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LOCAL FAMILY HISTORIESS-ZFamily Histories are arranged in alphabetical order by surname (last name). Scroll down and click on the appropriate name. |
| Sikes | William | H. |
| Smith | Bertrand | Guy |
| Smith | Daniel | B. |
| Smith | Henry | J. |
| Smith | James | T. |
| Stallard | ||
| Taylor | James | A. |
| Teske | Julius | |
| Tessendorf | ||
| Truitt | Isaac | Henry |
| Valburg | William | |
| Wegner | Friedrick | W. |
| Wheeler | James | |
| Wienstroer | Susie | McGuire |
| Williams | J. Frederick | C. |
| Winters | John | |
| Witt | Gertrude | K. |
| Wolfley | Jacob | |
| Wright-Grossnickle | ||
| Wrosch | Walter | Theodore |
| Zabel | John | F. |
WILLIAM H. SIKES
Bill Sikes grew up in the Vienna community and was such an outstanding man, even beyond 90 years of age, that his history is worthy of being included in the Onaga Historical Society Book.
William Herman Sikes was born August 1, 1858, at Wayne Center, IL, forty miles from Chicago. They came to Wamego in 1870, and were met by Major Jenkins, who brought the family by team and wagon to live in the Vienna community. Bill's father, the Reverend Edward Sikes, became the minister of Vienna Congregational Church. Church services were held in the school house. About 50 students attended the school. the Reverend Sikes bought 80 acres of land north of Vienna for $2 an acre. Bill grew up here and then went to college in Manhattan, graduating with the first class.
As the narrow gauge railroad came to Onaga in 1877 and on to Garrison, Bill Sikes and Amos E. Landon went to Garrison and started a general store. This didn't turn out too well, so Bill went to Leonardville and started another general store. He was in business for 76 years. He was a philosopher, traveled a lot, met and knew many people, and did business with many big companies. He was physically well and able at 90. He rode his favorite horse and worked hard at that age. On August 18, 1948, at age 90, he rode his horse at the head of the 4-H parade along with Dan Casement.
He made selling Army goods a big part of his business. He sold 10,000 Army suits about the time of the Spanish-American War, and 10,000 Army hats after World War I, as well as sheepskin coats and other Army goods. William Sikes wrote many articles in newspapers, gave speeches, and wrote a book about his life. He played a big hand in government and politics. His idea of government was "let me alone".
Following his death January 12, 1957, his son and daughter continued running his store. After 20 years, on November 16, 1977, his store closed its doors. It had served the community for 96 years.
Compiled by Harold McGuire
BERTRAND GUY SMITH
Bertrand Guy Smith, son of Henry Jackson and Francina Smith, was born in Cardington, Ohio, March 19, 1869, and died August 13, 1947, at Onaga. Bert farmed the home place in Vienna Township and cared for his parents until they retired and moved to Onaga. He married Eunice Oliva Truitt at Onaga March 31, 1915. She was the daughter of Isaac Henry and Cynthia Jane Williams Truitt. she was born at Lucas March 23, 1892, and died at Onaga September 23, 1966. Bert and Eunice are buried in the Onaga Cemetery. They spent their entire married life on High Street in a home which was on the site of the present high school parking lot. Bert was employed at Gurtler's Hardware Store in Onaga until the time of his death, and Eunice worked at the Onaga school cafeteria after Bert's death. Their five children were born on Onaga.
Gail Bertine was born February 13, 1916; Hazel Irene was born December 3, 1917;Edgar Walton was born December 27, 1919; Betty Jane was born July 24, 1924; and Robert James was born October 22, 1926.
DANIEL B. SMITH
Daniel B. Smith was born in Pennsylvania in 1818. He married Rebecca Hess. She was born about 1810. After their marriage, they moved to Iowa. In 1873, they came to Kansas.
Their son, Frank Smith, was born in Johnson County, Iowa, June 10, 1844. He married Mary Jane Sells, daughter of Anthony and Sarah (thompson, nee Hibbs) Sells. She was born in Johnson, Iowa, August 15, 1850.
They had a son, Daniel Oliver "Ollie" Smith. He married Minnie Mansfield.
The Smith family settled on land which was well watered by Jim Creek. Frank's farm had been his home since 1874. It was purchased from the county which had intended to use it for the poor.
Ollie and Minnie had four children: Paul, Ruth (Bottom) Baskett; Frank; and Oliver.
Frank married Lorna Wright; Oliver married Donis Grafton.
Ruth had one son, Glenn, whose father was John Bottom.
Oliver and Donis had three children.
HENRY J. SMITH
Henry J. Smith had ten brothers and sisters, and all participated in a family reunion when all were over 75 years of age. They were of sturdy stock. Henry was born March 26, 1841, in Union County, PA, and died April 10, 1920, at a hospital in Topeka. He is buried in the Vienna Cemetery.
Mr. Smith enlisted in the 22nd Regiment, Company G, Veterans Reserve, on August 9 1862, and was transferred to Company d 96th Regiment, Ohio Infantry on March 16, 1864. He was discharged at Camp Chase, Ohio, July 3, 1865. He became a member of the Custard Post #39, G.A.R.
While a resident of Onaga, Mr. Smith was a police judge.
Mr. Smith was married March 26, 1868, in Morrow county, Ohio, to Francina Smith, who was born August 4, 1845,in Smyrna, Ohio. She died March 19, 1910, in Onaga and was buried in the Vienna Cemetery. she was the daughter of William Smith.
Henry and Francina Smith had seven children: Bertrand Guy, born March 19, 1869 (see his story elsewhere). Allison Dale, born October 26, 1870, in Cardingt0n, Ohio, died February 23, 1941, in Frankfort. He was married January 10, 1900, to Una Hines, daughter of George Hines.
Eugene Raymond, born May 9, 1872, at Havensville, died January 5, 1966, in Topeka. He was married September 16, 1896, to Mary Alice Musgrave, daughter of Edward and Virginia Hammond Musgrave.
Grace Lenore, born March 20, 1876, died in Topeka September 24, 1945. She married Abram Cummings.
Pearl Havens, born February 4, 1878, died at Hyattsvile, MD. She married Louis Reb.
Emma Blanche, born October 29, 1884; died September 24, 1888.
Henry LeRoy, born December 30, 1886; died October 30, 1888.
JAMES T. SMITH
James T. Smith, son of George B. and Betsy (Stewart) Smith, was born December 1, 1850, at Linden, NY. His father died in 1865, and his mother in 1870. He worked in Michigan and Illinois a few years and came to Leavenworth in 1876, to work for his uncle, L. T. Smith, first president of the Kansas Central Railway Company. In the spring of 1878, he purchased the farm in Section 2 of Mill Creek Township south of Onaga. He built the present house that summer. In November 1878, he married Mary C. Vincent at Attica, NY. She died at Onaga in March 1879. On February 17, 1891, he married Ida M. Aley of Onaga. She was born in Logansport, IN, on January 14, 1868, the eldest child of Ella and Ezra Aley. She grew up in the Fostoria community and taught school there. After they moved to Onaga she taught at Vienna and Onaga. She died February 4, 1952. Their oldest son, Leonard A. Smith, was born in 1892 and died in 1896. Their other son, Spencer H. Smith, was born , was born September 17, 1893. He married Irene DeGraw on October 10, 1918. She was a daughter of George W. and Eliza Jane DeGraw of Onaga. They lived on the farm south of Onaga until they retired and moved into town. Spencer died July 15, 1973.
STALLARD
Albert Luther Stallard, son of Albert Galliton and Sarah Stallard, was born August 15, 1837, near Rixville in Culpepper County, VA., and died September 15, 1927, at the home of his youngest son, Minor, near Onaga, at the age of 90.As a boy he attended the public schools of his county. He went to Texas to teach school when he was a young man. He was working with a surveying gang at San Antonio, TX, when the Civil War broke out.
He rode his horse from San Antonio to Memphis, TN, the nearest railroad, and returned to Virginia where he enlisted with the South, in the Fourth Virginia Black Horse Cavalry. He served under the direct command of General Stonewall Jackson, General Fitzhugh Lee and General J. B. Stuart, all under the general command of General Robert E. Lee. He was a personal courier for Stonewall Jackson on the day of Jackson's death in battle.
During General Early's last raid up the Shenandoah Valley, A. L. Stallard was captured by federal forces and held a prisoner of war until the final surrender at Appomattox. One of the federal soldiers who took Mr. Stallard prisoner was David Cook, who was later to be his good friend and neighbor in Vienna Township on the adjoining farm.
After his honorable discharge from the Army of the C.S.A., Mr. Stallard came to Platte City, MO, where he engaged in livestock raising, farming and teaching.
In 1873, he came to Vienna as one of the early pioneers of the area. On December 18, 1877, he was united in marriage to Harriet Elizabeth Humphrey of Platte City, MO, who was born June 13, 1852, and died May 7, 1911. Mr. and Mrs. Stallard came to Onaga on the first passenger train to arrive in Onaga after their wedding.
Being a Confederate, Mr. Stallard could not homestead a farm as the Union soldiers could, so he purchased school land from the State of Kansas - - 200 acres in Section 16, Township 7 South, Range 11 East of the 6th P.M. The home he built still stands, overlooking the valley approximately three miles south of Onaga.
The Stallard's had nine children: Albert Leuttrell, born November 21, 1878; Luther H., born January 21, 1880; Richard T., born October 20, 1881; Julius Orlando, born January 10, 1884; Mary H., born March 17, 1886; Simeon Harvey, born January 18, 1888; Luella Glee, born November 3, 1889; David William, born June 21, 1892; and Minor Reagon, born June 29, 1895.
Minor was the athlete of the family, being an All-American Guard on the Kansas Conference Championship basketball team of Ottawa University in 1916.
After college, Minor engaged in farming on the home place, and after a short term of military service during World War I, he returned to farming and purchased the farm home approximately two miles south of Onaga -- the South one- half of the SE one-fourth of Section 4, Township 7 South, Range 11 East of the 6th P.M.
October 8, 1919, he married Faye Randall, who was born October 29, 1896, in the Onaga community. for a short time, they lived in Emporia where Minor was County Agricultural Agent. In 1969, Minor and Faye retired in Onaga. They had one son, Wayne M. Stallard.
JAMES A. TAYLOR
James Andrew Taylor, oldest son of James Clellan Taylor and Mary Ann Elliott, was born November 26, 1861, at Savannah, IL. He came to Kansas with his parents, brothers, and sisters, to homestead in the Rolling Prairie neighborhood.
When the settlers were ill, James was sent to Neuchatel to bring the French doctor to the home.
Mr. Taylor had two sisters -- Hannah Jane Crumbaker and Margaret Roderick; and four brothers -- Thomas, George, John and Samuel. George and Samuel were ministers.
James A. Taylor married Harriet E. Guffy January 26, 1884. To this union were born five children: Albert, Ethel, Maude, Libby (who died at age 7), and Mabel (she died from appendicitis the year she was to graduate from Onaga High School).
January 27, 1897, he married Mary Lurena Garrett Morris who had a son, Elvin Morris, two years old. James and Mary had four sons, Leslie, Wilford, Willis and Homer, and four daughters, Anise, Ruth, Ruby and Mazie. The family moved to Westmoreland and then to West Plains, MO, where they lived seven years before moving back to Kansas in 1911. He farmed several years before moving to Onaga where he was school janitor and worked at the Union Pacific Railroad Roundhouse. In August 1918, they moved to Atchison County, and in 1921, moved to Topeka where he bought a grocery store. He later served as a janitor at the Topeka High School until his retirement.
Mrs. Taylor dies February 13, 1928, and Mr. Taylor lived with Mr. and Mrs. Ben Gettler for 24 years, until his death May 17, 1952, at the age of 90.
He is buried in the Memorial Park Cemetery, Topeka.
By Margaret Anise Pinick, his daughter
JULIUS TESKE
Julius August Teske was born in Germany on November 18, 1832, died May 24, 1908, and is buried in the Home Cemetery south of Duluth. He was one of eleven children. His father was C. Frederick Teske and his mother was Mary Hartwick. His grandfather was Chris Teske.
Julius was married to Anna Rachel Myer April 11, 1872. Anna was born September 14, 1849, and died June 25, 1920. she was born in Zurich, Switzerland, and was one of eleven children. When she was a small child, she came to the United States with her parents, brothers and sisters. It took 72 days to cross the ocean. One child was lost at sea.Julius and Anna lived on a farm west of Onaga. Their children were: Albert, 1876; Amelia, 1878; Christian, 1881, none of whom married; Lena (Mrs. Robert Zabel), 1874; Louisa (Mrs. Albert) Honig, 1880; Emma Wahl, 18--; Pauline Herde Davin, 1886; and William, 18--.
TESSENDORF
Michael Tessendorf and his wife Dorothea Sophia Matzke Tessendorf came from Germany to Wisconsin in 1856 and then on to Kansas in 1858 with the following children: Mina (Mrs. William Nichals), Laclede; Louisa (Mrs. John Eichem), Westmoreland; and Frederick, Laclede. August, Herman and Anna were born here.
They first settled near Neuchatel and lived there until 1870, when they moved to a farm two miles west of Onaga.
Anna married Ulrich Schane. Their children were Clara, who married Claude Hayes; Raymond who married Lois Beach; and Charlene Dudley. Walter married Hazel Eddy; Lester married Mae Holder, Frank married Maude Harris; and Edna married Carl Eckart.
Their son Herman, who was born September 26, 1867, married Amelia Zabel on February 14, 1889. She was born September 7, 1871, the daughter of John F. and Wilhelmina Kolterman Zabel. They were farmers on his father's farm. ; Their seven children were Elsie, Ida, Cecilia, Mitchel, John, Zabel and Arthur.
Elsie N. Tessendorf, born August 6, 1890, married Ernest (Roy) L. Frezieres on November 3, 1909. He was born November 11, 1887, the son of Ernest and Rosalie Frezieres of Neuchatel. Elsie died November 21, 1964, and Roy died July 30, 1974. they had two children, Chester and Amelia.
Chester LeRoy Frazier was born August 16, 1910. He married Mabel Keal, Rantoul, IL. He was a pilot in World War II. They had three children -- Sonya, Janet, and Donna.
Amelia Frezieres served as a Navy Wave during World War II, and in the intelligence branch of the Navy in the Korean Conflict.
Ida Lucinda Tessendorf was born September 19, 1893. She married Edward Ernest Brunkow on June 12, 1918. He was born November 15, 1890; he died December 1, 1959, and she died November 29, 1969. They had two children.
Cecilia Tessendorf married August F. Wrosch on February 28, 1917. they moved to the Schneider farm, one and one-half miles south of Duluth. They both passed away in 1974. They had three sons.
Mitchell Tessendorf was born in June 1898, and married Opal Dronberger on August 10, 1921. they lived on his father's farm until their son married and moved to the farm. Mitchell and Opal then moved to Onaga. She died December 26, 1956, and he died in 1973. They had two children. Mitchell later married Irene Gendre Grim.
John Tessendorf was born October 1, 1900, and married Rheva Dodds on February 22, 1922. They moved to the Crumbaker farm west of Onaga. In 1936, they moved to Washington state and lived there until 1960, when they moved to California. They had two sons.
Zabel Tessendorf was born in december 1913. He married Audrey and had two children. Zabel later married Evelyn.
Arthur Tessendorf died in infancy.
ISAAC HENRY TRUITT
Isaac Henry Truitt, son of James Henry and Mary Oliva Dean Truitt, and grandson of Peter and Katherine Williams Truitt, was born October 7, 1847, in Milan, IN, and died June 10, 1929, at Onaga. He married Cynthia Jane Williams at Council Grove September 17, 1885. She was the daughter of Isaac Reardon and Eunice Matilda VanCleave Williams, granddaughter of John H. Williams. She was born December 19, 1868, at Ft. Dodge, IA, and died December 15, 1936, at Onaga, where both are buried.
Isaac and Cynthia Truitt lived at Lucas, where their first five children were born: Chauncey Robert, born October 20, 1886, died October 7, 1974; William, born August 18, 1888, died October 10, 1889; James Rosewell, born March 14, 1890, married June 6, 1911 to Kamila Sladocek, died August 9, 1956, in Pocatello, ID; Eunice Oliva, born March 23, 1892, married to Bertrand Guy Smith (son of Henry and Francina Smith) March 31, 1915, died September 23, 1966; Patrick, born October 7, 1894, died August 18, 1895; Edgar, born April 9, 1896, died February 12, 1915; Oma, born April 8, 1898, married to Ward Ray Miles (son of William Curtis and Emma Elizabeth Lemar Miles) October 17, 1921; Lillie, born April 2, 1900, died April 6, 1900; Helen, born April 7, 1901, died December 12, 1902; Ruth, born January 13, 1902, died June 25, 1916; May, born February 7, 1914, died February 7, 1914.
Isaac served in the Civil and Spanish American Wars. He was a stone mason and, with his sons, Bob and Jim, built many of the stone buildings in Onaga. The new St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church was built by Bob.
WILLIAM VALBURG
William Valburg, son of Henry and Wilhelmina Valburg, was born May 26, 1860 in Angerlo, Holland, and died January 27, at Duluth.
January 12, 1889, he married Christina Stiger, who was born February 22, 1873, at Wheaton, and died in 1951 at Onaga, and is buried in Duluth. She was the daughter of Jacob and Bertha (Myers) Stiger.
William settled in Mill Creek Township, Pottawatomie County, in 1885. He and Christina were parents of the following children: Christian, who married Louise Graf, daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Graf; Bertha, born January 25, 1892, at Duluth, married Walter Kolterman (son of Ernest and Emma Kolterman) January 18, 1914, died February 24, 1975, at Onaga; Sophia, married to Mr. Berges and then to Mr. Buman; Lee, married to Otillia Kufahl, daughter of Albert Kufahl; Lucy; Bill; Roy, who married Erna Gonske; Raymond, who married Jean Ingalsbe and Lorene, who married Foster Thompson, son of Mel and Delia (Eddy) Thompson.
FRIEDRICK W. WEGNER
Friedrick Wilhelm Wegner was born June 6, 1835, at Doelitz Pommern, Germany. He married Wilhelmine Sophia Gattin, who was born August 27, 1835, also at Doelitz Pommern, Germany.
Friedrick and Wilhelmine Wegner, with their children -- Wilhelm Fredrick, age 8, Ferdinand, age 4, and Hannah, came to America in 1869. They homesteaded six miles southwest of Onaga (Rando Wegner farm) and their first home was a dugout with a roof in the native prairie land. While living here, their young daughter was bitten by a snake in some high slough grass not far from the home and died. Another son, Henry, was born at the homestead on March 21, 1875, but lived only two months.
JAMES WHEELER
James David Wheeler was born at fort Scott May 15, 1874. His parents were Emmett and mary Wheeler. Emmett was from Ireland.
Jim married Edith Holmgren, daughter of John and Carrie Holmgren, in January 26, 1913. she was born October 2, 1888, at Alamosa, CO. Edith's parents came to Kansas from Sweden.
Emmett and two of his brothers came to the United States together, but later separated. One brother stayed in boston, one settled in Indiana, and Emmett traveled on west. He finally settled in Fort Scott, where Jim was born.
Later, Emmett moved his family to Greenleaf. Jim moved to Onaga, and his brother, Harry E., settled in Fairview OK.
He had a sister, Maxine.
Edith was an employee of the old Onaga Hospital for several years. Jim was a farmer. they had four children: Adeline, Arlene,Milton, and Meryl. Edith died March 19, 1965. James died March 5, 1947. They are buried in the Onaga Cemetery.
SUSIE MCGUIRE WIENSTROER
Susie McGuire was born on a farm in Section 12, Vienna Township, to Mr. and Mrs. Levi McGuire, on December 5, 1891. Her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Adget McGuire, natives of Ohio and Pennsylvania, came to the Vienna vicinity in 1863, from Indiana with their children Levi, Mattie, and Isabel. They settled on 80 acres of land three miles southeast of Onaga. Moses and John McGuire, their sons, came four or five years later.
Levi married Nancy Nivens, Valley Falls, in 1870. Levi was born in 1847, and died in 1938.
Susie had five brothers and four sisters. Ida McGuire Mumaw and Susie lived all of their lives in the Onaga Community.
Susie married Ted Wienstroer May 23, 1912. they were farmers. they had three children -- Chester, Lawrence, and Ferne.
Susie had many friends in the area. She enjoyed cooking, and everyone was welcome to have dinner at their home.
Susie exhibited many food products at the Pottawatomie County Fair at Onaga for many years, and took many prizes. He specialties were Angel Food Cake and bread. In later years, Susie compiled a cookbook called Susie's Recipes. She sold many of these books all over the United States.
J. Fredrick C. Williams, son of Joseph and Emily Williams, was born
September 27, 1874, at Stampee Creek, IN. Fred Williams came to Kansas
from New Albany, MO, in 1899. He came to visit his sister, Mary, wife
of William Mack, in the Arispie neighborhood in Sherman Township. He
worked as a farm hand for Phil Thorn and Frank (Deacon) Smith for several
years, later going to work for August Kolterman northwest of Onaga. In
addition to farming, Fred liked to give readings at Grange and school
programs. He married Anna Louise (Lizzie) Kolterman 26 February 1902. They started
housekeeping in a three-room house on a farm two and one-half miles north
of Onaga in the Pleasant Valley district. Three children were born to
this couple, Carrie, Mandy, Edna, and Clarence Raymond. Carrie married
Andrew Ringleman April 2, 1919; Mandy married Floyd Inscho October 16,
1933; and Clarence married Louise Zenner September 27, 1933. Carrie and Andy had three children. Andy died November 17, 1960, and
is buried in Onaga Cemetery. Carrie later married Dave Clark. Mandy's
husband, Floyd Inscho, died November 29, 1977. They had no children. Clarence Raymond Williams died May 26, 1978, at Wichita, and is buried
in Onaga Cemetery. They had one daughter. Some of the Williams' farm is still in the family. Fred C. Williams died January17, 1970, at 95 years of age. Anna Louise
(Lizzie) died December 2, 1945, at 65 years of age. They are buried in
the Onaga Cemetery. John Winters came to Kansas with his mother when he was fifteen years
old. They settled on an eighty acre farm in the very southeast corner
of Marshall County, approximately two miles from Neuchatel. He was born
in 1867, near New London, MO. His parents were James and Elizabeth Condon
Winters, both of whom were born in Ireland. They met in Missouri shortly
after arriving from Ireland and were married there. Mr. Winters had one
brother and two sisters. Mrs. William Colwell of Marshall County was
his sister. His father died in Kansas City, MO, when he was six or seven
years old. Aunts and uncles helped rear the four children. He was married to Esther Perrussel in 1906. She had come to Kansas with
her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Bartholomew Perrussel, three brothers and three
sisters, in 1883, from Oconto, WI, when she was seven years old. The Perrussels settled on a farm about one mile west of Neuchatel on
the Parallel. Her father was born near Lyon, France, and her mother in
Geneva, Switzerland. The couple met after coming to the United States
and were married by her father in Oconto. Mrs. Winter's grandfather,
Henry Morel, was one of the early pastors of the Congregational Church
at Neuchatel. Her family played an important part in the history of that
church. She was organist at the church for fourteen years. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Winters lived on the farm in Marshall
County. John and Esther Winters' seven children were born on the Marshall County
farm. They were: Glenn, who married Evelyn Dulac; Estelle, who married
Clark Hartman; Chester, who married Gladys Lieb; John, who married Mildred
Grothjan; Clark, married Elsie Ristow; Eva, who married Marvin Zabel;
and Raymond, who died at three years of age. In 1918, the family moved to a farm in the Arispie neighborhood. Ten
years later they moved to a farm south of Onaga known as the Day Ranch.
In 1946, they retired from the farm and moved to Onaga. Both enjoyed
good health until their later years. Mrs. Winters died following a stroke
in February 1961, at the age of 85. Mr. Winters died in July 1968, shortly
before his one hundred and first birthday. Glen died in 1973. Gertrude Kolterman Witt, a sister of Henry Carl Kolterman, was born
December 26, 1895. She was married to Otto Witt. Their daughter, Dorothy
Witt, was born April 1, 1920. She married Theodore Olson (born June 19,
1919) on September 14, 1946. They had three grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Jacob Wolfley was born January 30, 1871. He married Mary Freel, daughter
of Hohn and Ann Freel of Soldier, on March 2, 1897. She was born September
17, 1876. They lived at Soldier, later moved to Fowler in Meade County, and then
to the Onaga community in 1909. Before moving to Onaga for retirement
in 1941, they lived in Section 21, Vienna Township, where he was a farmer
and stockman. Their children were Ruth and Augustus John (Bill) Wolfley. Jake died
January 1, 1951, and Mary died November 19, 1964. Mary Elizabeth "Mate" Wright was born in Lisbon, Illinois,
October 21, 1867. She came to Kansas with her parents at the age of three.
They lived in Kansas for five years before returning to Illinois. They
came back to Kansas and lived one year at Louisville before moving to
Onaga. John Grossnickle was born at Des Moines, IA, June 11, 1864. He came
to Kansas with his parents when he was four years old. They came in a
covered wagon pulled by oxen. John and Mate were married at Westmoreland
February 10, 1886. They lived on a farm in Section 14, Vienna Township.
John was a farmer and stockman. They had two children, Violet and Glen.
They retired in 1924 and moved to Onaga. Mary Elizabeth (Mate) Grossnickle died August 13, 1943, and John Grossnickle
died June 8, 1949. They are buried in the Onaga Cemetery. Walter Theodore Wrosch, son of Albert and Wilhelmine Wrosch, was born
July 3, 1905. He was a farmer and stockman and lived for many years southwest
of Onaga. Mr. Wrosch married Grace Allen, daughter of Henry and Bertha
Linderman Allen. Their children are Glenda and Don. Walter died February 15, 1974. John F. Zabel was born in Prussia on May 14, 1838. He came to Wisconsin
in 1847, with his parents. In 1860, John and his brother Charles came
to Kansas. He served in the Civil War in Company C, 11th Kansas Cavalry. In 1865, he homesteaded his farm one mile south of Duluth. He built
a frame house which he concreted with perhaps a mixture of clay and hay. In 1877, he had a stone house built by Washington Miller, who did the
stone work, and John Weber, the carpenter. The stone used is chestnut
lime. Some walnut lumber was used in both the frame house, which is still
standing, and the stone house. (In 1980, John Ellis, with the help of
J. Crum, Mrs. Grace Springer and Marie Zabel, repointed the stone house
for the first time.) In March 1866, he married Wilhelmina (Menna) Kolterman. She was a daughter
of Daniel and Mary Kolterman and was born December 22, 1844, in Germany.
Their children were William, Matilda, Robert, Amelia, and Leopold. These
children were born in the stone house -- Richard, Theresa, John Ferdinand,
Malinda, Charles and George. John Zabel died May 26, 2902, and Menna died February 13, 1923. In 1906,
Menna had a house built at 713 Lucien to which she, Ferdinand, Malinda
and George moved. John F. donated the land for the Home Cemetery four
miles west of Onaga. They are buried there. William Zabel was born in 1867, and died in 1871. Matilda Marie Zabel, born March 3, 1868; married Albert Kolterman (see
businessmen). They had five children, Pearl, Grace, George, Grant and
Helen, all born in Onaga. They moved to Manhattan and later to Golden
City, MO, where he operated the bank. He died May 29, 1920, and she died
October 10, 1942. Pearl Alice Kolterman married Edgar Hank. They had two children, Helen
and Lucille. Helen and Richard had two children, Richard and Nancy. Lucille
married Henry Cobbs and they had four children, Neil, Gayle, Kathy and
Emily. Grace Marie Kolterman and George Kolterman never married. Grace was
in the service and served as a dietitian in hospitals. Grant Kolterman married Gladys Hunt.
Helen Kolterman married Roy Hickman. Robert Frederik Zabel was born January 28, 1870, and died March 30,
1941. He married Lena Teske, who was born March 9, 1874, and died July
24, 1964. She was the duaghter of Julius and Anna Nayer. They farmed
in the Rolling Prairie community before they moved to Westmoreland, where
he died. Lena then moved to Onaga. Their children were Arthur Lawrence,
Ethel Fidelia, and Ada Marie. Arthur Lawrence Zabel married Flora Elsie
Brunkow, daughter of Ferdinand and Helena Hartwich Brunkow. They had
four children. Ethel Fidelia Zabel married Luther McGranahan. They had two children. Ada Marie Zabel married Herman Dempsey Francis. They had five children,
Georgia Roberta, Genevieve Rosella, Herman Dempsey, Jr., Norma Jean and
George Edward. Georgia Francis married Raymond D. Cornelius. They had
three children. Amelia Zabel -- See Michael Tessendorf and Roy L. Frezieres. Leopold Zabel was born February 22, 1873. He died April 8, 1966. He
married Minnie Schwant June 17, 1897. She was born September 13, 1875,
and died January 29, 1961. They farmed in Section 32, Mill Creek Township
until 1921, when they retired to 717 Lucien, Onaga. They had three children,
Vida, Walter and Marvin. Walter Zabel married Lillian May Kuehl, daughter
of Ferdinand and Anna Linderman Kuehl. They had three children, William
Leopold, Elaine Wanda and Darold D. (deceased). Walter Zabel died February
5, 1981. Marvin Zabel -- see Winters family. Richard Zabel was born September 30, 1874, and died October 27, 1876. Theresa Wilhalmina Zabel was born September 30, 1876. She married Herman
August Ladwig on April 16, 1895. He died in 1925 and she in 1952. They
had two children Walter (deceased) and Hannah, who married Otto Fredrich
Wege, son of Frederick and Minnie Teske Wege. They had three children. John F. Zabel was born April 5, 1878; married Anna A. Nisson, who was
born July 17, 1881. They lived in Onaga. (See Businessmen). In 1908,
John moved to a farm two miles south of Duluth. Anna died December 26,
1953, and John died January 14, 1958. They had two daughters, Alta and
Edna, who died as infants, and Lucille, who married George Matzke. They
had four children. Ferdinand E. Zabel (See Businessmen) was born in 1880, and died October
9, 1969. He married Lillian Lee November 6, 1907. They moved to Colorado
and had three children, Lavina, Ferda Lee, and a son who died at birth.
Malinda Zabel, born February 9, 1882, married John C. Hobbs, who was
born March 5, 1882. He worked for the telephone company in Onaga at the
time of their marriage December 22, 1909. They moved to Colorado and,
at the time of their deaths in 1953, were living at Ft. Collins, CO.
Their sons were Cecil and Dale. Charley Lee Zabel, born October 9, 1883,
married Emma Pauline Wrosch, the daughter of Albert and Millie Ladwig
Wrosch, October 24, 2906. She was born June 4, 1885. They farmed on his
father's homestead until they retired to Duluth. On the farm was a hand-dug
well. They used a three gallon wooden heg on a rope pulley to draw water
for drinking and household use. They also had a bucket in which they
would keep butter and cream and lower this into the well to keep the
products cool and sweet. Charley and his helpers had an ice plow. In
the winter when the ice was about one foot thick they would get ice from
Mill Creek and saw it into squares and pack it in sawdust and store it
in a five foot deep dug-out in the ice house on his farm. This they used
in the summer in ice boxes and to make ice cream. They had six children, Adeline, Lorna, Raymond, Velma, Grace and Delta.
Emma died November 30, 1963, and Charley died October 2, 1965. Adeline Zabel was born January 19, 1908. she married Mafir A. (Mike)
Wegner, who was born August 31, 1896. they farmed until 1948 when they
moved to Onaga. He drove a school bus and did carpentry work. Mike died in 1965. Adeline married Orville Ogg, who died in 1976. Mike
and Adeline had three children. Lorna, born August 5, 1909, married Harry
Honig February 22, 1933. Harry, born August 9, 1907, was the son of William
and Theresa Brunkow Honig. They began farming on the Ganske place one
mile east of Duluth. Harry farmed but went into the carpentry business.
They moved to Onaga in 1973. Velma Zabel was born October 18, 1912, and married Roy Berges September
21, 1931. They live on the farm one mile south of Onaga which Roy's parents
owned at the time of the tornado and flood at 4 p.m. June 17, 1915. They
had three sons. Raymond John Zabel was born March 31, 1911. On February 14, 1934, he
married Marie Martha Abitz. They lived on his father's farmstead which
has been in the family for 116 years. They had five children. Charles Zabel, the brother of John F. Zabel who came from Prussia, moved
from Wisconsin with his wife and child and settled on the Schneider farm.
The child died. Two other children, Herman and Sophia, were born here.
In 1867, the family moved to Westmoreland. J. FREDRICK C. WILLIAMS
JOHN WINTERS
GERTUDE K. WITT
JACOB WOLFLEY
WRIGHT-GROSSNICKLE
WALTER THEODORE WROSCH
JOHN F. Zabel