Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 218 - 220

 DANIEL SLOSSER is a retired farmer, and one of the capitalists of Wichita, where he resides in an elegant and commodious house at No. 1438 Waco street. He is the owner of other valuable city property. He has been a resident of Wichita since 1874, and has watched with interest and pleasure the steady and rapid growth of the city, to which he has himself contributed in no small measure. He was born in Jefferson County, Va., March 22, 1829, and is the son of George and Mary (Panther) Slosser. The father was born in Maryland in 1772, and died in Ohio in 1843; he was a well-to-do farmer, and left a goodly portion of property to each of his children. His wife was born in Germany in 1780, and died in Ohio in 1840. They were esteemed members of the German Reform Church. These worthy people had a family of five sons and four daughters, namely: Peter, Elizabeth, John, Susan, Henry, Mary A., George, Catherine and Daniel, all now living but two.

             Our subject was the youngest member of the family. He was bred on a farm. His early life was surrounded by comfort, and his prospects on starting out in the world were unusually favorable, as he did not have to struggle with poverty, like many of the self-made men of this country, as he inherited property from his father. He accompanied his parents to Ohio in the year 1830, being then about a year old, and in their home in that State he grew to manhood. On the 20th of October, 1852, he was united in marriage to Miss Lucy E. Byrne, who was born March 21, 1834, in Tiffin, Ohio. She was the daughter of Robert and Mary (Mooney) Byrne, who were born near Dublin, Ireland. Mr. Byrne was a farmer, and accumulated quite a large property. To him and his wife were born ten children, namely: Jane E., Lucy E., Frederic F., Harriet, Joseph M. and Ann (who died young), Robert, Edward P., Arthur and Thomas.

             Our subject and his wife spent many years of their married life in Ohio, coming from there to Wichita in 1874, where they soon identified themselves with its interests, and have had a hand in the many good works for which the generous, open-hearted citizens of this city are noted, and it is with pleasure that we present the portraits of both in this volume.

             September 6, 1887, the family of Mr. Slosser, and the social circles of Wichita, met with an irreparable loss in the death of Mrs. Slosser, the kind wife, loving mother and faithful friend. She was a lady of fine character, and in her were seemingly blended all the Christian graces, and her very presence conferred happiness upon those about her. She was endowed with good physical powers, and was seldom sick until her last illness, which was prolonged a year, doubtless on account of her strong constitution. Her appearance is thus described by a personal friend: "She had expressive eyes, a good form, was five feet four inches in height, and weighed about 140 pounds." She was a faithful member of the First Baptist Church, of Wichita, and was prominently identified with the Ladies' Mission Circle, connected with that church. The ladies of that society expressed their sorrow for the loss of a valuable member, and extended their sympathy to the bereaved family in the following words: "We, the members of the Mission Circle of the First Baptist Church of the city of Wichita, feeling deeply the death of our beloved sister, Lucy Slosser, missing her cheerful presence in our midst and her wise counsels, extend to her loved ones our heartfelt sympathy in their great bereavement. We feel that a loving Father hath called her to the rest that remaineth to the children of God. 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, they rest from their labors, and their works do follow them.' The Word of the Lord promises his rest in Heaven, and we feel assured that she is enjoying rest. 

            "Those who heard her say, 'God's will be done,' and beheld her fortitude in those last hours so full of bodily anguish, and heard her dying request that her family meet her in heaven, where the family circle will be completed, and the Holy Comforter will abide forever and ever, will never forget that solemn scene. The God who hears and answers prayer will, out of His mercy and in His own good time, answer the prayer of this Mission Circle that this present sorrow may be turned to everlasting joy.

                                                                         Miss E. J. Foster, President,

                                                                        "Mrs. D. D. Hersey, Secretary."

             We make the following extract from an obituary notice published on the death of this estimable lady: 

            "Mrs. Lucy E. Slosser, daughter of Robert and Mary Byrne, was born in Tiffin, Ohio, March 21, 1834. She was the next oldest of ten children, all of whom are dead except the three younger brothers, who are still residing in Ohio. Oct. 20, 1852, she was united in marriage with Daniel Slosser, to whom were given two sons and three daughters; the youngest, Vallie, died two years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Slosser moved to Kansas in 1872, making their home in Wichita in 1874. Before she left Ohio she became a member of the Protestant Methodist Church, but as there was no church of that faith here she did not identify herself with any until the spring of 1886, when she joined the First Baptist Church, of which her son Byrney was a member. On the following Sabbath she witnessed the baptism of her husband and elder son Arthur. Her physical strength, never very firm, slowly grew less, and her family with anxiety watched the inroads of disease through the winter months, and when the spring opened they took her to Gueda Springs, where she remained five weeks, reaping some benefit therefrom, but as the heated days came on her weakness increased, and under the care of her daughter Ella she was taken to Manitou Springs, Col., June 29. When told she could not live she implored them to take her home. A new house had been in the process of erection, but before it was completed they brought her home, from which she soon passed to her mansion of glory. As the last hour was waning she exclaimed through her sufferings: 'How glad I will be when the Lord takes me home!' She often called for her beloved pastor, who was absent from the city, but returned in time to speak the last words at her funeral from the words of Revelation, fourteenth chapter and thirteenth verse. September 11 she was buried from the Baptist Church, where her friends had gathered to pay their last respect to her mortal remains."

             The happy married life of our subject was blessed by the birth of five children, viz: Arthur P., Mary E., Llewellyn E., R. Byrne and Vallie J. Arthur is now in the West for his health; he married Miss Jane Morgan. Mary married George B. Kessler; they have two children, and are now residing in Wichita. Llewellyn E. married George T. Hager; they live in Salt Lake City. R. Byrne is single, and resides in Wichita; Valeria died aged twenty years and two months. The loss of this loved daughter and sister was a severe blow to her friends, who hold her in fond remembrance. She was a young lady of superior accomplishments and education, and won renown as teacher in the public schools. She especially excelled in penmanship, and received the highest diploma at the county fair for her beautiful chirography.

             She was the youngest daughter, and died after only one week's illness. She was born in Seneca County, Ohio, Sept. 23, 1865, and was twenty years and two months old at the time of her death. In 1872 she accompanied her parents to Kansas, and two years later they settled in Wichita, where Vallie J. (as she was called) entered the primary grade of the public schools, and continued in regular attendance until she reached the age of sixteen years. She was a bright, ambitious pupil, and made rapid progress in all her studies, especially in penmanship, for which at the age of fifteen, she was awarded the premium by the Sedgwick County Agricultural, Mechanical and Stock Association. At the age of sixteen she accepted a position as teacher, which she filled with credit to herself, and to the satisfaction of all her patrons. She would have been graduated in the class of 1882-83, but for a spell of sickness just before the close of the term. She was a great favorite among both old and young, but she seemed to have a premonition of approaching death, and for three months previous to that event she appeared to expect it, and even went so far as to name the minister she wished to preach her funeral sermon, and the undertaker she desired to take charge of her burial. 

            Mr. Slosser is a prominent member of the First Baptist Church. In politics he is independent.

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 The following beautiful poem was written by Mr. Slosser, at Ft. Strong, D. C., in July, 1864, and suited to the music of the "Dying Californian:"

 A SOLDIER'S THOUGHT 

Dearest one, I still remember,

            With a husband's aching heart,

How it filled with grief and sorrow

            When we two were called to part;

Oft I feel within my bosom

            As the shade of night appears

Purest love and fond affection

            For my own, my absent dears.

'Neath the proud flag a true soldier

            Has gone to fill my country's call;

Yet my trust is in my Savior,

            Let me stand, or let me fall.

When I get your welcome letters

            As in Dixie's land I roam,

When you speak of by-gone pleasures,

            My heart whispers, "Home, sweet, home."

How I miss the sacred altar

            Where we used to join in prayer,

What a comfort, what a blessing,

            Oft I wish that I were there.

Let us then, my dear companions,

            Humbly at His footstool live,

Striving to obtain that treasure

            Which the Lord will surely give.

Dearest wife, I once more ask you,

            With a father's fondest love,

To teach our dear little children,

            Which the Lord to us did give;

Teach them as the Savior taught us,

            When on earth He lonely trod,

Teach them how to love the Savior,

            How to read His holy Word.

But I hope the day is coming

            When I'll reach my home again;

Then we will help one another

            Those dear little ones to train.

Thus, if we are only faithful

            To the Lord, our truest friend,

Safely we will rise to glory,

            Where our joys will never end.

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