Clay Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties-Dr. Carl Lindner
Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1890
DR. CARL W. LINDNER, Cashier of the
Farmers & Merchants' Bank of Clay Center,
appears admirably adapted to the
duties of his position and has contributed
materially to its standing and success. This bank
was established in January, 1877, opening for business
on the 1st of the month, and is the oldest institution
of the kind in the Republican Valley.
Its first president was H. H. Taylor; its first vice-president.
Col. M. M. Miller; and its cashier, John
A. Moss. It was brought into existence largely
through the instrumentality of U. H. Emrick, N.
Gollober and G. Kuhnle, and Dr. Lindner served
as President from 1880 until 1884 when he became
Cashier. It has a paid-up capital of $50,000
and does a thriving and steadily increasing business.
Dr. Lindner was born in Marietta, Ohio, Aug.
23, 1845, and when an infant was taken by his parents
to Virginia. His father. Dr. Ernst Lindner,
was born in Germany, in 1819, and came to America
when nineteen years old, after having served
under King Louis Phillippe, in the French Army.
After his arrival upon American soil he sojourned,
for a time, in the city of Washington, and thence
went to Washington County, Ohio. His parents were
noted teachers and died early in life, in Germany.
Dr. Ernst Lindner sojourned near Marietta, Ohio,
and established a silk manufactory, one of the first
in the United States, which he operated successfully
and extensively. Later, he was delegated to
go through the State of Florida selecting lands
for German emigrants. He went down the river
on a flat-boat and embarked on the ocean in a little
sloop.
At Marietta, Ohio, Ernst Lindner was married
to Miss Caroline Crawford and they became the
parents of five children, all of whom lived to mature
years, and of whom Carl W. was the eldest.
Soon after his marriage he commenced the study
of medicine with Dr. Stanton, of Cleveland, Ohio,
uncle of the then Secretary of State, Edwin M.
Stanton, who became prominent under Lincoln's
administration. He took his degree in one of the
Cleveland medical institutions, and commenced the
practice of his profession in Marietta, whence
later he went to Kentucky. He was thus occupied
until the outbreak of the Civil War.
In 1861, the father of our subject enlisted in the
36th Ohio Infantry as an Adjutant in the 1st Regiment,
commanded by Gen. Crook. He was ill for
many months and finally resigned, but later returned
to the army and was given a Colonel's commission.
Again he was compelled to resign on
the account of illness, and returning to Ohio remained
there until 1878. In the fall of that year
he came to Kansas, landing in Clay Center on the
3d of September. Thereafter he spent his time in
Kansas, Ohio and Florida, in each of which States
he had property, and was not particularly engaged
in and other business than looking after it. After
its organization he was a strong supporter of the
Republican party. He held the office of County
Treasurer, two terms, in Washington County, Ohio.
Mrs. Caroline (Crawford) Lindner, the mother
of our subject, was born in the State of New York,
in 1824, and was the daughter of William and Caroline
Crawford, who were among the first persons
landing at old Ft. Harmer, now Marietta, Ohio. They
settled on a tract of land from which the father
cleared a farm, mostly with his own hands, at a
a time when most of his neighbors were Indians,
and he was twelve miles from a trading post.
Upon that place he lived and died, passing away
about 1845. The mother survived her husband a
number of years, passing away April 22, 1881, at
the advanced age of eighty-five years. Miss Caroline
grew to womanhood on the farm thus built up
from the wilderness, and was there married to Dr.
Lindner.
The subject of this sketch spent his early years
on the farm near where the town of Marietta,
finally grew up, and in the latter completed his
early studies. During the second year of the Civil
War he enlisted, on May 28, 1862, in Company F,
85th Ohio Infantry, but on account of his age was
rejected. After a few weeks there was a call for
more volunteers, and he was the first man to enroll
his name in the same regiment among those who
desired to go to the front. At the expiration of
the three months he enlisted in Company G, 36th
Ohio Infantry, which was assigned to the 14th
Corps, Army of the Cumberland. They were
ordered to Ringgold, Ga., then returned and set
out with Sheridan on his famous campaign through
the Shenandoan Valley. Mr. Lindner assisted in
the fight at Winchester, Fisher Hill and Cedar
Creek, and for three years thereafter was on duty
constantly, never missing a day. At the close of
the war he received his honorable discharge and
was mustered out at Columbus, Ohio. He had
been promoted to a Corporal, and was frequently
assigned to special service. He was only twenty
years old at the close of the war, after serving
three years and three months.
Upon retiring from the service, Mr. Lindner attended
the Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio, one
term, and later taught five terms in Washington
County. He then began the study of medicine
under the instruction of Dr. John Bohl, of Watertown,
Ohio, taking his lectures at the Cincinnati
Miami Medical College, from which he was graduated.
In 1869 he was united in marriage with
Miss Mary Bohl, and later came to .Junction City.
arriving in Clay County on the 3d of March, 1870.
Part of the journey was made on a construction
train, and later the Doctor walked across the plains,
and for the first time saw a prairie. He purchased
a compass, shot-gun and and haversack, and journeyed
four or five days until reaching Waterville.
Here he located for practice, and at the same time
took up a homestead claim in what is now Garfield
Township. He built a little 12x16 stone house, the
first structure of this material in the county,
quarrying the stone himself. Later, ho began
breaking the soil and putting up a stable and other
buildings.
Early in the winter following. Dr. Lindner returned
to Ohio for his wife, coming back in December,
and about that time the emigrants began
to arrive in goodly numbers, and his practice
increased accordingly. He remained on his farm
until 1872, then removing to Morganville, which
was at that time looked upon as the terminus of the
C. B. & U. P. Railroad. In January, 1874, on account
of the illness of their child, Mrs. Lindner
returned to Ohio and died there. Dr. Lindner
after the last sad rites were performed came back to
Kansas and on the 2d of March, 1875, settled on a
part of the present site of Clay Center. In the prosecution
of his chosen calling he rode over Cloud,
Riley and Washington counties, going frequently
thirty and forty miles each way. In 1881 for the
third time he returned to Cincinnati, Ohio, for a
course of lectures and then spent two years in
Florida, where he purchased and still owns a home,
and usually spends his winters there.
Upon his return to Kansas, in 1883, Dr. Lindner
became interested in the Farmers & Merchants'
Bank of Clay Center and likewise in real-estate
in this city and various other parts of Kansas. He
is a favorite both in business and social circles and
belongs to Lodge No. 34, Bethany Chapter and
Coronado Commandery No. 20, K. T. To the
Doctor and his estimable wife have been born four
children, three of whom are living, namely:
Blanche, Eaton and Carl Jr., and who are all at
home with their parents, and will be given the best
advantages which ample means can afford.