The History of the Early Settlement of Norton County, Kansas

Page 88

Thinker." In reply to a question asking him regarding his belief in the future state, the following lines apply admirably.
When we do a good deed it is done to stay:
And though evil we do in another day
It taketh not that good away,
Nor can we to a saviour pray,
And wash our evil deeds away.
But each by their own full record must stand.
When the books are balanced
In the other land.

William Dixon came from Iowa to Kansas in 1870; stopped one year in Cloud county; came to Cedarville for a time settled on the Solomon near Edmond in November 1872. His wife who was a widow at the time of her marriage with Dixon, was the mother of Will and Charlie Vaile. She died in December 1876 and was buried in the Logan cemetery. Mr. Dixon married again in 1880 Mrs. Clark; he moved to Boise City, Idaho, in 1882, and resides there at this time.

Charles Albert Vaile was born in Iowa county, Wisconsin, August 25, 1856; come to Kansas in September 1873, and settled in Solomon township where he now resides. He was married August 19 1879 to Anna Higganbottom; they have four children.

Silas William Vaile was born May 4, 1860 in Monroe county, Wisconsin; came to Norton county with his mother and step-father in November 1872. When he became of age he homesteaded a part of the old townsite of Port Landis where he has resided continuously ever since. He was married in November 1886 to Amanda Myers; they have two children.

The Vaile boys, although young when they settled here, took an active part in the early troubles on the Solomon. They were accused of having some inside information in regard to the Landis murder, but the general opinion is now that they knew nothing about it. In the history of the Landis murder in a previous chapter an account is given of an attempt to extort from them by intimidation, a confession. In regard to that event this was not intended to cast any reflection on the Vailes, but to give an account of a circumstance that actually occured (sic); their part in that transaction was no reflection in any way on them as any man under similar circumstances probably would have done as they did.

They say now that they made no confession at the time; neither did they weaken or confess to anything in connection with the crime while they were in possession of the mob. They are at this time engaged in farming and stock raising and are prospering financially.

Conrad Staus was born at New Ulm, Germany, November 11,1835; came to the United States in 1851? or 4?, worked for some years as a day laborer in New York and New Jersey. He was married to Lena Smith June 12, 1858, at Buffalo, New York; she was born at Baden, Germany, April 10, 1835. Seven children have been born to them, three of them still living: their eldest August, born August 2?, 1850; was married to Della Farmer in 1889, lives two miles east of Almena on a farm. Otto was born January 9, 1864; lives at Hays City; Elmira born in 1870, married to Benjamin Henthorn in 1892; lives with her parents in Almena.

Conrad Staus ran a brewery for many years at different places, but spent most of his time in Buffalo and Chicago until November 1873 when he came to Norton and took a homestead on Buffalo creek, two miles east of Almena. He remained on the farm until 1885, when he moved into Almena and built the Commercial hotel which he has operated successfully ever since. In politics he has always been a republican was brought up in the German Lutheran church but at this time is a member of the Christian church, having united with them at Almena in 1887.

Page 88

back

table of contents

web design Š2003 by Ardie Grimes,
Norton County, Kansas GenWeb coordinator
Text and photos from this 1894 book are within the public domain

USGenWeb Home Page	KSGenWeb Home Page	Home Page for Kansas	Search KSGenWeb Project
KSGenWeb logo were designed and are copyrighted by Tom & Carolyn Ward for the limited use of the KSGenWeb Project. Permission is granted for use only on an official KSGenWeb page.