Riley Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties-Rollin Moses
Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1890
ROLLIN MOSES. As a pioneer of Kansas, an ardent Free-State man in those "times that tried men's souls," it gives us pleasure to place within this volume a biographical review of this gentleman. He was an early settler of Riley County, coming here in 1856. and since that time has not only witnessed its development, but has done what he could to advance its interests. He was a pioneer dairyman in this section, and also took part in promoting the advancement of its other agricultural interests, and has contributed his quota to its well-being, Just outside of the city limits of Manhattan he has built a beautiful home with pleasant surroundings, and here he and his wife enjoy life and its comforts free from its cares, having a competence ample for all their wants.
The town of Canton, Hartford Co., Conn., was the birthplace of Mr. Moses, and Feb. 6, 1825, the date of his being born into the world. His father, Chauncey Moses, was a native of the same town, a son of Aaron Moses, who was a farmer and a mechanic, and died there. The father of our subject was a manufacturer of the old fashioned wooden mold board plows in use in his day. He purchased a farm in Canton, which he managed besides carrying on his business. He was a life-long resident of his native county, dying there in 1854. He was a man of good capacity, and excellent character, and of high standing in his community, where his wise counsels were appreciated by his neighbors, who often sought his advice. The maiden name of his wife was Catherine Johnson, and she was also a life-long resident of Connecticut, dying in Canton previous to her husband's death. She was the mother of five children�Harry, Elizabeth, Flora A., Rollin and Seymour D.
Rollin Moses, when not attending school in his youth, aided his father on the farm, or in the shop making plows, or in the sawmill, and thus his early life was passed till he was twenty years old, when he left the shelter of the parental roof to work in a clock factory at Bristol. Conn. He was employed there three years, and at the expiration of that time he left that place, and for two years was engaged in traveling. After that he located in New Haven, where he had a situation in a clock factory till 1856, when the factory failed, and as he had invested all his carefully saved earnings in it, all his worldly wealth was swept away. His next move was to join the New Haven Colony, which was bound for the Territory of Kansas, under the charge of C. B. Lines, our subject having watched with interest the struggle between the Free-State men and the pro-slavery people for the soil of Kansas, and, sympathizing fully with the former, wished to take their part. Before the company started, the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher gave each member a Bible and a Sharpe's rifle, thus practically fortifying both soul and body, and Mr. Moses still retains his Bible as a precious relic both of the times and of the
good man who gave it to him. The colony started from New Haven in April, and came by rail to St. Louis, from there to Kansas City on a steamer, and thence overland to Riley County. Nearly all of them settled near Wabaunsee, but our subject and five others, after looking around, selected a claim in what is now Zeandale Township, six miles from Manhattan, which was at that time an insignificant hamlet of only a few houses, and was one of the settlements farthest west in Kansas. Deer and antelope were plentiful, and buffaloes roamed in large numbers a few miles to the Westward. The little company of six bought a pair of oxen and a wagon at Kansas City, and on the way to their destination purchased a cow. Three of the men returning to the East, the three remaining ones shared the milk of the cow during the winter, it being a welcome addition to their fare, and a luxury unattainable in many pioneer households. None of them had their wives with them, and they kept house for themselves all winter in a tent. In the spring of 1857 Mr. Moses' wife joined him, and he built a sod house with a board roof for her accommodation, and buying the interests of the others in the cow, and purchasing another one, he engaged in the dairy business on a small scale, it being his principal employment for some years. When the land came into the market he entered it from the Government at $1.25 per acre, and erecting a substantial stone house, he resided there, actively engaged in improving the land, till 1866, when he rented his farm, and coming to Manhattan, he bought eleven acres of land adjoining the city, and built his present commodious brick residence, planted an orchard of 400 choice fruit trees, which yield him a fine income, besides making many other valuable improvements, which make this one of the most desirable places in the vicinity of Manhattan. To the wife who has shared with him his pioneer days, and has been an important factor in raising him to his present prosperous circumstances. Mr. Moses was joined in wedlock in 1854. Her maiden name was Adeline Mead. She was born in Schoharie County, N. Y., a daughter of Daniel Mead. She is a thoroughly good woman in every respect, and a conscientious member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Moses possesses those traits of character, honesty, thrift, foresight, and sterling sense, that are so essential to make life in any degree successful. In him his community finds a worthy citizen, his neighbors an obliging friend, and his wife a good husband; thus in all the relations of life that he sustains towards others, he has ever been true to himself and to them, and no higher praise can be bestowed on any man. In early life Mr. Moses was a Whig in politics. He joined the Republican party on its formation, and after coming here affiliated with the Free-State men, ardently upholding the cause, and voted for the adoption of the Wyandotte Constitution.