Dickinson Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and Biographical Album of Dickinson, Saline, McPherson and Marion Counties-M. H. Moser


Portrait and Biographical Album of
Dickinson, Saline, McPherson and Marion Counties

Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1893




M. H. MOSER, dealer in real estate and loans, and senior partner of the firm of Closer & iB Son, breeders of thoroughbred trotting horses, is one of the wealthy and representative farmers of Lyon Township, Dickinson County. He was born in Mifflin County, Pa., August 8, 1834. In his youth, he learned carriage manufacturing and the blacksmith's trade, which he followed for several years.

In August, 1862, donning the blue, Mr. Closer enlisted under Maj. Roystone, commander of the famous company known as the Pennsylvania Reserves. He has the honor of being the first man to enlist in that command. Maj. Roystone raised two regiments and was made Colonel and later became General. His regiment was known as the Bucktail Brigade, and with this company Mr. Moser participated in seventeen battles, from that of Chancellorsville to Gettysburg. For his bravery and valiant service, he was promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant, and later to that of First Lieutenant after being made Captain by brevet, as the regular Captain was on detail service. While Captain, he commanded the company in several engagements, being a number of times more or less seriously injured. He was sent out on detailed service in January, 1865, when Lincoln wanted a reliable brigade to serve under the command of Gen. Mead for the purpose of conducting bounty-jumpers and others to Elmira, N. Y., whence they were to be transferred to Camp Seward, Auburn, N. Y.

Our subject remained at Syracuse, N. Y., from that time until the close of the war, receiving his discharge from the command of the company August 1, 1865. He took a most active part in many of the battles of the war and had many thrilling experiences and narrow escapes. At the battle of Gettysburg, he was three times captured by the enemy in the course of one day. He was in Gen. Reynolds' corps and was near him when the brave General was shot. After six weeks of imprisonment, he was exchanged with other prisoners. He carried dispatches from Gen. Roystone to Gov. Curtain while a prisoner on parole. He was one of the noble defenders of the Flag, serving his country with marked zeal and fidelity.

After leaving the army, Mr. Moser engaged in carriage-making at Lewistown, Pa. This occupation he followed until 1870, and was very successful, his business amounting to upwards of $80,000 annually. He came to Kansas, buying a farm at Peabody in 1872, at the same time carrying on a general wagon and carriage business at Wichita, which he followed until July, 1887, when he located at Salina. Kan. For a short time, he resided there and erected a large store building at that place at a cost of $42,000. He still owns extensively in Wichita.

Our subject came to Herington in October, 1888, buying a farm of eight hundred acres, about a mile south of the town. He has made extensive improvements in various directions and has his farm under a high stale of cultivation. He erected a barn nearly one hundred feet square at a cost of $6,000. He owns one of the finest orchards in the State, forty acres of which are planted in pear trees, about thirty-four hundred in number. He also has six hundred cherry trees, six hundred plum, and twenty-five hundred apple trees. In addition to these, he has twenty-seven thousand grape vines. Mr. Moser makes a specialty of fine fruit, having all the leading varieties which have been thoroughly tested in this State. The most of his trees were planted in 1889, and all have done remarkably well. His farm is considered one of the finest and best cultivated in this part of the State, fifty acres being planted in wheat, one hundred and seventy-five acres being planted in corn, and the remainder is fine pasture land.

Besides his fruit farm, Mr. Moser is the owner and breeder of some very fine horses. "George M" is a beautiful five-year-old horse, making a 2:24 record with less than two weeks' training. He is shown as No. 1628 on the American trotting record. His sire is the famous "Brunswick Chief." He is from the well-known Smoky Hill Stock Farm of A. E. Ransom, of Salina, Kan. "Slasher" is a five year- old, Tennessee bred, sired by "Messenger," and was purchased in January, 1892, in Memphis, Tenn. He has been trained but a short time, is a fine saddle horse, and with sixty days' work made a record of 2:18. "Roystone" named for Gen. Roystone, of the famous Camden Bucktail Reserves of Pennsylvania, is a beautiful four-year-old black stallion, sired by Jewett's famous Wilkes stallion, "Patchen Wilkes," of Buffalo, N. Y. Mr. Moser owns about twelve mares and has a fine track on the farm for practice. On his farm he has a grand system for watering stock, having adequate reservoirs on convenient elevations so that any point desired may be easily attained.

When twenty-one years of age, Mr. Moser was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Soult, but after about fifteen years of married life she passed to the home beyond. To them were born two children: George C, who is a junior partner in the firm of Moser & Son; and Winona, now the wife of C. R. Pope, of Ottawa County. Our subject was twice married, the second time to Lucinda B. Massey, of South Bend, Ind. Her father has acted as Sheriff of Wichita. They have one son, Roystone by name.

Mr. Moser casts his vote with the Democratic party and is a stanch supporter of its principles. He was awarded a gold medal for fruit displays at the Cincinnati Exposition. He has an extensive knowledge of fruit-growing and has had considerable experience in this line in Kansas, thoroughly understanding what fruits are best adapted to this Stale. When at Wichita, he owned a line orchard and was prominent in the State and National Horticultural Societies. It is his present intention to plant three hundred acres more in fruits. His farm, which is one of the finest in this section, is situated on bottom and gently-sloping upland, on which are located several extensive natural springs, in this fine meadow land, he keeps from two hundred to four hundred head of cattle. His barn, one of the finest in the State, affords stable room for one hundred horses. He carries on a real-estate and loan business in Herington, having an office in a fine two-story building which belongs to him and which he erected at a cost of about $6,000. He is widely and favorably known in this State and has won the reputation of being one of the most genial and whole-souled men of this section.



(c) 2009 Sheryl McClure for Dickinson County KS AHGP