The History of the Early Settlement of Norton County, Kansas

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In politics Mr. Keener has always been a democrat. He was elected sheriff of this county in 1883, defeating L S. Sheley, the republican nominee. He was again the nominee of his party in 1885, but was defeated by Amon Butler. He has several times been elected to a township office. He was appointed postmaster at Oronoque in July, 1885, and served during the balance of Cleveland's first term; he was again appointed postmaster in August, 1893, and is holding the office at this time. He and his eldest son, Jacob, are in the mercantile business at Oronoque and are doing a lucrative and profitable business. He has been a delegate from this county to nearly every state and congressional convention held by the democratic party since 1880.

John Snyder was born at Otthousen, Germany, November 10, 1846. He came to America with his parents in 1850 and settled at Trenton, New Jersey. He learned the trade of a cigar maker, which he followed for twenty-seven years. He was married to Rebecca Luther, January 20, 1866: they had one child, John J., who was born February 3, 1867, and was married at Norton to Luella Steele, November 27, 1892; they have one child, Chesley C, born October 26, 1893. Mrs. Snyder died June 15, 1876. Mr. Snyder was married again on Easter Sunday, 1879 to Anna M. Huffman. Three children were the result of this union: Emma H., born October 9 1879; Philip, August 4, 1881, and Harry N., born May 10, 1887.

Mr. Snyder came to Kansas and settled in Norton county in 1880. He took a homestead one mile south of Norton where he lived for three years. He then moved to town and started a cigar factory, which he continued for two years; he then opened up an ice cream and confectionery parlor which he has continued ever since under the firm name of Snyder & Son. Mrs. Snyder died July 28, 1888, and was buried in the Norton cemetery.

Mr. Snyder has alway been a republican and has twice been elected on the city council, first in 1891 and again in 1893.

L. H. Gowdy was born in Henderson county, Illinois, August 3, 1852, then the frontier of civilization. His parents removed to Monmouth, Illinois, when he was five years of age. He was educated in the public schools of Monmouth. He was married October 25, 1877, at College Spring, Iowa to Anna Reid. Mr. Gowdy came to Norton county in the spring of 1880, where he ran the Advance until he sold out, then went to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in August, 1882. He went to Colorado Springs November 30, 1884, where he was owner of the Colorado Springs Republic, a daily and weekly paper, eight years, but is now conducting a successful job printing business there. As an editor here he was quite aggressive and made

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