The History of the Early Settlement of Norton County, Kansas

Page 115

back

next

table of contents

 
lived all his life on the frontier of civilization, he has seen many adventures, which if written would fill a book.  He with his aged companion live on one of the most beautiful and picturesque spots on the Prairie Dog valley in peace and harmony, waiting for the few remaining sands to drop from the hour glass of their existence, when they will take up their residence in that city whose builder and maker is God.

Jacob Bartles and family of four sons and one daughter came here from Wood county, Ohio, in the fall of 1874, and settled on South Fork, three miles south west of Almena.

His son-in-law, Solomon Winklepleck come in the spring of 1875 and took a claim adjoining Mr. Bartles.  William Bartles, the eldest son, lives on a farm in Grant township.  Aaron, his second son, lives in Almena; John is a blacksmith in Almena. Frank, the youngest son, is a farmer and lives on South Fork.  Ellen, their youngest daughter, married J. W. Updike in 1881; they left here in 1889, and reside at this time in Washington county, Nebraska.  The elder Mr. Bartles died in 1893.

Mr. Bartles and his sons were all considered substantial farmers, were democrats until 1890, since that they have voted the populist ticket.

Solomon Winklepleck was born in Wood county, Ohio, July 31, 1831, was married to Elizabeth Bartles in June 1862; moved to Nebraska in 1869; came from there to Norton county arriving here May 28, 1875.  They have seven children  Edith, their eldest, married Berry Baker; they live on a farm near Almena.  May, their second daughter, married Jacob Urschel; he is a blacksmith living in Almena.  Mary Elizabeth married A. J. Shetterly; they live in lndiana.  Minnie married D. H. Kemple; they live in Minnesota.  The youngest children are at home with their parents.

Samuel Sorrick was born in Pennsylvania, August 21, 1844; he was married March 13,1873, to Sarah J. Dixon.  She was born in Iowa. June 5, 1845; they come to Norton county and settled on sec 1 town 2, range 21, February 13, 1874, this land was originally taken by George Cole and was the first land taken in this county.  Mr. Sorrick still owns the farm and has resided there continuously for 20 years.  He has five children, Eva, Anna, William, Minnie and Jay, all born in this county.  Mr. Sorrick was a Norton man during the county seat fight and is a republican in politics and is one of our successful farmers.

A sister of Mr. Sorrick, Mrs. Sarah Hollinsworth, came to Norton county in March, 1872; she kept the first boarding house in the town of Norton, which she opened in the spring of 1873.  She took a homestead near Almena, where she spent most of her time until April 1890 when she moved to Oklahoma.

Page 115

back

next

table of contents