RAWLINS COUNTY, KANSAS BIOGRAPHIES
HOMER C. BASTIAN
Homer Clyde Bastian, merchant and banker, was born
in a sod house in Red Willow County, Nebraska, twelve miles southwest of Indianola, January 5, 1890. He is the
son of Samuel George and Florence (Ackers) Bastian. His father, a merchant, was born at Calina, Ohio, in 1856,
came to Red Willow County in 1879, and homesteaded land there, which is still in the family. He died at Danbury,
Nebraska in August 1926. Florence Ackers, who is living, was born at Salina.
Mr. Bastian attended public school and was graduated
from high school in 1907. He then entered his father's store which in 1917 he purchased and operated for about
two years. Later he purchased stock in the Bank of Danbury and was elected vice president in 1919. He is still
active as a director.
After some time as a traveling representative of
the M. E. Smith Drygoods Company of Omaha, Mr. Bastian operated five dry goods and ready to wear stores, these
being at Oberlin, Colby, st. Francis, and Atwood, and at Trenton, Nebraska.
On September 1, 1913, he was married at Danbury
to Jessie Christine Ashton, daughter of Jesse C. and Sarah (Hess) Ashton. There are two children, Berdean, born
August 5, 1915; and Marvin, July 15,1920. Mrs. Bastian's father was one of the earliest settlers in Nebraska, particularly
in Red Willow County, where he homesteaded.
A Democrat, Mr. Bastian was elected mayor at Atwood
in 1930, and is now a member of the state federal relief committee, appointed by Governor Woodring in 1932 with
jurisdiction over 15 counties. He is past president of the Rotary Club (1927) and one of the charter members now
serving on the board of directors. He was president of the Chamber of Commerce in 1929, is a director of the Southwest
Merchants Association; a member of the Red Cross, the National Rife Association and the Methodist Episcopal Church.
A Mason, he is a member of the Boaz Lodge No. 185, of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Hastings Consistory
at Hastings, Nebraska and Tehama Temple of the Shrine. His favorite sport is golf.
Mrs. Bastian is a member of the Radiant Chapter
of the Order of the Eastern Star and Chapter AX of the P. E. O. Both Mr. and Mrs. Bastian have traveled extensively
throughout the United States. Residence: Atwood. (Illustriana Kansas, by Sara Mullin Baldwin & Robert Morton
Baldwin, 1933, page 79)
DRATH, FRANCIS HERMAN
Francis Herman Drath, banker, was born at Elmwood,
Nebraska, April 11, 1873, son of Fritz and Juliana (Oestrieich) Drath. The father was born at Saalfield, Germany
about 1828 and died at Herndon, Kansas in September 1896. The mother was born in Danzig, Germany in 1832 and died
in Herndon, May 24, 1924.
On September 16, 1903, Mr. Drath was married to
Mercedes Magdalena Miller at Ludell. She was born in Washington, Kansas, October 28, 1875. There are four children:
Francis S., born August 28, 1904, who married Pauline Campbell, Eulia M., January 29, 1906, who married Watson
Foster; Rosa T., July 14, 1912; and Mercedes M., January 19, 1916.
Since 1901, Mr. Drath has been in the banking business
at Herndon now being cashier of the First State Bank. He is a Democrat, a member of Rawlins County Bankers' Association,
the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Knights Templar Bodies of the Masons, and the Presbyterian Church. Residence: Herndon.
(Illustriana Kansas, by Sara Mullin Baldwin & Robert Morton Baldwin, 1933, page 340)
HAROLD ELBERTSON HARPER
Harold Elbertson Harper, farmer, was born in Smith
Center, Kansas, January 16, 1892, son of Charles Wesley and Julia Isabelle (Reavis) Harper. His father was born
at Maroa, Illinois, February 24, 1869, and his mother on March 17, 1869.
Mr. Harper was graduated from the high school at
Atwood in 1913, and from 1913 and 1917 was retail yard manager for the Foster Lumber Company of Kansas City, Missouri.
From 1917 until 1919, he was in the general offices of the Sterling Lumber and Investment Company of Denver, Colorado.
Since that time he has engaged in farming and since 1926, has been secretary and treasurer of the Beardsley Co-operative
Equity Exchange. Since 1930 he has been a member of the Kansas State Farm Bureau Board.
On February 17, 1916, he was married to Dora Margaret
Walker at Beardsley. She was born at Beardsley, October 4, 1895. There are four children living and one deceased;
Irma Mae, born October 21,1915; Rhema Irene, October 21, 1915; Clarence Wayne, March 2, 1918; and Harold Elbertson,
March 29, 1924. Ralph Donald, born January 19, 1921, died November 14, 1922.
Mr. Harper is a Republican. He is a member of the
United Brethren Church and chairman of the board of trustees of the local church. He is a member of the Red Cross
and treasurer of the local school board. He is past master of McDonald Lodge No. 383 of Ancient Free and Accepted
Masons and a member of the Royal Arch Masons and Knights Templar. Residence: Beardsley. (Illustriana Kansas, by
Sara Mullin Baldwin & Robert Morton Baldwin, 1933, page 484)
WILLIAM RYNECK HORTON
William Ryneck Horton, real estate dealer, was
born in Craigville, New York, July 13, 1874, son of Eugene and Annie Thompson (Haley) Horton.
The father was born in Goshen, New York, September
27,1824, and died at Craigville, December 25, 1903. He was a farmer and insurance man, a descendant of Barnabas
Horton, who came to America in the ship Swallow in 1638, locating at Southhold, Long Island. The Horton family
was one of the first to settle in America and the Genealogy of the family is very interesting. An old frame house,
built by Barnabas in 1659-60 still stands. It is in all probability the oldest standing house in America. Six generations
of the Horton family were born and died in it, and all with the exception of Barnabas and a son, Jonathon, were
born in it.
Annie Thompson Haley was born in Craigville, New
York, September 6, 1849, and died there on January 16, 1905. Her father and mother were born in Ireland.
Mr. Horton attended public school in New York State
and high school at Chester, New York. Mr. Horton was the seventh generation of farmers on the homestead farm at
Goshen, New York, until 1907, when he came to Kansas. He has since resided at Atwood. The Horton farm still remains
in the family name, being the residence of Grace H. Horton, a sister. Mr. Horton is president of the Farmers National
Bank at Atwood and a director of the State Bank of Herndon. He is a Republican.
On August 10, 1915 he was married to Margaret Ann
Huston at Manhattan. She was born at Smith Center October 18, 1887, daughter of Howard and Sarah (Bruner) Huston.
Her death occurred at Atwood September 16, 1921. Mrs. Horton was a graduate of Kansas State Agricultural College,
a member of the P. E. O. and the Order of Eastern Star. There are three children of this marriage, Anne, born,
August 13, 1916; William R., Jr., May 17, 1918 and Margaret H., February 13, 1920.
On June 5, 1925, Mr. Horton was married at Atwood
to Vera M. Preder, daughter of John and Dollie M. (Pennel) Preder. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in1920,
from the University of Kansas. They have one daughter, Naomi Z., born September 3, 1926.
Mr. Horton is a member of the Methodist Church,
the Red Cross, the Lions Club (past president), Atwood Lodge No. 164 of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Royal
Arch Chapter No. 84, Commandery No. 54 and Isis Temple of the Shrine at Salina. He is eligible to the Sons of the
American Revolution through Silas Horton who served as a private in the 2nd regiment of the Ulster County Militia
(New York), and with the 5th regiment of the line under Colonel Lewis DuBois.
He is past commander of his commandery, and past
patron of Radiant Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star. Mrs. Horton is active in civic affairs, and is a member
of the Eastern Star. Residence: Atwood. (Illustriana Kansas, by Sara Mullin Baldwin & Robert Morton Baldwin,
1933, page 555)
JOHN RICHARD KIRCHNER
John Richard Kirchner, hardware and implement dealer,
was born in Greeley, Iowa, January 28, 1870, son of John Nicholas and Henrietta (Canine) Kirchner.
The father, who came to America in 1848, was born
in Bavaria, Germany, June 6, 1842, and died at Herndon, December 18, 1928. Henrietta Canine was a native of Pennsylvania,
born November 17, 1842 and died at Herndon, March 14, 1897. Her ancestry was French.
Educated in public schools of Rawlins County, until
1888, John Richard Kirchner attended A. N. Palmer's Business College at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the winter of 1893-94,
graduating in 1894. He came to Herndon in the spring of 1881. For the past 34 years Mr. Kirchner has been in the
hardware and implement business, and at the present time is also president of the Herndon State Bank.
On October 25, 1899, he was married to Elizabeth
Jane Caffrey at Orleans, Nebraska. She was born at Ottumwa, Iowa, February 24, 1870, the daughter of Charles and
Mary (Farley) Caffrey, and before her marriage was a teacher. There are two children, Louis, born October 7, 1900
and Edmund, July 12, 1902, who married Teresia C. Fisher, at Washington, D. C., Louis L., is a graduate of Georgetown
Law School at Washington, D. C., and practices law in Kansas City, Missouri. Edmund is a graduate of Catholic University
of America at Washington, D. C., where he won a scholarship in 1924, and is a member of the Kansas legislature,
having been elected on the Democratic ticket.
Mr. Kirchner is a member of Assumption Catholic
Church of Herndon, the Knights of Columbus, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Red Cross, and the Western
Implement & Hardware Association. Residence: Herndon. (Illustriana Kansas, by Sara Mullin Baldwin & Robert
Morton Baldwin, 1933, page 645)
WILLIAM RUSSELL LITTELL
William Russell Littell, newspaper publisher, was
born in Woodston, Kansas, January 11, 1894, son of William Calvin and Jean E. (Hale) Littell. The father, a native
of Delaware, Ohio, born December 9, 1861, was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
He was a circuit rider in Northwest Kansas in 1885,
and organized three counties in that section. Later he engaged in newspaper work and on May 12, 1926 died at Atwood.
His wife, Jean, was born in Waterloo, Iowa, November
17, 1859, and is still living. She is a partner in her son's newspaper business. She was a pioneer teacher in Osborne
County and is now president of the Rawlins County Women's Christian Temperance Union.
Mr. Littell attended public school in Osborne County
and high school at Lenora. In 1913 he was graduated from Miltonvale Academy, and in 1918 just prior to entering
the navy was awarded the Bachelor of Arts Degree from Kansas Wesleyan University.
From January 1, 1920, until April 1, 1922 Mr. Littell
published the Danbury News at Dansbury, Nebraska in partnership with his father. He then purchased the Citizen
Patriot, with his father, they operating it until the latter's death. He is now editor and publisher in partnership
with his mother, of the Citizen-Patriot.
Mr. Littell's marriage to Janet Mary Macfarlane
was solemnized at Salina, October 4, 1924. Mrs. Littell, who is a newspaper reporter, was born at Waupan, Wisconsin,
August 28, 1895, the daughter of James A. and Maud (Jones) Macfarlane. They have one daughter, Billie Janet, born
January 29, 1926.
During the World War Mr. Littell was a musician
in the United States Naval Reserve Forces, and a member of the Great Lakes Naval Band under Lieutenant Commander
Sousa. He is a member (charter member) of the American Legion posts at Concordia, Kansas and Danbury, Nebraska.
He was adjutant of Sam Hubbard Post at Atwood in 1929, post commander in 1930, and district membership committeeman
1930-31-32.
At the present time he is secretary of the local
Red Cross, a member of the Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club and the Blue Lodge of the Masons. He is a member
also of the Atwood Country Club, and since 1931 has been chairman of the board of directors of the local Boy Scout
organization. Mr. Littell enjoys his game hunting and golf, natural history and music. He has directed numerous
bands, and is a member of the local band. Residence: Atwood. (Illustriana Kansas, by Sara Mullin Baldwin &
Robert Morton Baldwin, 1933, pages 701 & 702)
EDWIN CLINTON MELLICK
Edwin Clinton Mellick, educator, was born at Friend,
Nebraska, December 11, 1887, son of Edwin Clington and Fannie Jane (Drake) Mellick. His father, a farmer, was born
in Germantown, New Jersey, November 27, 1852, and died at Atwood, January 22, 1928. His family traces to Germany
and then to Greece.
Fannie Jane, wife of Edwin Clinton, Sr., was born
in Prairie City, Illinois, September 4, 1864, of Virginia ancestry. Her death occurred at Atwood on January 22,
1928
Educated in public school, Mr. Mellick attended
high school at Friend, Nebraska and received the degree of Bachelor of Arts from Lake Forest College in Illinois
in 1913.
On February 5, 1914, Mr. Mellick was married to
Lambertiny, H. H. Verway-von Giffen, at Chicago. Mrs. Mellick whose father was born in the Netherlands and whose
mother was a native of France, was born in Nymegen, Gelderland, the Netherlands, September 4, 1892. There are three
children, Norwood A., born January 11, 1916; Christina Violet, October 10, 1917, and Otis van, December 15, 1925.
Mr. Mellick has devoted his life to educational work, and has been elected five consecutive terms to the office
of county superintendent of public instruction of Rawlins County, which position he now fills. He has taught and
been supervisor in Highland Park Illinois, Oberlin, Kansas, Colby, Kansas, Formosa and Atwood, also. He is a Democrat.
At the present time, Mr. Mellick is chairman of
the life saving division of the local Red Cross. He is a Methodist, a member of the Lions Club (vice president),
the Odd Fellows (past noble grand) and the Atwood Country Club (secretary). Residence: Atwood. (Illustriana Kansas,
by Sara Mullin Baldwin & Robert Morton Baldwin, 1933, page 782)
ACKERMAN, MAURICE
The Reverend Maurice Ackerman, clergyman, of the Catholic Church and a member of the Capucian Order, was born in
Bendwood, West Virginia, July 3, 1879, son of Karl and Regina (Helfrich) Ackerman.
His father was born in Altenhof, Germany, June 4, 1843, and now resides in Wheeling, West Virginia. He was a wagonmaker
and blacksmith in his youth, and served as a feldvebel (sergeant) in the Bavarian Army in the war against Prussia
in 1866. The following January he came to America, locating at Washington, D. C., where he worked in the Navy Yard.
Later he moved to Pittsburgh, and then to Benwood, West Virginia. Regina Helfrich was born in Thalau, Germany,
February 12, 1853, and is still living. She came to America in December, 1866.
Father Ackerman, attended St. Mary's School and St. Alphonsus' School, in Wheeling, West Virginia, being graduated
on June 24, 1892. He received his secondary education at St. Fidelis High School at Herman, Pennsylvania, graduating
on June 20, 1896, and attended St. Peter and Paul's Seminary at Cumberland, Maryland. He was ordained a priest
on June 22, 1904, by Cardinal Gibbons at Baltimore.
From 1904 until 1906 Father Ackerman was assistant pastor at Sacred Heart Church at Charleston West Virginia. He
was assistant pastor at the St. Augustine's Church at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from 1907 until 1915, when he became
pastor at Emmeram, Kansas, at Sacred Heart Church.
From August 1918, until August 1919, Father Ackerman held the rank of first lieutenant (chaplain) of the 812th
Pioneer Infantry at Camp Grant, Illinois. His regiment arrived at Camp Merritt, New Jersey, on November 3, 1918,
on its way to France, but the signing of the Armistice prevented it from going. After demobilization of the 812th
Infantry he was appointed chaplain with the overseas replacement troops at Camp Meade, Maryland, where he served
until he was discharged in August, 1919. After the war he held a commission for five years in the Officers Reserve
Corps, serving at Fort Des Moines, Iowa, from July 15, until July 30, with the Reserve Officers and from August
1 until August 30, 1922, with the Citizens Military Training Camp, also at Fort Des Moines.
Father Ackerman has been chaplain of Sam Hubbard Post No. 46 of the American Legion at Atwood, Kansas, since 1926,
and was department of Kansas chaplain of that organization from September 1930 until September 1931. He is a member
of the Knights of Columbus. Residence: Herndon. (Illustriana Kansas, by Sara Mullin Baldwin & Robert Morton
Baldwin, 1933, page 8)
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