Biography of John Schalker, Sr.

John Schalker, Sr. Among the names which have become indelibly impressed upon the recent commercial history of Leavenworth, one of the most prominent is that of Schalker, in connection with the Schalker Packing Company. This concern, the growth of which had been phenomenal, and which had only lately doubled its operations, was founded by John Schalker, Jr., and Austin Schalker, sons of John Schalker, Sr., a resident of Leavenworth since 1883. John Schalker, Sr., was born June 2, 1858, in the Canton of Zurich, Switzerland, and is one of five children born to Jacob and Susan (Widmer) Schalker. His youth … Read more

Biography of George Holtapp

George Holtapp is one of the conspicuous factors in the modern agricultural activities of Champaign County. The name is one that has been identified with Champaign County history for many years, and he is one of the younger generation and with a brother is managing the resources of a fine farm in Harwood Township in section 33. The home is on Rural Route No. 3 out of Rantoul. Mr. Holtapp was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, a son of Joseph and Barbara (Hoffman) Holtapp. His parents were natives of Germany. There were seven sons in the family, George, Fred, Charles … Read more

Biography of David Wilson

David Wilson of section 24, St. Joseph Township, first became acquainted with Champaign County when he was fifteen years of age, and for nearly thirty years he has lived in this county continuously, having acquired and developed one of the splendid farms in his vicinity. Mr. Wilson is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was born March 17, 1851, a son of Samuel and Rebecca (Laird) Wilson. His parents were born in Ireland, came to America about 1836, were married in Cincinnati, and spent their industrious and honored lives in that city, where both of them died. They had … Read more

Biography of Francis M. Avey

Francis M. Avey. Of the men whose ability, industry and forethought have added to the character, wealth and progress of Champaign County none stands higher than Francis M. Avey, now living retired at Rantoul, which has been his home for over forty-five years. Among other enviable distinctions Mr. Avey is one of the honored survivors of the great war of the rebellion, and he was a member of the first regiment that marched away from Illinois to fight in the South. His entire career has been in keeping with the high standards of patriotism which caused him to enter the … Read more

Biography of Hon. John Catlin

HON. JOHN CATLIN. – Mr. Catlin is of New England and Scotch stock. His father, Seth Catlin, was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and from there emigrated with his father and an only sister to the State of Illinois, about the year 1812. His mother came with her parents from Scotland to America when but twelve years of age; and her father, James Ridpath, settled with his family in Randolph county, Illinois, in 1818. His parents were married in the year 1831, and located on a farm at Turkey Hill, St. Clair county, Illinois, where their first child, John Catlin, the … Read more

Biography of Father Berthold Staubach

Father Berthold. That the Church of the Sacred Heart at Emporia is now one of the strongest and most efficient Catholic parishes in Kansas is due primarily to the devoted services of its pastors, and more particularly to Father Berthold, who had been in charge there for the past ten years. The record of the parish during this time is sufficient evidence of Father Berthold’s excellent ability as pastor and church executive, but with these qualities he also unites an equally important one of spiritual adviser to his people. A small number of Catholic people located in and around Emporia … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William A. Sims M.D.

William A. Sims, M. D. is a son of William and Julia (Cooke) Sims, who are Tennesseans, born in 1826 and 1833 respectively. They were married in west Tennessee and immediately located in Crockett County where they have since resided. Of eight children born to them five are living, four sons and one daughter. Three of the sons are physicians and one is a teacher, though all have taught school. Both parents and all the children are members of the Christian Church. Dr. William A. Sims was born January 15, 1857 in Crockett County. His early education was quite limited … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Hon. John M. Morris

Hon. John M. Morris was born near Cincinnati in 1825. His father, Isaac Morris, was born in New Jersey. He was a farmer by occupation, and had a family of eight children, of which the subject of this sketch was the youngest. When he was a boy, instead of going to college, he helped to clear away the forests and make a farm in Ohio. In March 1855, he went to Kansas and settled on a farm in Riley County. He lived there for twenty years. While in the “Sunflower” State he had the honor of representing Riley County in … Read more

Biography of A. B. Rabbeson

A.B. RABBESON. – Mr. Rabbeson, who observes that “he was born of rich but honest parents” at New York in 1824, was devoted from his youth to the most interesting and desperate adventures. Nevertheless, he was always delivered from his perils just at the right time, and lives to-day in hale age at Olympia. His boyish adventures began not many years after the death of his father in 1833. His step-father he did not like, and consequently left home. We find him out in Canada, soon at New York City with his grandparents and attending school, but within a few … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John Bottoms

John Bottoms was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1812, and came to America in 1840; he landed at New Orleans, and from there went to Nauvoo, Illinois, where he was a member of the Mormon Church. He remained there until 1845, when he went to Cincinnati and worked in a bucket factory for about three years. In 1848 he went to Council Bluffs and remained there until 1852. He then went to Salt Lake City and remained there until 1858, when he came to California. During this time he had had prolonged trouble with the Mormons and concluded to stand … Read more

Biography of George M. Parsons

Professional advancement in the law is proverbially slow. The first element of success is, perhaps, a persistency of purpose and effort as enduring as the force of gravity. But, as in every other calling, aptitude, character and individuality are the qualities which differentiate the usual from the unusual; the vocation from the career of the lawyer. Less than fifteen years ago George Matthias Parsons was admitted to the bar, and within that time has gained an eminence for which older practitioners have striven a life time. He was born in Cambridge City, Indiana, on the 15th of January 1850, and … Read more

Heidel, Edward Richard “Eddie” – Obituary

Edward Richard “Eddie” Heidel, 69, of Haines, died April 8, 2006, at the Boise Veterans Extended Care Unit. At his request, his body was cremated. There will be a celebration of his life Saturday, April 22, at the Haines School. Everyone is welcome to bring a potluck dish and share memories of Eddie. He was born on Sept. 29, 1936, at Cincinnati to Earl and Eunice Schwartz Heidel. After graduation from Hamersville High School in Ohio in 1956, he joined the U.S. Army. After a brief marriage and the birth of a son, he left Ohio for the West Coast. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William Banks Rogers

Rogers, William Banks; clergyman; born at Cincinnati, Dec. 7, 1857; son of Joseph Hill and Mary Rose (Mcllvain) Rogers; academic and collegiate course St. Xavier’s College, 1869-1875; St. Stanislaus Seminary, Normal, Florissant, Mo., 1875-1879, Woodstock College, Maryland, philosophy, science, 1879-1881; Louvain, Belgium, metaphysics, ethics, 1881-1882; Woodstock College, theology, 1887-1891; taught English and classics, St. Ignatius College, Chicago, 1882-1884; St. Xavier’s College, Cincinnati, 1884-1887; ordained Roman Catholic priest, 1890; perfect studies, St. Xavier’s College, Cincinnati, 1891-1892, Marquette College, Milwaukee, 1893-1895, St. Louis University, 1896-1898; pres. Marquette College, 1898-1900, St. Louis University, 1900-1908; resigned February, 1908, on account of ill health; in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Jacob Mettel

Jacob Mettel was born in Hesse, Hamburg, Germany, August 12, 1845. His parents removed from the “Faderland” while he was an infant, and crossed the broad ocean to the “Land of the free,” settling in Franklin county, Indiana, where he was reared and attended school. When eighteen years of age he left home and went to Harrison, Ohio, where he learned the shoemaking trade with Frederick Fisher, remaining with him two years and nine months. In 1866 he went to Cincinnati, worked for Paul Shauner for two years and a half, and, at the expiration of that time, was employed … Read more

Roll Of Capt. Henry Zumalt’s Company

(From Hamilton County). Served from August 22, until September 30, 1812. Capt. Henry Zumalt Lieut. Henry Chapman Ensign Thomas Connel Sergt. John Ross Sergt. William Pangburn Sergt. Samuel Row Sergt. Robert Allen Corp. Robert Davidson Corp. William W. Daniel Corp. Chinley Mitchell Corp. Noah Ellis Pifer, John Allen Privates Alexander, Benjamin Archer, Johnson Bingerman, Frederick Blair, John Brunden, Andrew Burget, Aaron Burget, Abraham Burget, Valentine Calvin, James Criss, Frederick Currey, William Davis, Thomas Durand, Nicholas Ellis, Abraham Evans, Duncan Fee, Elisha Gibson, Andrew Gibson, James Gould, William Grogan, James Hall, Charles Hall, Edward Healer, George Hicks, Robert Hill, John Hillman, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of J. M. Pruett, M.D.

J.M. PRUETT, M.D. – The native-born sons of Oregon who have had the wisdom to prepare themselves for a professional or business career have quite generally shown themselves fully equal to those born and raised elsewhere. The subject of this sketch is one of these. He was born at Salem in 1849, his father being the well-known pioneer J. W. Pruett, who crossed the plains in 1847. Young James remained with his father until the death of the latter, which occurred in 1866. He then went to California, where he remained for two years, after which he returned to Oregon … Read more

Northwest Territorial War of 1812 – Indian Wars

Map of Northern Theatre of War of 1812

During the War of 1812 a series of battles took place in the Northwest between the British and American forces and their respective Indian allies. This series of battles helped determine the control over the Wabash Valley and along with the Naval victories secured the Northwest for the Americans.

Biographical Sketch of Dr. L. B. Powell

Dr. L. B. Powell, drugs, was born near Frankfort, Ky., September 3, 1847. Remove to Illinois. In March, 1862, enlisted in Company D, Sixty-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry; transferred to Company G, One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry; was discharged in August, 1865, when he returned to Port Byron, Ill., and in 1869 went to Texas. In 1871 the Doctor was crossing the Staked Plains, at the head of the Concho River, when he, with his party of nine, was attacked by the Indians. Three of the men were killed and one committed suicide, and all of his party, including … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James Mathews

Mathews, James; lawyer; born, Bellwood, Pa., Sept. 4, 1868; educated at Mifflintown; graduated, Princeton University, 1890, degree A. B., Cincinnati Law School, 1893, degree LL. B.; admitted to the bar, and began practice in the United States attorney’s office, in Pittsburgh, Pa., 1893; come to Cleveland in 1894, as attorney for Cleveland, Akron & Columbus R. R.; formed partnership with Senator H. W. Wolcott, continuing until Wolcott was made gen. mgr. Kansas City & Leavenworth Ry.; then with Berkley Pearce, firm name Mathers & Pearce; member Century, Euclid and Hermit Clubs; politically Independent.

Biography of Joseph R. Numbers, M. D.

A member of the medical fraternity of Weiser, Washington County, Dr. Numbers was born in Lexington, Ohio, May 30, 1864, and traces his ancestry back to some of the early colonists of Pennsylvania, who were of German lineage. His father, Esau Numbers, was born in the Keystone state, November 1, 1816, and became one of the pioneer farmers of Ohio, whither he removed in 1840. He married Miss Anna Smith, of western Ohio, and to them were born eight children, but only three are now living. Their eldest son, William Numbers, died in the service of his country in the … Read more