JOHN M. DANIELSON
The splendid development of the southern part of Saline County has been largely due to the presence of a colony
of thrifty Swedish people who located there about 1869-70. This colony as a whole acquired many thousands of acres
in what are now the Townships of Smoky View and Smolan, and the Swedish people have predominated in that section
ever since the original colonization.
While for many years he has been one of the most conspicuous among the Swedish people of Saline County, John M.
Danielson has a special distinction as a settler there, since he was in advance by a year or so of the main colony.
In fact he was a pioneer of pioneers in Saline County, and he is regarded almost as a patriarch among his people
in that section.
He was born on a farm in the District of Smolan, Sweden, July 5, 1837, a son of Daniel and Anna (Peterson) Danielson.
He grew up on his father's farm and had meager advantages in the local schools, which were only fitfully maintained
and were of meager quality as to instruction when he was a boy. In August, 1857, at the age of twenty, he sought
a better destiny in the New World. He came to this country without capital. His first location was in Kane Country,
Illinois, where he put in two years working as a farm hand at wages of ten dollars a month. He was not only a good
worker but also had the business judgment which enabled him to make his hard work count toward future prosperity.
For ten years he engaged in the timber and wood business in DeKalb County, Illinois, and during three years of
that time he was employed in a grain elevator in the City of DeKalb.
John M. Danielson arrived in Western Kansas in October, 1868. He took up a homestead in Saline County, and that
homestead is still his place of residence, though his holdings have increased until it is now surrounded by 1,300
acres of valuable land under his individual proprietorship. He went through all the hardships to which early Kansans
were subjected, but he never lost heart and he never lost faith in Kansas soil and climate. He has made a fortune
by growing Kansas crops and raising Kansas stock, but his fortune has been wisely used and he has long enjoyed
the position of a leader in the community.
In 1872 a new township was organized in his section of Saline County. It was given to him to select the name, and
he designated it as Smolan, choosing the name to honor his native province in Sweden. Smolan Township it has since
remained and is the home of some of the most prosperous and substantial citizens of Kansas. In 1886, when the Missouri
Pacific Railway was built through the township, a postoffice and station were established on Mr. Danielson's land.
The post office and station also acquired the name Smolan. The first postmaster was C. P. Mattson, a brother-in-law
of Mr. Danielson. Smolan is a prosperous and thriving village, and is almost exclusively populated by Swedish people.
Mr. Danielson in such ways has done much to influence local development and improvement, but has never sought any
public office. He is a liberal member and supporter of the Swedish Lutheran Church.
While living in Kane County, Illinois, he was married on March 20, 1858, to Miss Matilda C. Mattson. When they
were married both were poor, and they had a number of years of struggle and hardship before they were established
in the prosperous circumstance which they later enjoyed. Mrs. Danielson was born in Sweden August 20, 1836, and
she died at Smolan, Kansas, April 13, 1895. To their union were born twelve children. Two sons and one daughter
died in infancy. Those still living are: Adolf Marten, Anna S., Daniel P., John F., Carl O., Albert L., August
W., Christina L. and Otto E. The sons Carl O. and August W. have a general store at Smolan under the firm name
of Danielson Brothers.
A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans, Volume 3, page 1323, by William E. Connelley, Secretary of the
Kansas State Historical Society, Topeka. Copyright 1918
SIMON P. DONMYER
Simon P. Donmyer. In presenting to the readers of this volume the biography of Mr. Donmyer, the founder of New
Cambria, Saline county, Kansas, we are perpetuating the life record of a Kansan who, by diligence and industry,
not only promoted his own personal success but also contributed largely to the industrial growth of this state
and was a worthy representative of the intelligence, the integrity and moral worth of its citizens. He was one
of those many Eastern men who came to Kansas when it was but an infant state, and was descended from that sturdy
type of German-American ancestors, a class of citizens who by their thrift, perseverance and honest toil have added
more to the material growth and prosperity of our nation than have any other type of settlers.
Mr. Donmyer was born at Johnstown, Pa., Jan. 13, 1832, a son of Louis Donmyer, born Dec. 31, 1799. Being the owner
of large timber tracts in Pennsylvania, he engaged in farming and in operating a sawmill in his native state until
1872, when he came to Kansas and located in Saline county. Shortly afterward Mr. Donmyer secured the opening of
a new town and station on the Union Pacific railroad six miles east of Salina, which was named "Donmyer Station"
by the railroad officials but later was changed to New Cambria at Mr. Donmyer's request. He was postmaster and
railroad agent at New Cambria for a number of years and also became one of the most extensive farmers and cattle
feeders in Saline county, owning at the time of his death over 1,000 acres of valuable wheat land, besides a large
amount of grazing land. In addition to directing the affairs on his broad and fertile acres he also conducted a
large general merchandise business. A man of strong common sense, capable and foreseeing, he proved a competent
merchant, gave the closest attention to details and directed his general merchandising business with skill and
success, and his progressive ideas and distinct business acumen gradually gained him precedence as one of the most
substantial farmers and business men of Saline county. He was essentially a home builder, a citizen of integrity
and worth, possessed of those sterling qualities of character which endeared him to a wide circle of friends, and
his name will go down in history with all the attributes of a well spent life and honorable career. He was a Democrat
in his political views but cared nothing for public and political recognition and never sought official honors.
His interests centered around his home and family, his business interests and in the development of the northeast
section of Saline county, in which development he was an acknowledged power and took a justifiable pride. He passed
away in July, 1905. His life companion, who was a Miss Susan Jacoby prior to her marriage, survived him until Nov.
21, 1909. They were the parents of three sons and three daughters, all of whom are now filling honorable and useful
stations in life. Sarah, the eldest of the children, is the wife of Joseph M. Brubaker, a farmer of New Cambria;
Rebecca married Paul P. Ruch, also a farmer of New Cambria; Edwin S. is a farmer residing near Salina; Elizabeth
D. is the wife of Hon. C. B. Kirtland, mayor of Salina (See sketch); Edward is a large owner and automobile dealer
of
Salina; Harry S. is a stockman residing at New Cambria; and J. Vincent is traveling auditor of the Arizona lines
of the Southern Pacific railroad.
KANSAS BIOGRAPHY, VOL. III, PART 2, Page 767-768
Transcribed by: Millie Mowry
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