, Mr. Bux was born in St. Clair County, Illinois, January 6, 1864. His people were all Germans, His father, John Bux, was born in Baden, Germany, in 1828, grew up there, and had six years of experience in the German army, On coming to America he landed at New Orleans and there enbarked on a Mississippi River steamboat for the North. This boat was sunk at Cairo, Illinois, but John Bux was rescued. He soon settled in St. Louis, and from there moved across the Mississippi to Belleville, Illinois, and had his home in St. Clair County for nineteen years. By trade he was a bricklayer and he conducted a brick yard at Belleville.
In 1870 John Bux brought his family to Shawnee County, Kansas, buying a farm. On that land he lived and followed agriculture for thirty-three years. In the environment with which they had become familiar through these many years of toil and family associations John Bux and wife celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. On retiring from the farm he moved to Meriden but died in Shawnee County in Februnry, 1914. He was a democrat and a member of the Catholic Charch. The name of his wife was Barbara Finkins, who was born in Baden, Germany, in 1829 and died at Meriden, Kansas, in 1907. They had lived to see most of their children reared and comfortably situated in the world. These children were eight in number. Katy, who lives in Cherryvale, Kansas, is the widow of Remick Schulthais, a farmer, who died March 3, 1917. Lena, twin sister of Katy, is the wife of August Erhart and lives at North Topeks. Annie, who died in Shawnee County, married G. C. Drissell, a farmer now living at Portland, Oregon. The fourth in the family is Mr. B. J. Bux. Veronica married W. C. Stadel, a retired farmer at Hoyt, Kansas. Lizzie is the wife of Max Apel, a farmer in Shawnce County. John is enployed in the Santa Fe shops and lives in North Topeka. The youngest, Mary, died when six years of age.
Mr. B. J. Bux grew up in Shawnee County, attended the public schools, and his father’s farm was his environment until he was twenty-two. After that he took up farming for himself and from a beginning in rather humble circumstances. had acquired a large amount of valuable land not only in this state but elsewhere, As a practical farmer he operated in Shawnee, Jackson and Jefferson counties, but since 1909 had lived retired in Meriden. One of his farms, consisting of 120 acres, lies in Shawnee County, 1 1/4 miles west of Meriden. He also had a farm of 820 acres a mile south of Meriden, one of 160 acres in Gove County, another of a quarter section in Wichita County, and is owner of 320 acres in Boone County, Arkansas. Besides his residence on Wyandotte Street in Meriden he owned a business building on Main Street.
His retirement from business gives him leisure for public spirited activities and he is now serving his second term as mayor of Meriden. Mr. Bux is a republican. He is affiliated with Meriden Lodge No. 236, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Meriden Camp No. 1491, Modern Woodmen of America, and Meriden Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
In Jefferson County in 1886 he married Miss Susan Stadel. Her father, S. L. Stadel, was born in Germany in 1830, and on coming to America first settled in Pennsylvania, and in 1868 removed to Kansas and located in Jackson County. He was a stone mason by trade but for many years followed farming and gained a position as a man of wealth through his varied interests. He died at Meriden. June 1, 1910. The maiden name of his wife was Cecilia Bausch, who was born at Manerheim, Germany, in 1831, and died at Meriden, Kansas, in November, 1913. Mr. and Mrs. S. L. Stadel had four children: William C., who married Veronica Bux, as above noted; Mrs. Bux; Henry, a farmer near Hoyt, Kansas; and Simon, a farmer near Quinemo, Kansas.
Mrs. Bux was well educated in the public schools of Jackson County. She is a member of the Royal Neighbors. Mr. and Mrs. Bux have two children: Joseph H., who is a veterinary surgeon now in the Government service with home. at Seneca, Kansas; and Albert C., a student in the State Agricultural College at Manhattan.