Wabaunsee County Biographies
Page 11
Biographies below include: P. P. Simmons; H. G. Licht; C. E. Smith, M. D.; John T. Keagy; Bartholomew Buchli; Henry Schmitz; Michael Hund; P. L. Woody; Mrs. Eliza Woody; Jacob Horne; Herman Schultheis:
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P. P. SIMMONS.
We present our readers with a half-tone portrait of P. P. Simmons,
a specialist in auctioneering, residing at Eskridge, Kansas, but at
present temporarily doing insurance work in Atchison county. Mr.
Simmons' appearance would indicate that he was of a happy disposition and lived in a healthful climate.
Mr. Simmons was born in Buchanan county, Missouri, on September 20, 1861, and moved with his parents to Platt county, Missouri,
when three years of age. He lived there until the spring of 1880, then
moved to Atchison county, Kansas. In the spring of 1883 he moved
to Wabaunsee county, where he now resides. He commenced crying
sales in the year 1886 in his neighborhood and vicinity. Five years ago
he put his advertisement in the Wabaunsee county papers and he has
made auctioneering a regular business ever since. He is also a member of the Kansas Auctioneers' association. He makes a specialty of
high grades and thoroughbred cattle and hog sales.
But Mr. Simmons doesn't confine himself to the business of an
auctioneer. He is a first class farmer and an all-around good fellow �
just such a man as the people will be looking for in the not distant
future to serve them in an official capacity. They could make no
better selection.
H. G. LICHT
Was born in the city of Copenhagen, Denmark, and received his
education in that city. At the age of 14 he was bound over to his
uncle for five years for the purpose of learning the trade of painter,
continuing with him for six years. At the age of 22 he arrived in
the city of New York and there joined the Long-Shore Ship Painters
association and had to serve again a short apprenticeship to become a
full member.
He managed to live through his apprenticeship with his board
and $15 per week. He afterwards received $3.50 a day and nine hours
work; was member of this organization five years. In order to learn
the English language he attended night school in the city of New
York. "
A strike occurring in 1869, Mr. Licht's ideas and the association's
did not agree and he came west to Topeka, Kansas. After stopping
two years in Topeka he came to Wabaunsee county in the fall of 1871.
Mr. Licht was four times elected to the office of clerk of the district court and once as county clerk.
After retiring from public office he accepted a position as bookkeeper in the Topeka sugar works and afterwards was transferred to
the Attica works, which, unfortunately, made an assignment. Mr.
Licht remained with the assignee about three months, when he returned to Alma.
For a number of years past Mr. Licht has made his home in Topeka. But the best part of his life has been spent in Wabaunsee
county, among friends, who, on five different occasions, by their votes,
have endorsed his official work in two of the best offices within the
gift of the people.
C. E. SMITH, M. D.
Was born in Jersey county, Illinois, on October 4, 1865. Took a
normal course at the Indiana State Normal at Valparaiso, Indiana,
and after his graduation at that institution taught seven years in the
schools of his native state. Took a course in medicine and surgery at
the Louisville Medical college, of Louisville, Kentucky, graduating in
the class of '93, also a post-graduate course at the Rush Medical college,
of Chicago, Illinois.
Dr. Smith came to Kansas in 1893, locating in Brown county,
where, two years later he was united in marriage to Miss Maggie
Small, of Hiawatha.
During his three years residence in Alma Dr. Smith has built up
an excellent practice and the many difficult and complicated surgical
operations performed under the Doctor's immediate supervision attest
a thorough knowledge of his profession and insure a continuance of
that success that has attended him during his residence among the
people of Wabaunsee county.
JOHN T. KEAGY
Was born November 2, 1840, in Bedford county, Pennsylvania.
Grew up on a farm. Enlisted as a private in Company D, 101st Regt.
Penn. Volunteers. Was wounded at Fair Oaks, Virginia, May 31, 1802
and discharged on account of wound December 20, 1862. Read law at
Bedford, Pennsylvania, and was admitted to the bar at Bedford in
February, 1865. After five years practice at Bedford, Mr. Keagy came
West, locating at Alma in 1870.
In 1872 Mr. Keagy was elected county attorney, to which position
he was re-elected two years later. In 1880 he was elected to the office
of probate judge, serving the people four successive terms. In two of
the four campaigns there was no opposing candidate.
Mr. Keagy's thorough knowledge of the law is recognized by his
long continuance in the office of justice of the peace, a position to
which the people, irrespective of party lines, have for years persisted
in electing one of our oldest and most highly esteemed citizens.
No man in Wabaunsee county takes a greater interest in archaeological research than does Mr. Keagy, his collection of prehistoric
curios furnishing ample proof of the statement. He is chairman of
the executive committee of the Quivira Historical Society of which
the Hun. J. V. Brower, of St. Paul, Minn., is president. The society
is doing much towards unraveling the long hidden mysteries connected
with the explorations of Coronado in 1541.
BARTHOLOMEW BUCHLI see portrait
Was born at Versan, Canton Grison, Switzerland, August 24, 1862.
Came to Riley county, Kansas, with his parents in 1870, and to Wabaunsee county in 1876. Attended the common schools, after which
he graduated at the Kansas State Agricultural college, class of '84,
and at the Iowa State college, class of ; 86. Taught in the schools of
Wabaunsee county for eight years and is now a member of the Alma
school board.
Mr. Buchli was elected county clerk in 1897 and re-elected in 1899.
He is a competent and painstaking official, and enjoys in an enviable
degree the confidence of the people.
MR. HENRY SCHMITZ (Dec'd)
Was born in the village of Wahn, near Cologne, in Germany. The
rebellion of 1848 found him a young man of 25 years, an active and
leading participant in what he considered a just cause. But disaster
followed and the persecutions in store for the adherents of the lost
cause drove thousands of the participants to America. Among these
came Mr. Schmitz, who landed in America in 1852. Four years later
he came to Kansas, settling on the Klein farm, now owned by Mr.
Charles Burgett.
In 1866, together with Mr. Joseph Treu, Dr. Brasche, Ed. Krapp,
G. Zwanziger and others organized the Alma Town company. The
firm of Schmitz & Meyer was established and for years conducted the
largest business in Wabaunsee county.
Mr. Schmitz was foremost in every undertaking that gave promise
of good to Alma. He was ever at the front, with his means and counsel, to build up the city. Though never seeking an office, he took an
active part in party organization and for years the influence of no
other resident of the county exceeded that wielded by Mr. Henry
Schmitz � the conditions suggesting the sobriquet of "King Henry" �
at first used in an ironical sense by his opponents � who in each succeeding campaign were furnished additional proof that the term was
anything but a misnomer.
But in the privacy of his home � surrounded by his estimable family, the true worth, the characteristic traits, of one of our foremost
citizens shone brightest. Here, with those in whom his affections
were centered, he loved to pass his later years. Here, with reading
and study, Uncle Henry stored his mature mind with knowledge, that,
added to a long life of usefulness among his fellow men rendered his
companionship more than usually enjoyable.
An eventful career was closed at his home, near Alma, on Friday,
April 7, 1893, at the ripe age of 69 years, 10 months and 26 days. No
other man in Wabaunsee county had so great a number of his fellow
citizens bound to him by the ties of consanguinity. No one was more
highly esteemed and the death of no individual in our midst could
cause so wide a feeling of regret, such depth of sorrow, or create
within the breasts of his fellows a more vivid realization of the transitory nature of all things earthly.
MR. MICHAEL HUND (Dec'd)
Was born in Baden, Germany, September 22, 1824. Eight years
later the family came to America, first settling on a farm near St.
Charles, Missouri. Here, in 1848, Mr. Hund was married to Miss Gertrude Borgmeyer, of St. Charles. Three children blessed this union �
Mrs. Mary Guth, Moritz, and Michael Hund, Jr.
In 1855 the family moved to Mankato, Minnesota, but Mrs. Hund
died before their destination was reached.
Mr. Hund was married a second time to Miss Otilda Peters, of St.
Charles, Missouri, who still survives. To this union, six children were
born, five of whom are now living, Joseph, Leo, Phillip, Mrs. Francis
Meinhardt and Mrs. Theresa Glotzbach.
In 1872, Mr. Hund moved to Kansas, settling in Newbury township. His eight children are all married and with the exception of
Leo, all reside in Newbury township � being, as was their father before
them, leading and influential citizens.
By his upright conduct; by his forgiving spirit, and by his kindness of heart Mr. Hund gained for himself, in a marked degree, the
esteem of all with whom he came in contact.
Mr. Hund was a pioneer in the truest sense of the term � having
lived in Minnesota at the time of the Spirit Lake massacre in 1862.
The family lived in close proximity to the death-dealing Sioux � his
farm being but a few miles distant from New Ulm, that was almost
completely destroyed by the murderous Sioux in one of their raids in
the fall of 1862.
Mr. Hund died at his home in Newbury township on Monday,
June 27, 1898, honored and beloved by all.
P. L. WOODY
Was born May 4, 1833, at Dahlonega, Georgia, removing to Platte
county, Missouri, in 1866, and to Kansas in 1870, locating on the Snokomo, where he still resides. Was married July 4, 1856, in Lumpkin
county, Georgia, ten children being born to this union. Though by
no means a politician, Mr. Woody has always had a voice in the councils of his party, attested by his familiar presence at state and county
conventions. He has been treasurer of Newbury township and for
eighteen years has been a member of the school board. He has always
been active in church work and has availed himself of every opportunity to advance any good cause that gave promise of the betterment of
his fellows.
MRS. ELIZA WOODY (Dec'd)
Was born January 6, 1833, in Hebersham county, Georgia, and died
of pneumonia, at the family home on the Snokomo, on January 8, 1901.
To make home happy was her constant endeavor; to minister to the
sick and to care for the afflicted was with her a Christian duty � that
when the Angel of Death should beckon, the spirit might find rest in
that Home made without hands, eternal in the Heavens.
MR. JACOB HORNE (Dec'd)
Was born in Baden, Germany, July 8, 1837, but came to America
with his parents when but an infant, being but a year old when the
family first made their home in Chicago. In 1840, the family moved
to Jamestown, Wisconsin, where Mr. Horne passed the greater part of
his life.
In 1862, Mr. Horne was married to Miss Victoria Lang, of Jamestown. Here, the five children, three sons and two daughters, were
born. In 1883, the family came to Alma, where Mr. Horne died, on
August 7, 1899, at the age of 62 years and 29 days.
Love of home and family were characteristic traits of one who was
highly esteemed for his many good qualities of head and heart. With
generosity and kindness the strong bond of friendship was cemented
with the many who revere the memory of one who was always ready
to lend a helping hand in the hour of need � of one to whom the hand
seeking charity was never extended in vain.
MR. HERMAN SCHULTHEIS (Dec'd)
Was born at Neustadt, Hesse Cassel, Germany, on June 10, 1833,
coming to America when a young man of 19 years, first locating at
Cincinnati, where he learned the trade of harness maker; came to
Osage county in 1857, taking a claim on the Wakarusa. In 1865, came
to Wabaunsee county settling on the farm where he died on August 8,
1899, at the age of 66 years, 1 month, and 28 days.
In 1864, Mr. Schultheis was married to Miss Marguerite Rickershauser. To this union three daughters were born; Mrs. Henry
Wertzberger, Mrs. Herman Wertzberger, and Mrs. Nick Thoes.
Generous to a fault, the soul of probity and honor, no man stood
in higher esteem with his fellows than did Herman Schultheis. His
word was as good as his bond, and a promise made by him was as sure
of fulfillment as the rising of the morning's sun.
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This website created July 10, 2011 by Sheryl McClure.
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