Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 319 - 320

ELI ZARING, a prominent and influential farmer of Valley Center Township, is located on section 5. He is giving considerable attention to stock-raising, feeling convinced that in that direction lies the future prosperity of the county, and the road to wealth for all its agricultural population, and as a keen and shrewd business man he has few peers in the township. He is a native of Warren County, Ohio, and was born Dec. 6, 1826.

     Our subject is the son of Peter and Lucy (Armantrout) Zaring. His father was reared a farmer and followed that business nearly all his life. He had remained with his father, his mother having died when he was quite small, until the former died. Peter Zaring's parents had removed from Pennsylvania to Ohio when he was about sixteen years of age, and in 1857, after having lived some time upon the old homestead in the Buckeye State, and which he had inherited, he sold it and removed to Indiana, where he remained until his death in 1863. He was considered a most excellent farmer in his day, and paid considerable attention to the raising of fine graded stock. He was the father of two children; Eli, the subject of this sketch, and Mary, who married Jonas Fry, and is living in Hodgeman County, this State.

     Eli Zaring remained at home until he was twenty-three years of age, spending his time during the summers in assisting in the farm work, and the winters in attending the district schools. He received in this manner a most excellent education, which he has supplemented since by an extended course of reading, so that he is well posted on all general topics. After having arrived at years of maturity, he commenced working for himself on a part of his father's homestead, where he remained until his marriage. That important event in his life took place April 18, 1850, at which time he led to the altar Miss Catherine Fry, a daughter of Christian and Elizabeth (Plin) Fry, of Warren County, Ohio. The father died in the Buckeye State about 1849, and the mother in Indiana in 1876. Both were members of the United Brethren Church, and good Christian people. Mrs. Zaring was next to the youngest of a family of six children, three boys and three girls.

     On the 1st of November following his marriage, the subject of our sketch removed with his wife to Indiana, where he made his home until 1881. In the latter year, for the betterment of his fortune, he emigrated to Kansas and settled in Harvey County, where he remained for about twelve months, after which he came to this county and purchased 160 acres of land on section 5, which was partially improved. He at once commenced putting it entirely under cultivation and carrying out the plans for building which he had conceived. His son Simeon assisted him in working this place until the year 1887, since which time he has rented it, and is living partially retired from the active cares of life.

     Since coming here Mr. Zaring has held several of the township offices, as he did also in Clinton County, Ind. In that county he was considered one of the most substantial and reliable citizens, enjoying the esteem of everybody in the community, and since coming here has grown likewise into the confidence and regard of all in his neighborhood. He has held the position of Road Commissioner for three successive years.

     The fireside of Mr. and Mrs. Zaring has been gladdened by the advent of three children: Peter, who was born in January, 1853, married Miss Maggie Lipp, and is living on a farm in Valley Center; Nancy was born Sept. 13, 1854, and is living at home; Simeon, whose birth occurred July 17, 1856, was married in 1887 to Miss Ella Blin; Christian, whose natal day was March 27, 1860, married Miss Emma Armantrout; and Ottie, born July 29, 1868, is residing with his parents. They had one other child, Isaac, who was horn March 4, 1858, and died in Clinton County, Ind., April 21, 1874.

     Mr. Zaring is a thorough Republican in his political views and adheres closely to party lines at times of election. Both he and his estimable wife draw their religious consolation from the doctrines of the United Brethren Church, of which they are sincere and consistent members. Two of their children also hold membership in the same. Their homestead, finely traced by the pencil of our lithographic artist, will prove an object of interest to their descendants for years to come.

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