Kansas History and Heritage Project- Saline County

Saline County Bios
"Portrait and Biographical Record of Dickinson, Saline, McPherson and Marion Counties," 1893



DANIEL HUMBARGAR. The gentleman whose name appears above is one of the pioneer farmers of Cambria Township, Saline County, where he has a fine tract of land on section 23. He was born in Richland County, Ohio, February 27, 1840, and is a son of Jacob and Elizabath (Snyder) Humbargar. The former was born in Perry County, Ohio, in 1806, and is a son of Henry Humbargar, a native of Pennsylvania, who came to Ohio as a pioneer in 1801. Our subject's father still survives and at the age of eighty-six makes his home with his son Daniel. His wife died in 1866.

Prior to coming to Kansas in October, 1857, the family had spent five years in Cedar County, Iowa. Their exodus thither was made in company with three other families with the usual ox-team conveyance. The Humbargar family at that time comprised the father, mother, and four children whose names are Solomon, Daniel, Jacob and Samuel.

Our subject and his father located on adjoining farms on coming to Kansas, but Daniel lived with his father until 1865. Soon after going into his own home his mother's decease made it expedient for his father to make his home with him, so the two have been but little separated, having passed fifty-two years of life together. The father owns two hundred and twenty acres of land which was originally Government land. Daniel at once took up a homestead claim, and upon completing his term of tenure received a deed for the same signed by U. S. Grant. This has ever since that time been his home. He now owns one hundred and sixty acres in the home farm and two hundred acres more at a short distance. He here raises cattle, which he finds a most profitable business, and ships at least two car-loads to the Eastern markets every winter. He plants from one hundred and fifty to two hundred acres of wheat annually and this brings forth a rich yield, as his tract is nearly all bottom land.

In the early days, our subject made a business of buffalo hunting, drying and shipping the meat and pelts. While thus engaged he was attacked by the Indians three or four times and on one occasion stood off thirty or forty. On another occasion he and a brother were attacked by sixty Cheyenne Indians, but after he had sent a bullet through the Chief and a brave the others took to their ponies dismayed. In 1863 and 1864 the settlers found it expedient to unite in a militia organization, and as a member of this Mr. Humbargar was a participant in all the raids.

In 1862, Daniel Humbargar drove a train for the Government and under the command of Gen. Blunt, of Eastern Kansas. The teams were driven to Fts. Gibson and Smith and the loads they carried were prisoners on their way to Ft. Scott. Mr. Hambarger was for six months thus employed.

May 22, 1865, our subject was married to Anna Giersch, a daughter of Peter Giersch, who came to the Saline River Bottom in the year 1858. An interesting family has grown up around these enterprising parents: Peter; Solomon; Mary, who is Mrs. John Shanahan and resides near Salina; Andrew; Clara; and Libby. With the exception of the married daughter all are at home. The boys are employed in farming their grandfather's place. In the year 1880, Mr. Humbargar was elected County Commissioner on the Independent ticket and maintained his position for three years. For some time he was a member of the Central Committee in the Democratic party, but at present be is not actively interested in politics. He is a Director in the County Agricultural Society and has devoted much time to its success. He is, in Church affairs, affiliated with the Catholics of this locality, having identified himself with them since the organization of the church here.





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This website created June 15, 2011 by Sheryl McClure.
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