Riley Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties-John Pishny Jr.
Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1890
JOHN PISHNY, JR. This very intelligent and promising young farmer of Swede Creek Township, is well known throughout the northern part of Riley County, and is a universal favorite. He operates and superintends his father's large farm of 640 acres, and although only twenty-four years old, exhibits the good judgment and forethought of a man many years his senior. He has entered upon a career which promises much for the future, and which is watched with interest by hosts of friends.
The subject of this sketch was born near the city of Brumm, in the Province of Moravia, Austria. Feb. 15, 1865, but his recollections of his early home are little more than a dream, as when a child of four years he was brought with his parents to America. Leaving the city of Bremen in the spring of 1869, they embarked on the steamer "America,"
and after an ocean voyage of fourteen days landed in Castle Garden, N. Y. Thence they proceeded by rail to Racine, Wis., where they lived two years. In 1871 they came to Kansas, being among the first settlers on the prairie of Swede Creek Township. The country was then wild and unsettled, and game of all kinds was plentiful. It had disappeared, however, before young Pishny was large enough to hunt. As soon as old enough, he was required to make himself useful, and began following the plow and driving oxen at the age of seven.
In consequence of being thus early required to labor, Mr. Pishny received only limited schooling, but by his own efforts has become well informed. At the age of eighteen years he took charge of his father's farm, upon which he has made almost all of the improvements, putting up a stone house, a barn and other buildings. About 150 acres is under the plow, and the whole enclosed with fencing. It is well-watered by living springs, and there are three orchards with a tenant house. The family residence stands about nine miles from Blue Rapids. The land is largely devoted to stock-raising, Mr. Pishny making a specialty of Polled-Angus cattle, keeping from 100 to 150 head, and shipping about twenty head annually. He keeps about fourteen head of graded English draft horses, utilizing about three teams in the farm work.
John Pishny, Sr., the father of our subject, is likewise a native of Moravia, and was born April 28. 1838. The paternal grandfather. Frank Pishny, owned a small farm in his native Province of Moravia, and there spent his entire life. John, Sr., owned and operated two farms there until coming to America, in 1869. While a resident of Racine, Wis., he worked in and about the city until coming to this State. After his arrival here, he homesteaded eighty acres of his present land, and subsequently purchased a quarter-section of railroad land adjoining. He was very successful as a tiller of the soil, and invested his surplus capital in land until he is now the owner of a whole section.
Mrs. Mary (Stephan) Pishny was born in Moravia, October 10, 1841, and is the daughter of John Stephan, an Austrian farmer, who, with his wife, is a member of the Evangelical Church. To Mr. and Mrs. Pishny there were born five children, viz: John. Jr., Josie W., Mrs. Smerchek, of Swede Creek Township; Annie, Sally, and Mary, at home with their parents. John. Jr., although meddling very little with public affairs, has his own views upon matters and things, and votes independently.