Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 884 - 888

M. D. WEMPLE. This highly respected citizen of Waco Township ranks among its most solid and substantial men. He is of commanding appearance, and in his stature are represented the traits of character which have made him a general favorite in both social and financial circles. Brave-spirited and generous to a fault, few men number a larger circle of warm friends, or stand higher among the people of Sedgwick County. His principal business is agriculture and stock-growing, in which he has been eminently successful.

            The subject of this sketch, a native of Rock County, Wis., was born June 7, 1848, and is the son of Peter D. and Eliza (Davis) Wemple, who are now deceased. The mother passed away when but forty years of age, and when her son, our subject, was a lad of eight years. Peter D. Wemple departed this life at his home in Troy, Wis., in the spring of 1875, aged sixty-two years. He was a wagon-maker by trade, but later in life abandoned the shop for the more congenial employment of the farm. Upon reaching his majority he identified himself with the old Whig party, but upon its abandonment cordially endorsed Republican principles, which he supported until the end of his days.

            To Peter and Eliza Wemple there were born nine children, three of whom are deceased. Adam Ziley was born June 1, 1834, and upon the outbreak of the late Rebellion enlisted as a Union soldier, and was made Captain of Company F, 33d Wisconsin Infantry, which he accompanied to the South, and died in the service at Memphis, Tenn., when twenty-seven years of age. John H. was born Sept. 17, 1836, and was first married to Miss Lizzie Chapman, by whom he became the father of three children, one of whom died in infancy. His second wife was Miss Cora Cannon, and they were the parents of six children. He also served in the Union army as Captain of Company K, 13th Wisconsin Infantry, and is at present engaged as a lumber dealer in Norfolk, Va.; Anna M. was born Feb. 3, 1839, and is the wife of J. B. Lagrange, by whom she has become the mother of three children; Mr. L. is a manufacturer of carriages, and they reside near Janesville, Wis. Elida Eveline, who was born Jan. 28, 1841, married Philip Livingston, and is the mother of four children; Mr. L. is engaged in the real-estate and loan business, at Boone, Iowa. David Duane was born June 21, 1843, and during the Rebellion was a Lieutenant in the naval service, and with eleven of his men was killed by a shell on the coast of South Carolina; Mynderc D., of our sketch, was the next child; Rachel Cecelia was born Jan. 16, 1851, and died in infancy; Emma J., born May 9, 1852, is the wife of W. W. Clift, and the mother of two children; Mr. C. is a lumberman and miller by occupation, and they reside in Dakota. Albert W. was born Dec. 7, 1854, and resides in Boone, Iowa, with his sister.

            Mynderc D. Wemple received a common-school education, and when a youth of seventeen years left the parental roof, and crossing the Mississippi, took up his residence in Boone County, Iowa, where he assisted his brother in filling a contract for a quantity of wood, at which he was employed six months. He then returned home, but three months later revisited Iowa and took the express agency, and also the position of baggage-master at Moingona, which he held eighteen months. His parents, in the meantime, had removed to Virginia, and he returned again to the home roof, whence in 1870 he came to Kansas, landing in Dickerson County on the 10th of January, that year. Buffalo and deer at that time roamed unrestrained over the plains, and young Wemple engaged in many a hunt of these animals. He first pre-empted 120 acres of land in Waco Township, the improvement and cultivation of which he at once commenced, and subsequently added to it by purchase, until he now has 280 acres, the greater part of which he has brought to a good state of cultivation. Besides the family residence there is a tenement house, and the land is largely devoted to the raising of grain and cattle. Of the latter Mr. Wemple buys largely each year, and ships to the market at Kansas City. He deals extensively in stock of all kinds. He has always taken an interest in all enterprises calculated for the general welfare of the people, their education and enlightenment, and has served in his school district as Treasurer and Clerk, besides occupying other responsible positions in connection with the business and social affairs of the county.

            Mr. Wemple, while a resident of Waco, was united in marriage with Miss Lizzie, daughter of William and Elizabeth (Forester) Odell, the wedding taking place at the home of the bride in Waco Township, Oct. 4, 1874. Mrs. Wemple was born Nov. 6, 1855, in Wayne County, Iowa, and remained with her parents until her marriage. The latter were natives of North Carolina, and their family included nine children. The eldest, James M., married, is the father of a family of six children, and is farming in Wayne County, Iowa; Amanda Jane, Mrs. A. Parker, resides in Iowa, and is the mother of five children; Sarah Emeline, Mrs. Robert Baxter, has four children, and resides on a farm in Missouri; David Franklin is farming in this county; Nathaniel Miller, a farmer by occupation, is married, and the father of four children; Mary Elizabeth, Mrs. John Merritt, has three children, and resides on a farm in Wayne County, Iowa; Anna Maria is the wife of Joseph Julian, a farmer of Waco Township, this county, and they are the parents of seven children; William, a farmer of Waco Township, is married and the father of three children.

            A brother of our subject, Capt. J. H. Wemple, early in life cast his lot with the cattle men of Kansas, and was the hero of an article published in 1871, under the head of "Desperado Shot Down." Capt, Wemple, having had some cattle stolen, mounted his horse, and with his repeating rifle, which he knew how to handle, struck the trail of the thieves, and followed it until he reached the camp, which was situated about four miles south of Ft. Dodge, which is now known as Dodge City. Riding into camp he inquired as to the claimant of the cattle marked with a certain brand, and learned that one Curley Walker, well known and feared as a gambler and desperado, claimed the stock. Walker at the time was in a gambling house in the town, and Capt. Wemple sent him word to come down and explain. The Captain was admonished that Walker was a dangerous man, and was advised not to send for him. He, however, dispatched a second messenger, telling Walker to "come like a man and keep his hands off his guns." When the messenger found "Curley" he was playing poker, and had his guns hung on the wall behind his chair.

            Upon receiving word that Capt. Wemple had sent him this message, the desperado swore that no man should dare to question him, and he would meet him at once. Mounting his horse he rode furiously to the camp, and advancing within a few feet of the Captain drew his horse back on his haunches, and dismounting, inquired of Captain Wemple "what in h-1 he wanted." The latter was sitting on a wagon-tongue with his rifle across his knees. He charged Walker with having stolen his cattle, and the latter reached for his gun which was stored conveniently in his belt, and fired. He missed his mark, and the Captain returned the fire, the ball killing the horse. When the animal fell Walker got behind its body and Wemple behind the front wheels of the wagon, when a regular fusilade began, fifteen shots being exchanged. Of these the desperado fired seven, which took effect in the spokes of the wagon-wheel in front of the Captain, and at the seventh shot fired by the latter, the desperado fell, pierced in the heart. Although knowing that he had received his death-wound, he made one final effort to dispatch his enemy, and making his way around the body of the horse was stepping across the wagon-tongue when his toe caught under it and he fell.

            Capt. Wemple, believing that his foe was only trying to deceive him, raised his gun once more and shot his adversary. This accomplished, he rode up to Ft. Dodge and called out of the gambling-den the men who had bought the cattle, and required them to go and divide them up and pay for some eight or ten head they had butchered. He finally sold them the cattle they had slaughtered, and drove the rest home, and then gave himself up to the commanding officer. He was told no one had any desire to arrest or detain him for ridding the country of one of the most dangerous men in the West, and accordingly rode unprotected to the nearest railroad station at Ft. Hayes. He had ridden fast and his horse was covered with foam. He handed the reins to a groom and repaired to a "tavern," as it was called in those days. Within a short time the streets were filled with cowboys and others clamoring to get a sight of the man who had dared to tackle the notorious Curley Walker and kill him. Capt. Wemple accordingly went out, and being hoisted on the shoulders of some of the mob, was carried up and down the streets amid shouting and firing of guns. He is still living, and operating a large lumber-yard in Norfolk, Va.

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