Biographies Trego County, Kansas

BIOGRAPHIES FOR TREGO COUNTY, KANSAS

JOHN WALDO BINGHAM

John Waldo Bingham, editor, printer, and clerk of the district court of Trego County, was born in Dale, Iowa, December 25, 1874, son of Daniel Hurd and Rebecca Caroline (Cale) Bingham. The father was born in Washington County, Ohio, January 30, 1843, and died at Spring Hill, Kansas, August 29, 1918. He came to Kansas about 1878, locating first at Parsons. The mother, who was born in Indiana, July 14, 854, died at Wakeeney, May 26, 1930.

Mr. Bingham attended public school, and soon thereafter learned the printing trade. He has been associated with numerous newspapers, and from January 1918 until May 1925, was editor of the Western Kansas World at Wakeeney. At the present time he is serving as clerk of the district court, having been elected on the Republican ticket in 1930, and re-elected in 1932.
On August 13, 1903, Mr. Bingham was married to Myrtle Melvina Johnson at Gouverneur, New York, the daughter of George and Amanda Melvina (Wight) Johnson. Mrs. Bingham who taught school for several years before her marriage, was born at Fowler, New York, October 31, 1871. She is descended from the Johnson family of Scotland and the Wight family of the Isle of Wight. Mrs. Bingham is a member of the Tourist and H. O. A. Clubs. Two children were born to them, Ruth Marguerite, May 5, 1904, who died December 22, 1923, and Cale Eli, January 6, 1909, who died July 4, 1927.

Mr. Bingham is a member of the First Presbyterian Church, the Wakeeney Community Club, the Wakeeney Lodge No. 14 of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, was secretary for several years; and the Order of the Eastern Star. Residence: Wakeeney. (Illustriana Kansas, by Sara Mullin Baldwin & Robert Morton Baldwin, 1933, page 107)

RAYMOND EARL CUSTER

Raymond Earl Custer, principal of the Trego Community High School, was born in Marion, Kansas, August 22, 1892, son of Charles Frederick and Emma Sarah (Snyder) Custer.

Charles Frederick Custer, whose father came to America from Germany in 1850 was born in Petersburg, Illinois, July 19, 1867. His wife, Emma, was born in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, May 14, 1866, and is descended from Irish and German settlers in pre-revolutionary times.

Upon his graduation from public schools in Menard County, Illinois, in 1906, Raymond Earl Custer attended the Petersburg High School in Illinois, from which he was graduated in 1910. During 1913-14, he was a student at West Point and during 1911 and 1912 at the Missouri School of Mines at Rolla. He attended Colorado University two summers, and in 1919 received his Bachelor of Science degree from Fort Hays State College. He was awarded his Master of Science degree from Kansas University in 1928. Mr. Custer was the winner of high school letters in track and basketball, and letters in football and basketball at Hays State College during 1916 and 1917. He is a member of Phi Delta Kappa and Pi Gamma Mu.

On December 21, 1919, he was married to Edna Mary Walker at Wakeeney. Mrs. Custer, who was born at Wakeeney, August 25, 1898, died there on June 7, 1924. She was a teacher of high school home economics and was of Irish and English descent. There is one son of this marriage, Raymond, born June 5, 1921.

On June 30, 1927, Mr. Custer was married to Eva Marie Walker the daughter of Francis B. and Mildred (Shorthill) Walker, and to them were born two children, Charles, August 19, 1928 and Jean Anne, May 25, 1931. Eva Marie Walker is a sister of Edna May Walker.

Mr. Custer is an independent Democrat. He enlisted in December 1917 in the Coast Artilery Corps and was discharged in March 1919 with the rank of corporal. He is a member of the American Legion, the National Education Association, the Red cross and the Salvation Army, the Wakeeney Community Club, the Lions Club, the Masons, the Red Red Rose at Hays and the Kansas Educators Club. In 1932 he was elected vice president of the Salina District of the Kansas State Teachers Association. His religious affiliation is with the Wakeeney Presbyterian Church. His favorite sports are golf and tennis. Residence: Wakeeney. (Illustriana Kansas, by Sara Mullin Baldwin & Robert Morton Baldwin, 1933, pages 287 & 288

CARRIE S. GREGG

Carrie S. Gregg, superintendent of schools of Trego County, since 1927, was born in Alton, Kansas, April 24, 1879, daughter of John Burdick and Jeanette Elizabeth (Post) Carpenter.

John Burdick Carpenter, who served in the United States Cavalry during the Civil War was born in New Jersey, February 18, 1846. He died at Wakeeney, December 30, 1929. His wife, who was a country school teacher before her marriage was born in Cowdersport, Michigan, November 27, 1856.

Carrie S. Gregg attended the elementary schools of Osborne and Rooks counties and at the age of 16 began a three year period of teaching in rural school. On May 30, 1898, she was married to Delbert R. Gregg at Stockton, Kansas. Mr. Gregg who was a farmer was born in Adel, Iowa, January 21, 1875 and died at Hays, July 3, 1919. He was the son of Rezin and Caroline (McKinley) Gregg, the latter a cousin of William McKinley.

To. Mr. and Mrs. Gregg the following children were born: Melvin, May 29, 1899, who married Inez Noah, September 1,1 924 and who died October 18, 1930; Marie, February 21, 1901, who married Lisle C. Freshour in September 1926, Veva, September 6, 1904, who died November 18, 1910, Elda, January 17, 1907 who married Oscar Dietrich February 3,1927, Avon, January 31,1910 and Ethel, September 6, 1912.

Mrs. Gregg has been a life resident of Kansas. She is a Democrat, a Protestant, and a member of the Rebekahs. Residence: Wakeeney. (Illustriana Kansas, by Sara Mullin Baldwin & Robert Morton Baldwin, 1933, pages 457 & 458)

MYRTLE RAY HERRICK

Mrytle Ray Herrick was born at Des Moines, Iowa, December 29,1880, daughter of Edwin Lewis and Emma Frances (Ray) Fliesbach. Her father, born in Farmington, iowa, in 1860, died at Keokuk, on May 30, 1893. He was in the insurance business with the Hawkeye Insurance Company of Des Moines. His birth occurred one year after his parents came from Germany.
Emma Frances Ray was born at Warsaw, Illinois, January 24, 1861, her parents having immigrated to the United States about 1858. She is an active clubwoman and a talented reader. Her father was a Methodist minister.

Myrtle Ray Fliesbach attended public school at Keokuk until 1899, when she was graduated from high school. Thereafter she took two summers' work at Hays State Teachers College and then completed an extension course in English and home economics at Kansas University.

Her marriage to William Yelter Herrick was solemnized at Keokuk, June 26, 1906. Dr. Herrick a physician and surgeon was born at Steward, Illinois, the son of Dr. William S. and Lacy Ann (Thompson) Herrick. There is one daughter, Lacy, who married Bernard Wilson Miller at Kansas City, Missouri, August 24, 1924. They have one son, Wilson Herrick born August 25, 1925. Lacy was graduated from Central High School at Kansas City and from Washburn College where she majored in history. Afterward she attended the Curry School of Expression at Boston.

Mrs. Herrick is a Republican. She is county vice chairman for the Republican party in Kansas. She is a member of the Order of Eastern Star, the P. E. O. Sisterhood, the Woman's Kansas Day Club, (vice president 6th district, 1931) and the Wakeeney Methodist Church. She is serving as 6th district vice president of the Kansas Federation of Women's Clubs and for eight years has been chairman of the scholarship loan committee. For three years she has been state chairman of public welfare. Residence: Wakeeney. (Illustriana Kansas, by Sara Mullin Baldwin & Robert Morton Baldwin, 1933, pages 515 & 516)

WILLIS SAMUEL SPITSNAUGLE

Willis Samuel Spitsnaugle, accountant, educator and executive was born in Cloverdale, Ohio, May 5, 1901, son of Warren Lee and Mary Aramintha (Dalton) Spitsnaugle. The father was born in Cloverdale, November 30, 1873, and during the pre-automobile period was superintendent of the hay baling concern in Putnam County. His paternal ancestors came from Germany during the colonization and settlement of Maryland, and his maternal ancestor, Robert Warren, came from Scotland, settling in Pennsylvania. The Spitsnaugle family at one time owned a large acreage in the present townsite of Baltimore, leasing it to the city for a period of 99 years. This lease expired about a half century ago, but the claim could not be established due to the destruction of records. The family pioneered in northwestern Ohio about 1801, several members serving in the northern army during the Civil War.

Mary Aramintha Dalton was born in Dupont, Ohio, December 28, 1879, a descendant of Scotch-Irish settlers in America about 1760, who settled in southern Pennsylvania. The family moved to Ohio in the early part of the next century.

Willis Samuel Spitsnaugle attended rural school in Collyer Township of Trego County, and in 1918 was graduated from the Trego County High School. He attended Colorado University in 1926 and Kansas State College at Hays in 1929. For several years he taught in rural schools and later in city schools. During vacation periods he has held various positions, including operator of oil drill outfits and as mechanic for tractor and machine companies.

Always an active worker in the Republican party, Mr. Spitsnaugle failed by one vote to secure the office of county superintendent in 1926. However, at that time he was attending school in Colorado and made no campaign for the office. In 1930 he was a candidate for the office of county clerk, being elected by a small majority. In 1932 he was re-elected by an overwhelming majority.

His marriage to Ruth Olive Olsen was solemnized at Hays, December 18, 1920. Mrs. Spitsnaugle was born in Lincoln, Kansas, September 10, 1903. She is the daughter of Johann and Rebecca (Crawford) Olsen and is a teacher. Her ancestry is Norwegian and Scotch. She is a granddaughter of Samuel Crawford, noted pioneer attorney and United States Land Officer. There is one son, Willis Samuel, born June 16, 1924.

Mr. Spitsnaugle is affiliated with the First Presbyterian Church of Wakeeney and is a member of the Red Cross, the Wakeeney Commercial Club and the National Georgraphic Society. He is a trustee of the local Modern Woodmen of America, a Mason, secretary of the Odd Fellows, and captain of the forestry team. His hobby is mechanics. Residence: Wakeeney. (Illustriana Kansas, by Sara Mullin Baldwin & Robert Morton Baldwin, 1933, pages 1105 & 1106)

WILLIAM HENRY WAGNER

William Henry Wagner, lawyer, was born in Independence, Kansas, March 31, 1876, son of John E. and Mary Elizabeth (Brent) Wagner. The father was born in Hancock County, Pennsylvania, March 4, 1840, and died at Jefferson, Kansas, September 9, 1923. The mother was born at Nauvoo, Illinois, October 6, 1848 and died at Jefferson, June 8, 1926.

Mr. Wagner attended Kansas State Normal of Emporia three years and in 1900 received his Bachelor of Laws from the University of Kansas. After being admitted to the bar in 1900, he located at Russell Springs and was elected county attorney of Logan County nine times on the Republican ticket. He resigned in 1921 to remove to Wakeeney.

On May 4, 1904, he was married to Nelle Wilson at Russell Springs. She was born in Marshalltown, Iowa, October 7, 1884. There are two children: Kenneth, born October 21, 1909 and William Jr., August 7, 1911. Kenneth received his Bachelor of Laws degree from Washburn College of Law.

Mr. Wagner is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the Red Cross, the Community Club (secretary), and the Masons. Residence: Wakeeney. (Illustriana Kansas, by Sara Mullin Baldwin & Robert Morton Baldwin, 1933, page 1187)

CURTIS, FRANK H.

Frank H. Curtis is a school man, superintendent of the city schools of Bern in Nemaha County and has been a factor in Kansas educational affairs for a number of years.

He was born in Massac County, Illinois, July 28, 1874, but when five years of age went with his parents to Western Kansas and grew up in Trego County when that was a frontier section. Mr. Curtis is of Scotch-Irish ancestry and members of the family were pioneers in Kentucky. His father, Dr. D. B. Curtis, was born in Kentucky in 1815. He graduated from the Louisville Medical College at Louisville, Kentucky, practiced for a number of years in Massac County, Illinois, and in 1879 removed to Trego County, where he was one of the early practitioners of medicine. He lived there and followed his profession until his death in 1894. Doctor Curtis was a republican. During the Civil war he served with the Union army as a surgeon. His first wife was Miss Reardon, and the only child of that union is Emma, wife of George Ufford, a merchant at Wakeeney, Kansas. For his second wife Doctor Curtis married Miss Bettie Priestley, who was born in Illinois and died in Trego County, Kansas. They had a large family of children, ten in number. D. W. Curtis, a farmer at Miami, Florida; Anna, who died at Kanopolis, Kansas, the wife of Rev. F. C. Griffith, formerly a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church and now editor of a paper at Kanopolis; Jennie, twin sister of Anna, wife of A. E. Rassicott, a cattleman and liveryman living at Ransom, Kansas; Frank Henry, who was the fourth in order of birth; John, who died when twenty years of age; Mollie, twin sister of John, wife of Burdette Dubbs, a farmer and connected with a mercantile concern at Ransom, Kansas; Louise, wife of Rev. Howard Thomison, a Methodist Episcopal minister living in Oklahoma; E. P., who is a student in Columbia University in New York City and is at this writing enrolled in the Ambulance Corps ready for call to active service in Europe; Helen, wife of Lee Miller, a farmer at Ransom, Kansas; and J. S., also a farmer at Ransom.

Frank Henry Curtis was educated in the rural schools of Trego County. Besides the common schools he attended the Kansas Wesleyan University at Salina and was graduated from the Normal department in 1912 with the degree Bachelor of Pedagogy. In 1905 he had taken up active work as a teacher in Trego County and was in the rural schools three years and then filled out the unexpired term of one year as county superintendent of schools as successor of Mrs. Clara Smith. After this he resumed his studies, and in 1913 became superintendent of schools at Brownell, Kansas, remaining two years. He then entered the State Normal School at Emporia, from which he received his life teacher's certificate in 1916. Mr. Curtis took his present position as superintendent of schools at Bern in the fall of 1916.

He is also a farmer by ownership, and has a quarter section of good land in Trego County. Mr. Curtis is unmarried. Politically he is a prohibitionist, and is licensed as a local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Source: "A standard history of Kansas and Kansans"
By William Elsey Connelley
Published by Lewis, 1918
Submitted by K. Torp