Biographies for Reno County, Kansas

J. NEVON HERR

The notable improvement in the morale of the inmates of the Kansas state reformatory at Hutchinson, this county, since Superintendent Herr took charge of that institution in 1913, has been the subject of congratulatory comment in all parts of the state; so many improvements having been made by him not only in the system of institutional administration, but in the general equipment of the reformatory and the beautification of the grounds, all reflecting most generously the humane spirit underlying modern correctional methods, that the inmates have been affected most whole-somely; so much so, indeed, that an entirely new spirit may be said to be dominating the entire population of that admirable correctional institution.

Immediately upon taking charge of the reformatory, or as soon there-after as he could acquire a proper working acquaintance with the institution and its more vital needs, Superintendent Herr extended the honor system among the inmates, this humane expression of his confidence in the basic uprightness of mankind having had an immediate effect upon the general deportment of the unhappy young men under his care, who at once felt themselves "on honor" bound to give conformance to the general rules laid down by this humane new administration. One of the first of these new regulations was a complete reformation in the matter of the institutional dress of the inmates, all institution marks carrying the brand and stigma of the old "convict" system being eliminated, the effect of which alteration in the reformatory "uniform" being an immediate improvement in the spirit of the inmates, who responded most readily and with unanimous heartiness to this appeal to their better natures. In the way of provision for wholesome relaxation during the idle hours of the inmates, Superintendent Herr has installed a motion picture outfit in the reformatory, through which medium the inmates are at proper times and for the time being lifted out of their self-centered lives and given an opportunity thus to keep in touch with the outside world, attendance on these exhibitions being practically unre-strained and without guard, an appeal to the pride and self-respect of the institution's population which has been met in the spirit in which it has been made. The population of the reformatory also is given the privilege of the grounds on such evenings as are marked by proper weather conditions, these "outings" also being practically unrestrained and unguarded. The value of these two experiments in institutional management has been exemplified to the complete satisfaction of the reformatory authorities, it having been demonstrated that the moral tone of the institution has been elevated thereby in an extraordinary manner, the young men there under restraint having thus been given an outlet for their thoughts that has resulted in most cases in a complete rehabilitation of their mental attitude toward the place, which, naturally enough, has resulted in a general betterment of their morals and in their more decorous behavior. A striking manifestation of this improved attitude on the part of the inmates toward the institution to which they temporarily are attached has been found in the organization by the young men there restrained of a "Betterment League," which holds regular meetings, unrestrained and without guard, at which all matters looking to the general betterment of the lives of the members of this league are given proper consideration, the members of the league binding themselves to report to the administration any infringement of the mild rules laid down for the conduct of these meetings which might result in any way in a curtailment of the privileges thus accorded. These reports are not in any manner understood as being based upon a system of "spying" on the part of the members of the league, the members agreeing to resort first to proper moral suasion in the case of a possibly refractory member before reporting delinquencies on, the latter's part. The effect of improved conditions in the conduct of the school and library in connection with the reformatory also have proved largely beneficial and it is understood that a great work of real and permanent reformation is going on in the lives of many unfortunate young men under the humane system now operative under Superintendent Herr's ad-ministration.

Not only in the purely correctional and reformatory aspects of the institution has extensive improvements been noted since Mr. Herr took charge of the reformatory, but in the physical aspect of the place, such as in the improvement of the grounds and the enlargement of the equipment of the reformatory, there has been marked betterment. A manual training-department, where the young men are given technical instruction in the leading trades, has been installed by Mr. Herr and an irrigation system has been provided as a means for the proper and profitable cultivation of the reformatory farm, while the formerly unsightly tract at the front of the grounds, once a mere ugly weed patch, has been converted into a real beauty spot by the exercise of a bit of intelligent direction in the way of landscape gardening. A large cement fish pond, stocked with several varieties of fish and surrounded by flower pots also has been provided and fifty acres of what once was a barren sand waste has been converted into a beautiful catalpa grove. The effect of all this intelligent direction has been to give the inmates of the reformatory an entirely new outlook on life and the conditions temporarily surrounding them, improving their morals and making them more amenable to discipline, while the better spirit of contentment that prevails under these altered conditions has been well proved by the fact that there have been but three elopements from the institution since Mr. Herr assumed the superintendency of the same. Mr. Herr's valuable experiments have attracted wide attention among sociologists and penologists all over the country and have been the subject of numerous interesting treatises presented in various high-class magazines and periodicals devoted to social betterment.

J. Nevon Herr, superintendent of the Kansas state reformatory, is a native of Pennsylvania, having been born in Dauphin county, that state, on March 3, 1875, son of Abraham R. and Elizabeth (Shenk) Herr, both natives of Pennsylvania, of that sterling stock known as Pennsylvania Dutch, the Herr family in this country, however, having originally been founded by a Swiss, who emigrated to America in colonial days. Abraham Herr was a farmer and stockman in Pennsylvania, who, in March, 1886, came, with his family, to Kansas, locating in the Kiowa neighborhood of Barber county, where he bought a half section of land, on which he made his home and where he died in the following June. His widow married, secondly, Henry Somner, who died five years later, and the widow now lives in Wellington, this state. Abraham R. Herr and his wife were earnest members of the Methodist church and their children were reared in that faith. There are five of these children still living, those besides the subject of this biographical review being as follow: Allan, a prosperous farmer and stockman, of Medicine Lodge, this state; A. L., a prominent attorney, of Chickasha, Oklahoma, who married Bertha Downtain; Uriah C, postmaster of Medicine Lodge, this state, and publisher and editor of the Index at that place, and Ada, a school teacher, who lives with her mother at Wellington.

J. Nevor Herr was twelve years of age when his parents came to Kansas and he has resided in this state ever since. His elementary education had been received in the schools of his home neighborhood in Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, and this was supplemented by the instructions he later received in the high school at Kiowa, this state, from which he was grad-uated, after which he entered the employ of a corporation department store at Kiowa, with which concern he remained for eighteen years, his advancement in service with the company being so rapid that during the last few years of his connection therewith he was president of the corporation. During his residence in Kiowa, Mr. Herr took a prominent and active part in civic affairs and was regarded as one of the leaders in the ranks of the Democratic party in Barber county. For four years he served as mayor of Kiowa and his administration of the duties of that office was marked by many and substantial improvements to the town. For four years also Mr. Herr served as a representative in the state Legislature from Barber county and it was during his tenure in this latter office that he received his appointment as superintendent of the Kansas state reformatory at Hutchinson, his administration in that important office dating from August 1, 1913, since which time he has had his residence in the administration building of the reformatory.

On May 12, 1901, J. Nevon Herr was united in marriage to Edith Potter, who was born in New York state and who came to Kansas when five years of age with her parents, Orman J. Potter and wife, the former of whom was a farmer and carpenter, and to this union two children have been born, Eleanor Lucile, born on March 4, 1903, and Harold, February 3, 1908.
Mr. Herr is a member of the Masonic lodge and of the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen, in the affairs of which orders he takes a warm interest. (Pages 57-60)

CHARLES A. RYKER

Charles A. Ryker, president of the Kansas Central Indemnity Company, of Hutchinson, this county, is a Hoosier, having been born on a farm in Jefferson county, state of Indiana, on January 21, 1859, son of Joseph H. and Eliza S. (McLelland) Ryker, both natives of Indiana, the former of whom, born in 1826, died in 1881, and the latter, born in 1830, is still living.
The Ryker family in America had its origin in Holland, the first of the name to come to this country having located in New York in colonial days.

Gerardus Ryker was the first of the name to settle in Indiana, having been one- of the first white men to make a home there; he settled near the northern bank of the Ohio river not far from where the city of Madison later arose. His son, the great-grandfather of Charles A. Ryker, was born on the pioneer farm in what is now Jefferson county, as was his son, the father of Joseph H.; the latter was reared there and spent his last days there. During the Civil War, Joseph H. Ryker. served the cause of the Union-us a soldier in Company A, Fifty-fifth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and at the close of the war returned to the farm, where he spent the rest of his life, his death occurring in 1881, and his widow is still living there. Joseph H. Ryker and wife were members of the Presbyterian church and their seven children were reared in that faith.

Charles A. Ryker spent his youth in Hanover, Jefferson county, Indiana, and his elementary education was received in the local schools there, this course being supplemented by a course in the sterling old Presbyterian institution, Hanover College. In 1879, he then being twenty years of age, Charles A. Ryker came West, locating at Burlington, in Coffey county, this state, where for eight years he worked for mercantile and lumber firms and where he cast his first vote for the Republican party. In 1887 he came to this county, locating at Hutchinson, where he took charge of the lumber yard of the Wisconsin Planning Mill Company, and continued in the lumber business, as manager for different firms, until his election, in 1900, on the Republican ticket, to the office of county treasurer, in which office he served for five years, his term of office having been extended by the Legislature. From the time of his arrival in Hutchinson, Mr. Ryker had taken a thoughtful part in the political affairs of the city and county and had, previous to his election to the treasurer's office, served the public very acceptably both as a member of the city council and as a member of the school board. In 1906 Mr. Ryker was elected a member of the state railway commission and served in that important capacity until the end of 1910. He, for years, served as a member of the Reno county Republican central committee and has been a frequent delegate to the state conventions of his party. In 1910 Mr, Ryker started in the commission business, under the firm style of the Ryker Realty and Commission Company and has so continued to this time. Early in 1915 he was instrumental in effecting the organization of the Kansas Central Indemnity Company, capital stock one hundred thousand dollars, and was elected president of that promising insurance concern, a position he now holds.

In 1881, at Burlington, this state, Charles A. Ryker was united in marriage to Eva Dickinson, who was born in Kansas and whose father, George H. Dickinson, is still a resident of Burlington, and to this union one child has been born, a daughter, Cornelia, who has been a student at Hanover College, in Indiana, she being a representative of the third generation of her family to attend that excellent old institution. Mr. and Mrs. Ryker are members of the Presbyterian church, and take an interested part in the various social and cultural movements of their home town. They have a very pleasant home at 424 Avenue A, east, which Mr. Ryker built in 1905. Mr. Ryker is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and of the Modern Woodmen. He is a member of the Commercial Club, which he has served in the official capacity of secretary, and takes a general interest in all movements designed to promote the advancement of conditions in all proper ways hereabout. (Pages 60-62)

ARTHUR E. ASHER

Arthur E. Asher, president of the Commercial National Bank of Hutchinson, this county, has been a resident of Kansas for twenty-nine years, or since he was twenty-one years of age, and has been a continuous resident of Hutchinson since 1906, his previous residence in that city, begun in 1897, having been interrupted in 1903 by a change in business which took him to Stafford for a period of three years, after which he returned to Hutchinson, which has been his home ever since.

Arthur E. Asher was born in Oldham county, Kentucky, on May 14, 1863, son of Milton and Martha L. (Eddins) Asher, both natives of that same county, both of whom were born in 1835. Milton Asher was the son of James D. Asher, of Irish descent, a pioneer in Oldham county, Kentucky, whose last days were spent there. James D. Asher and wife were members of the Christian church and were the parents of eight children, who were reared in that faith. Martha L. Eddins was the daughter of Abraham and Mary Eddins, both of whom were natives of Kentucky and members of the Methodist church, warmly opposed to the institution of slavery which then existed in most parts of Kentucky.

Milton Asher was reared in Oldham county, Kentucky, and became a carpenter, millwright and bridge builder. He married there and inherited a part of the paternal farm, becoming a man of considerable means. In 1886 he emigrated with his family to this state and located at Stafford, that being before the days of the railroad there, and there he was engaged extensively as a building contractor for years. In 1897, at the time his son, Arthur E., moved to Hutchinson, he and his wife also moved to that city, and there they both spent their last days, Mrs. Asher dying two years later, in 1899, and Milton Asher dying on January 27, 1911. They were earnest members of the Christian church and their children were reared in that faith. Of these children, four in number, Arthur E. Asher, the immediate subject of this sketch, is now the sole suvivors, the others having been as follow: Andrew Jackson, a farmer, who died at the age of twenty-four; Alonzo, a pharmacist, who died at the age of twenty-two and Rosa L., who died at the tender age of four.

Arthur E. Asher was reared in Oldham county, Kentucky, receiving his education in the district school of his home neighborhood, and at the college at Campbellsburg. He was twenty-one yaers of age when he came to Kansas with his parents and for a time after locating at Stafford he was engaged in the lumber business in the employ of Fair & Shock. He then entered the employ of the Bank of Stafford and thus began his successful career as a banker. In 1895 he was made cashier of that bank, but two years later, in 1897, left that concern and lcoated in Hutchinson, where he effected the organization of the St. Johns Trust Company, a concern for the exclusive use of cattlemen, and was made secretary of the company. In 1903 that company liquidated and Mr. Asher returned to Stafford, where he organized the First State Bank of Stafford and was made president of that institution. In 1906 he returned to Hutchinson and organized the Commercial National Bank, of which he was made president, a position which he has held ever since. In 1908 Mr. Asher extended his banking operations to Mineola, this state, where he organized the First National Bank of Mineola and was made president of that institution, which office he still holds at the same time retaining an interest in the First State Bank of Stafford of which he formerly was president, and of which he still is a director. Mr. Asher is an alert, up-to-date business man and is interested in various other enterprises in and about Hutchinson, among which is the Hutchinson Building and Loan Assication, of which he is vice-president and one of the directors.

On December 8, 1888, Arthur E. Asher was united in marriage to Gertrude M. Sommers, who was born in Illinois, daughter of Alexander and Elizabeth Sommers, early residents of Stafford. Alexander Sommers was a carpenter and builder, who took a prominent part in the upbuilding of the town of Stafford in the earlier days thereabout. He died there and his widow, who is still living, is making her home, with Mr. and Mrs. Asher.

To Arthur E. and Gertrude M.. (Sommers) Asher three children have been born, namely: Lucile, born in 1890, who married Ernest Dickerson, a traveling salesman, of Hutchinson; Mildred, who married Ray H. Tinder, a lawyer of Hutchinson, and has one child, a son, Charles Elston, born in April, 1915, and Helen, 1898, who is attending high school. Mr. and Mrs. Asher are members of the .Christian church and Mr. Asher is president of the-official board of. the congregation to which he is attached. He and his wife take an active part in the social life of the city making their presence felt in many useful ways and are held in high, regard. Their home at 1009 North Main street is one of the most attractive in the city.

Mr. Asher is a Democrat in matters relating to the policies of the national government, but in local politics is inclined to be rather independent, holding to the view that the man instead of the party should be the guide to the voter in local elections. For, seven years he served on the Hutchinson school board and has been a member of the city council for years, his services
in both of these offices -having proved of large value to the community. Mr. Asher is a Mason and has attained to the York Rite in that order, being one of the most active members of the commandery of the Knights Templar at Hutchinson, and is also an active member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. (Pages 62-64)

EDWARD TINDALL GUYMON

Edward Tindall Guymon, one of the best-known and most representa-tive business men in Hutchinson, founder of the town of Guymon, Okla-homa, and prominently identified with many of the most extensive corpora-tions in and about Hutchinson, as well as in other sections of the state, is a native of Illinois, but has been a resident of Kansas since 1879. He was born on a farm near Warsaw, in Hancock county, Illinois, in August, 1859, son of John and Jane (Griggsby) Guymon, both natives of that same state, the former born in 1838.and the latter in 1836.

John Guymon was a farmer. When the Civil War broke out he enlisted in behalf of the Union cause and went to the front as a private in Company F, Seventy-eighth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, with which he served valorously until captured by the enemy. He was confined in Andersonville prison, where he died in 1864, After the unhappy death of her soldier husband, Mrs. Guymon took her three children and went to live with her parents in Missouri, remaining there for several years, but later returning to Illinois. She is now making her home with her only remaining son, the subject of this biographical sketch, at Hutchinson, as is her only daughter, Irene, who married Henry Ellison. The other son, Roy, a resident of Los Angeles, California, died in 1911.

Owing the straightened circumstances surrounding his youth, Edward T. Guymon had little opportunity for securing an education in his boyhood, his schooling having been confined to attendance for two or three months each winter for a few winters in Illinois and Missouri, and at eleven years of age he engaged his services to an Illinois farmer for eight dollars a month and worked for that man for four years, at the end of which time he began clerking in a store at Coalsburg, Illinois, where he worked until the spring of 1879, when he came to Kansas, stopping at McPherson, where he was employed for a time as a carpenter's helper. He then secured a place as a clerk in the store of L. H. Thompson, now a resident of Hutchinson, who was then engaged in business at McPherson, and remained thus engaged for two or three years, at the end of which time he was engaged in the Barnes general store, where he remained for some time. He then left McPherson and went to Lakin, a coal-mining town, where he remained two years, a part of which time he was employed as a railroad section hand, after which he returned to McPherson and began clerking in the Fegley store, later going to the Hacklethorn & Northup grocery store, in the same town. Presently, Mr. Guymon bought the interest of Mr. Northup in the store and was a partner in the business for three years, at the end of which time he sold his interest and secured a half interest in a meat-packing plant and was thus engaged for two years. Then Mr. Guymon, in partnership with Messrs. Irvin, Lloyd and Oakley, established the Star Grocery Company at McPherson and from that time on began to make his influence felt as a man of affairs. In 1888 the firm established a branch store at Liberal, this state, and Mr. Guymon took charge of the same in person, remaining there for three years. In 1901 he moved to Lewistown, Illinois, where for two years he was engaged in the manufacture of a grain weigher, at the same time retaining his ownership of the store at Liberal, the Star Grocery Company meanwhile having dissolved. The Star store at Liberal had grown to be an extensive wholesale as well as retail store, supplying the trade throughout that section of the state, as well as in parts of Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and Colorado. In the meantime Mr. Guymon was rapidly developing other interests and in 1902 moved to Hutchinson, where he ever since has resided, operating his extensive business connections from that central point, and has long been regarded as one of the most substantial citizens of central Kansas. Upon locating at Hutchinson he bought the beautiful Wood home at 1019 North Main street and is still living there.

Among the numerous concerns in which Mr. Guymon is actively inter-ested is the Guymon-Petro Wholesale Grocery Company, of Hutchinson, of which he is president; the Commercial National Bank, of Hutchinson, of which he is vice-president; a director and one of the founders of the Hutchinson Electric Light and Water Company; vice-president of the Liberal Elevator and Hutchinson Terminal Elevator Company and director of Houtran Loan and Trust Company; vice-president of the American Ware-house Company; former president of the Guymon Bank of Oklahoma, besides which he is the owner of grocery stores in several towns in Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Nevada and Canada, and has been interested in a number of cattle ranch corporations. It was in 1902, the year in which he took up his residence in Hutchinson, that Mr. Guymon laid out and founded the town of Guymon, named after himself, in Oklahoma. That town has grown to be a place of more than eighteen hundred population, with about forty-five business establishments. Mr. Guymon was president of the company which promoted the town and is actively interested in a number of enterprises in the place, such as grain elevators, stores and the bank, the latter of which Mr. Guymon founded and was for some time its president. Mr. Guymon also has railroad and other interests, his combined connections easily making him one of the leading capitalists of Kansas. Mr. Guymon is a Republican and while living at Liberal served as a member of the city coun-cil, but has never sought other offices.

In June, 1887, Edward T. Guymon was united in marriage to Frances Mary Flagg, who was born in Illinois, daughter of George and Mary Flagg, the former of whom died in 1900 and the latter of whom is still living. To this union one child has been born, a son, Edward Tindall, Jr., born on June 8, 1900. Mr. Guymon is a thirty-second-degree Mason and a noble of the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, a member of the consistory and the shrine at Wichita, and takes a warm interest in Masonic affairs. He is a member of the Hutchinson Commercial Club and the Country Club and in the affairs of both of those local organizations he takes an active interest. (Pages 64-66)

REV. DANIEL MONTIETH MOORE, D. D.

The minutes of the first meeting of the presbytery of the Presbyterian church of this section of Kansas following the death of the lamented Rev. Daniel Montieth Moore, D. D., in 1900, carries the following tribute of respect and expression of esteem for the memory of a great and good man; a man who had done very much for the spiritual and cultural advancement of this part of the state:

"Doctor Moore was a ripe scholar, always a student, not only of the Scriptures, but also of the best literature and current events. The honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity was worthily bestowed upon him by his alma mater in 1897. Doctor Moore was an old-time gentleman of rare dignity and commanding presence and was distinguished for his urbanity and hos-pitality. His religious experience was rich and refined in his declining years."

Daniel Montieth Moore, who was the first ordained clergyman to pro-claim the message of the Gospel in Reno county, was a native of Ohio, having been born in the village of Cortsville, in Mahoning county, that state, on January 2, 1824. At the age of fourteen, having then completed the course in his home school, he was sent by his parents to live with his uncle, the Rev. John Montieth, at Elmira, Ohio, and under the fine influence of that good clergyman he was reared to useful manhood. Upon completing the high-school course at Elmira, the studious lad was sent to the academy at Darlington, Pennsylvania, from which he was presently graduated, after which he entered Western University at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated at the age of twenty-two, after which he entered Lane Theological Seminary at Cincinnati, from which sterling old sectarian institution he was graduated three years later, and presently was ordained a minister of the Gospel by his home presbytery. For a short time after his ordination, the Rev. Daniel M. Moore was engaged as acting pastor of a country church in Brown county, Ohio, and it was while thus living his "day of small things" that he married, in June, 1849, Ellen McMillan, daughter of Captain McMillan, of Ripley, Ohio, who died on November 6, 1850, leaving one child, born on April 22, 1850, which died on August 11, of that same year. At Manchester, Ohio, December 30, 1851, Rev. Daniel M. Moore married, secondly, Mary A. Ellison, daughter of William and Mary K. Ellison, who was a faithful and competent helpmate during his long and difficult ministry.

The first charge to which the Rev. Daniel H. Moore was called and in which he was installed as pastor was the Second Presbyterian church of Greenfield, Ohio, the congregation of which he served as pastor for a period of twelve years, at the end of which time he accepted a call from the Pres-byterian church at Yellow Springs, Ohio, and was pastor of that church for nearly five years. In 1868 he accepted a call from the "new school," or "free," Presbyterian church at Lawrence, this state, and thus began his long period of ministerial service in Kansas. Doctor Moore, during antebellum days, ever had been possessed of strong anti-slavery convictions and had acquiesced in the division of the church on that question, but upon the removal of the cause of this division was among the first to seek a reconciliation between the two wings of the church and it was during his pastorate of the "free" church at Lawrence and largely through his efforts that the "new school" and the "old school" churches in that city were reunited, both pastors resigning in order that the united church might call a new pastor. In 1873, two years after the founding of the town of Hutchinson, Doctor Moore accepted the call of the little Presbyterian church at that point to "come over and help us," and thus became the first ordained minister of the Gospel to preach in Reno county. The Presbyterian church at Hutchinson at that time was composed of but seven members, but during the seven years of Doctor Moore's pastorate there the growth of the congregation was pro-portionately much larger than was the growth of the town. During these seven years of earnest and consecrated effort on the part of Doctor Moore that good minister so impressed his individuality upon the congregation and upon the community as a whole as to give to that pioneer church the sterling characteristics that still distinguish it, he clearly having laid the firm foundation upon which its present strength is built.

It was during his pastorate at Hutchinson that Doctor Moore was selected as a member of the committee which organized the presbytery with which the Presbyterian church at that point is still connected, and it was he and the Rev. Mr. Overstreet who drew the first standing rules for the government of the presbytery, and no other man has been so long of so efficiently connected with the work of the presbytery as was he. Upon leaving Hutchinson, in 1880, Doctor Moore filled charges at Carthage, Illinois; Columbus, Kansas; Ft. Worth, Texas, and El Paso, same state, and .in 1887 returned to Hutchinson to pass the remainder of his days among the members of his family and among the firm friends he had made during the time of his long pastorate there in pioneer days. His interest in Hutchinson and in her people never waned and in the very hour of his death, at a few minutes past nine o'clock on August 2, 1900, the aged clergyman feebly expressed his regret that the state of his health would prevent his attendance on the annual meeting of the old settlers of Reno county that was being held in Hutchinson that day.

To the Rev. Daniel M. and Mary K. (Ellison) Moore three children were born, W. E. 'Moore, of Peru, Illinois; E. M. Moore, manager of the Hutchinson Printing Company, of Hutchinson, and Mrs. E. L. Meyer, wife of the president of the First National Bank of Hutchinson.

Edward M. Moore was born in the town of Greenfield, Highland county, Ohio, in i86r, during the period of his father s pastorate at that place and he was seven years of age when he came with his parents to Kansas in 1868. His early schooling was received at Lawrence and he remained there until in March, 1874, when he followed his father to Hutchinson and became "devil," or printer's factotum in the office of the Hutchinson News. In the early fall of that year, W. F. Wallace started the Independent in Hutchinson and young Moore transferred his services to that paper, continuing as printer there under the successive ownerships of E. Conway Bruffy, a Virginian, and Jap Turpin, an Indianian. When the Interior Herald was launched by W. C Bowles, J. W. Kauaga and others, with Henry Inman as editor, Mr. Moore went over to that paper, serving the owners thereof as printer until they sold to J. W. Kauaga, after which he continued with the latter owner for three years, doing the printing of the paper under contract. In 1882 Mr. Moore left Hutchinson for a time and went to Peru, Illinois, where he was engaged as shipping clerk by the Illinois Zinc Company until 1886, in which year he returned to Hutchinson and engaged there in the plumbing business for one year, at the end of which time he resumed his connection with the printing trades, taking employment in the printing department of the Hutchinson News, under R. M. Eansley, editor. Presently Mr. Moore was given charge of the circulation department of the Neiss and when the Sponsers bought the paper he was made advertising manager. In 1895 Edward M. Moore and W. Y. Morgan bought the Hutchinson Daily News, Mr. Moore acting as business manager of the same until 1908. In 1909 the Hutchinson Printing Company ("Jay Hawker Press") was incorporated to take over the job-printing department of the News, that paper no longer to engage in the job-printing business, and Mr. Moore was made manager of the same, which position he still holds, retaining his interests in both the printing company and the newspaper.

Edward M. Moore has been twice married, his first wife having been Clara A. Mclnturff, who was born in Trenton, Missouri, daughter of Andrew and Lucretia MclnturfF, early settlers of Reno county, who home-steaded a place in Lincoln township in 1873, later moving to Hutchinson, where Mr. Mclnturff became a well-known photographer, in which business he continued until his death. Mrs. Moore died in 1908, without issue, and on August 11, 1911, Edward M. Moore married, secondly, Belle Rice, who was born in Ohio, daughter of George and Elizabeth Rice, the former of whom, now deceased, for years was a well-known building contractor in Hutchinson, who erected the Masonic Temple, numerous school buildings and other important buildings throughout the city and county, and whose widow is now making her home with Mr, and Mrs. Moore.

Mr. Moore is very prominently connected with the order of the United Commercial Travelers, in the affairs of which he takes a warm and active interest. He has served as the grand treasurer in the state organization of that popular association and has several times been a delegate to the national conventions of the organization. (Pages 67-70)

SAMUEL G. PUTERBAUGH
Samuel G. Futerbaugh, a well-known retired banker of Hutchinson, this county, is a native of Ohio, he having been born on a farm in the Xenia neighborhood of that state on November 11, 1840, son of David and Cath-erine (Snyder) Puterbaugh, the former of whom, born in 1800 died in 1864, and the latter, born in 1803, died in 1853.

David Puterbaugh was born near the town of Hagerstown, Pennsyl-vania, and was reared on a farm there. Following his marriage, he and his wife moved to Greene county, Ohio, where they lived on a farm until 1850, in which year they moved with their family to Illinois, settling in Tazewell county, where they established a new home, in which Mrs. Puterbaugh died three years later. David Puterbaugh lived until 1864 and became one of the well-to-do men of that section, having been the owner of more than one thousand acres of land. While living in Ohio, he and his wife were members of the German Lutheran church, but upon moving to Illinois, finding no church of their denomination there, became members of the Christian church. They were the parents of ten children, of whom only one besides the subject of this biographical review is now surviving, David Puterbaugh, a real-estate speculator and traveling salesman, of Kansas City. Another brother, John Puterbaugh was for years a resident of Hutchinson, this county, he having been engaged in the agricultural business there and, in boom times, was well known as a real-estate speculator. He died in 1888. Samuel G. Puterbaugh was ten years of age when his family moved from Ohio to Illinois and in the latter state he went to school but one year. He grew up on the farm in Tazewell county and upon the first call to arms after Ft. Sumter had been fired on enlisted in the Eighth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, for the three-months service, and served in that regiment for six months, at the end of which time he enlisted in the Third Illinois Cavalry, with which he served until the close of the war, the greater part of this service having been in the Army of the West, under General Grant. Mr. Puterbaugh was wounded twice, once in 1862 and again in 1863. At the battle of Lafayette, Mississippi, he was taken prisoner and for eight months was kept in durance by the Confederates, for one month at Mobile and the remainder of the time in Belle Isle, Richmond. He then was exchanged and until the end of the war served in the Tennessee campaign, near Memphis and Vicksburg.

At the close of the war, Mr. Puterbaugh engaged in the dry-goods business at Mackinaw, in Tazewell county, Illinois, in partnership with his brother John, which connection continued for three years, at the end of which time the brothers sold their store, John coming to Kansas and Samuel G. moving to Pekin, county seat of his home county, where for four years he served as deputy clerk of the circuit court, at the end of which time he became a candidate for the office of county clerk, on the Greeley ticket, and was defeated by only sixty votes. He then went to Chicago, where he entered the service of the John V. Farwell Company, with which he was connected for five years in the capacity of a traveling salesman, after which he transferred his services to Carson, Pirie, Scott & Company and was for twenty-five years engaged with that company as a general salesman, having charge of their Kansas territory, meanwhile making his home in Chicago. He then became interested in the Webb-Freyschlag Company at Kansas City and, resigning his position in Chicago, moved to Kansas City and took charge of that company's affairs. This work, however, proved too confining and in 1904 Mr. Puterbaugh traded a part of his stock in the Webb-Freyschlag Company for a general store at Lyons, this state, and moved to the latter place, where he lived for two years. Upon finding his health completely restored he came to this county in 1907, locating at Hutchinson, where he organized the Reno State Bank, though still retaining his store at Lyons. He was elected the first president of the Reno State Bank and served that institution in that capacity until the time of his retirement from active business affairs, and still makes his home in Hutchinson, being the owner of a very pleasant home at 1006 North Maine street, of modern style and very attractive, built in 1911.

On February 16, 1887, Samuel G. Puterbaugh was united in marriage to Nora L. Webb, who was born in Macon, Illinois, and who is a reader in the Christian Science church at Hutchinson. Mr. and Mrs. Puterbaugh have an adopted daughter, Elizabeth B., who was born in November, 1909. Mr. Puterbaugh is an active member of the Grand Army of the Republic. (Pages 70-72)

MARTIN CHARLES BUSSINGER

Martin Charles Bussinger, one of the best-known retired farmers of Reno county, now living in Hutchinson, former trustee of Center township, an honored veteran of the Civil War and one of the real pioneers of this county, he having been a resident here since the year 1873, is a native of Ohio, having been born in the village of Gnadenhutten, Tuscarawas county, that state, June 2, 1843, son of Anselm and Sarah (Keiser) Bussinger, the former a native of the republic of Switzerland and the latter of Pennsylvania, born in the city of Philadelphia.
Anselm Bussinger was born in 1802 and was about nine years old when he came to this country from Switzerland with his parents in 1811, the family locating in the city of Philadelphia, where young Anselm grew to manhood and where he learned the cabinet-maker's trade. He married in that city Sarah Keiser, who was born in Philadelphia in 1806, daughter of a physician, and presently moved to Gnadenhutten, in Tuscarawas county, where he was for some years engaged at his trade of cabinet-making, later, in April, 1859, moving to Indiana and locating on a farm in the neighborhood of the city of Terre Haute. Years later he and his wife came to Kansas and their last days were spent in this state, his death occuring in Reno county in 1876 and hers, ten years later, in 1886, in Kingman county. Anselm Bussinger was a Republican and he and his wife were members of the Congregational church. They were the parents of six children, those besides the subject of this biographical review being as follow! Henrietta, born in Philadelphia, who married Dr. Samuel B. Livingston; Henry, born in Philadelphia; John, born in Pittsburgh; Sophia, born at Gnadenhutten, Ohio, and Louisa, also born at the last named place, which also was the birthplace of M. C. Bussinger.

Martin C. Bussinger was about sixteen years of age when the family moved from Ohio to Indiana, in the spring of 1859, locating on a farm in the Terre Haute neighborhood, and he was living there when the Civil War broke out. Upon the call for volunteers to defend the flag and suppress the rebellion, Mr. Bussinger, following the example of thousands of other patriotic young men of Indiana, abandoned his civil pursuits and offered his services as a soldier. He enlisted in Company K, Eighty-fifth Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, which was organized at Terre Haute, John P. Baird, colonel; Lewis Pucket, captain of Company K. The Eighty-fifth Indiana was mustered in on August 12, 1862, and was mustered out, June 12, 1865, at the close of the war. Mr. Bussinger followed the fortunes of this regiment from the start to finish, participating in the marches and minor skirmishes, in the early months of service, in Kentucky and Tennessee; the severe engagement at Thompson's Station, Tennessee, March 3, 1863, when . the greater part of the brigade to which the regiment was attached was overwhelmed by a superior force and taken prisoners; in the Atlanta campaign under Sherman, participating in the battles of Resaca, Dallas, Culp's Farm, Peach Tree Creek and others; in the march to the sea, the siege and capture of Savannah; thence through the Carolinas, participating in the last severe engagement of the war, at Averysboro, North Carolina; thence on to Bentonville, Goldsboro and Raleigh, being stationed at the latter place when Lee surrendered; thence on to Washington, participating in the final Grand Review of the army at the close of the war.

During Sherman's march from Atlanta to the sea, the army was wholly dependent upon the country through which it passed for subsistence Details were made from the several commands and sent out each day, some distance from the line of march, to gather food and forage. These details were under command of an officer and a strong guard as a protection against straggling bands of the enemy. Not infrequently soldiers of Sherman's army would leave the command to forage on their own account, taking the risk of being captured and severely deal with by the enemy. Mr. Bussinger took a risk of this kind, and a narration of his experience in getting back with his "supplies" to the "safety zone" will be of interest in this personal sketch.
"It was dangerous business, going out foraging," said he, "for the 'Johnnies' were prowling about all the time. Once I came very near being captured. I was sent by my lieutenant down to a white house to forage around for food. He said it was half a mile, but I found it a good deal farther.

'There were three women on the porch. I kept my eye on them, for I didn't want to take any chances and I wasn't sure whether or not they would fight. I backed away from them, meanwhile keeping an eye on them, while I searched for food. In the smoke house I found some sides of bacon, several of which I hung to my saddle and then started off. I didn't have a gun and when I saw a man ahead I made an effort to get away, but he saw me and took after me calling on me to surrender; but I kept on going and finally got away. I found that the 'Johnnies' had driven my company away when I got back to where I had left it, and I had a close call in finding my company.

"At another time, soon after leaving Atlanta, I went out foraging on my own hook. We were getting short of food and I was mighty hungry. I decided to go out and see what I could get. I was warned not to go, for the rebels were all around us, and they were hanging every forager they caught and filling the bodies full of bullets. But I decided that I'd take a chance. I was so hungry that I didn't much care; I'd about as soon be killed as to die of starvation, I thought. So, early the next morning, I struck out before the boys were up. In a short time I came to a house and after looking around found I was safe. Finding a sack of flour in the house I picked up the sack and started off with it. I ran across an old negro and' made him carry the sack for me. He begged hard to be relieved, as he said there were rebels all around; 'they's thousands of 'em right over dar in de woods/ he said, but I made him go ahead and carry the sack. He begged every step of the way, and was almost scared to death, for fear there'd be a 'reb' behind a tree ahead. Finally, we got to the road which would take me to our lines, when I saw some chickens that tempted me. I knew I'd better be hurrying along, but I couldn't leave those chickens. The old negro kept insisting that the 'rebs' were coming, but I made him catch three hens and a mule for me. Then, with my sack of flour and three chickens on the mule, I struck off down the road. I didn't meet any 'rebs' and got back to camp safe with the supplies. We had good eating in my mess for a few days."

After his discharge from the army, at the close of the war, Mr. Bussinger returned to Terre Haute and remained there until the fall of 1866, when he went to Coles county, Illinois, where he remained for about two years, working on a farm, and where he was married, after which he moved to Iowa and located at Charitan, in Lucas county, where he remained until the fall of 1873, when he and his family came to Kansas and located in Reno county, where they ever since have made their home. It was in September, 1873 that Mr. Bussinger settled on his homestead in Center township, this county, he and his family thus having been among the earliest pioneers of that part of the county. He developed that homestead farm and became a la.rge landowner and one of the most influential residents of the county. For years he served as trustee of Center township, and in other ways did his part in the development of the civic interests of the community. Mr. Bussinger is a Republican and has, ever since coming to this county, given his ernest attention to local political affairs. In 1901 Mr. Bussinger sold his farm and moved to Hutchinson, where he started his children in business and has since then lived retired.

It was on December 2, 1867, in Coles county, Illinois, that Martin C. Bussinger was united in marriage to Sarah C. Johnston, who also was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, November 2, 1842, daughter of Christoper and Grace L. (Kennedy) Johnston, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of Ohio, and to this union ten children were born, three of whom died in infancy, the others being as follow: Gracie; born in Coles county, Illinois, who married Lincoln S. Davis and died at Partridge, leaving a daughter, Charlotte G., Charles, born in Lucas county, Iowa, who married Eliza Paine, Bertha, also bron in Lucas county, Iowa, who married George H. Pickens, a Reno county farmer, and has five children, George, Grace, Bertha, Claude and Harold; Harry, born on the homestead farm in Center Township, who married Abbie Pickens and has four children, Charles, WIlliam, George and Robert; Eugene born in Center township who married Selma Austman; Louise born in Center township, who married C. E. Pickens, a Reno county farmer, and has three children, Carl, Helen and Francis and Annette, also born in Center township, who married H. L. Eales, proprietor of an automobile repair shop at Hutchinson and has one child, Bertha.

Mr. and Mrs. Bussinger are earnest members of the Methodist Church and for years have been active in the work of that denomination in this county. Upon coming to this countythey brought their letters from the Methodist church at their former home and put the same with these of the congregation of the First Methodist church at Hutchinson, with which they ever since have been connected. Mr. Bussiner was a member of the original building committee of the church and was superintendent of construction when the first church was built; also as an officer of the church, taking an active part in the work of refurnishing and decorating the edifice in February, 1908. He is now a member of the board of trustees of the First Methodist Church and continues to maintain his warm interest in the affiars of the same. (Pages 73-76)