Dickinson Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and
Biographical Record of Dickinson, Saline, McPherson and
Marion Counties-Monroe Davis Herington
Portrait and Biographical
Record of Dickinson, Saline, McPherson and Marion
Counties
Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1893
HENRY BETHE, who is engaged in general
farming on section 31, Jefferson Township,
is numbered among the early settlers of
Dickinson County, where he has made his
home for more than a quarter of a century. He
came to the county about 1865, and has therefore
witnessed the greater part of its growth and progress,
and has aided in its development and advancement.
He well deserves representation among
its honored pioneers, and with pleasure we present
this record of his life to our readers.
Mr. Bethe was born in Germany, on the 17th of
April, 1841, and was quite a young child when his
parents started for America. His mother died during
the voyage to this country, and his father's
death occurred in Iowa not many years later, so
we see that in early youth our subject was left an
orphan. He was the youngest of a family of five
children. He lived in Iowa until nearly fourteen
years of age, when he crossed the plains to
California for the purpose of mining, and remained
upon the Pacific Slope until about 1865, and in
his mining operations was quite successful. At
length he left that State, and on his return stopped
in Colorado for a time. After a few months he
came on to Kansas, and made a location in Dickinson
County, where he has since resided. Here he
secured a homestead of eighty acres in Banner
Township, and for several years resided upon the
farm which he there developed and improved. He
then removed to his present farm, which is located
on section 31, Jefferson Township.
In Banner Township, Mr. Bethe was married to
Miss Anna Rothenberger, and unto them was born
a daughter, Ella. The mother died at their home
in Banner Township, after which Mr. Bethe was
again married, his second union being with Miss
Eliza Cristen. They have an interesting family
of three children: Ida, Melvina and Emma. The
family have a pleasant home, and their household
is the abode of hospitality.
Our subject has been very successful in his business
career, and is now the owner of a fine farm of
three hundred and twenty acres, upon which he
has erected good barns and other outbuildings, and
made many improvements, which add much to the
value and attractive appearance of the place. His
fields are well tilled and yield a golden tribute in
return for the care and cultivation of the owner.
Mr. Bethe has served as School Treasurer, and is a
prominent citizen of the community.
(c) 2009 Sheryl McClure for
Dickinson County KS AHGP