Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 389 - 390 

M.G. MOSHER, a wealthy and influential capitalist of the city of Wichita, came to Sedgwick County in 1870, and took up a claim of 160 acres of land in Kechi Township. He broke up, for the purpose of cultivation, about twenty-five acres, and on the place erected a frame dwelling-house, 14x16 feet in size, and a story and a half high. He was a resident of this farm for some four years, but the grasshoppers came and destroyed his crops, and finding a purchaser who would pay $1,600 for the property, he disposed of it. He then came to Wichita and purchased a lot on the corner of Central and Water streets, and two lots on Wichita street. He took up his residence in a house which was on the first-named lot, and bought a house for $60, which was 14x22 feet in size, and removed it to his property on the corner of Wichita and Pine streets. In the fall of 1875 he made a purchase of about 130 acres of land on the West Side, which he sold in 1882, and bought the property where he now lives, No. 343 North Emporia avenue. He is the owner of considerable real estate in the city, much of which is improved. 

            Mr. Mosher is the son of Gideon and Sarah (Billings) Mosher, and was born in Lake County, Ohio, April 12, 1825. Both of his parents were natives of the State of New York. His father was a farmer by occupation, and had moved to Ohio about the year 1818, and after a residence of some years in Lake County, settled on a farm in Lorain County, where he remained until he and his wife were both called to their chamber in the silent halls of death. They were the parents of twelve children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the youngest. 

            Reared beneath the paternal roof-tree, the latter remained with his father and mother, assisting in the manual labor attendant on the life of an agriculturist, until he was some twenty-four years of age. Sept. 4, 1849, he was united in marriage with Miss Clarissa J. Fry, a daughter of George and Anna Souder) Pry, who were both natives of Pennsylvania. Her father was a shoemaker by trade, but for some years had been engaged in mercantile operations in the Keystone State. He removed to Ohio in 1842 and settled in Richland County, from there went to Lorain County, Ohio, where he staid seven years. He then migrated to Missouri and from there to Sedgwick County, Kan. On coming here he located in Grant Township, where he preempted some eighty acres of land and entered upon agricultural pursuits. After eight years of experience, being quite aged, he returned to Missouri and made his home with a daughter in that State, where he died in 1881, at the age of eighty-five years. His wife, who was born in 1790, survives him, and is living with her daughter, Mrs. Mosher, in Wichita. They were the parents of eight children, of whom Mrs. Mosher is the second. Two of their children have preceded them in death. 

            After his marriage Mr. Mosher engaged in farming on seventy acres of land in Lorain County, Ohio, and was a resident of that State until four years later, when he moved to DeKalb County, Ill., laid a land warrant on 160 acres of land, and set about improving it, and making a farm of what was a grassy wilderness, but concluding that the State of Missouri offered him superior inducements, two years later he removed thither. Purchasing an improved farm and pre-empting some wild lands also, he again essayed farming, but five years later he sought in Iowa a more convenient farm, and found a home suited to his mind in Appanoose County. While a resident there, employed in the peaceful avocation of his calling, he was rudely awakened from his dreams of the future by the sounds of civil strife. Patriots in all parts of our country became aware of a strong attempt made by the slave oligarchy of the South at the life of "the best Government the sun had ever shown upon," and on President Lincoln's calling for troops in 1861 to defend the honor of the Union, and of our glorious old flag, Mr. Mosher, burning with intense patriotism, enlisted in Company H, 6th Iowa Infantry. He did not remain long in this regiment, and on account of disability he was discharged, and in a short time after joined the 37th Iowa Infantry, known as the old Graybeards. He endured all the privations and hardships attendant on a soldier's life. He was mustered out and honorably discharged in 1865, and returned to his Iowa home, where he remained until 1870, and then came to Sedgwick County. Mr. Mosher was well situated in Missouri, but owing to the breaking out of the war and his strong Union proclivities, he was advised by his friends that he had better leave while there was an opportunity to save his property. He did so, going into Iowa, and shortly after entered the army. 

            Mr. and Mrs. Mosher are the parents of one child, Georgia Annie, Mrs. S. S. King, of Portland, Ore. Her father, knowing the advantages to be drawn from a thorough education, made it a point to give her all the advantages possible, and after receiving the elements of knowledge in the ordinary schools, placed her at Oberlin College, Ohio, where she took a three-years course, as a proficient musician. She taught the science of music, both theoretical and practical, for a number of years in the States of Ohio, Iowa and Kansas, and on Christmas Day, 1872, was united in marriage with Selah S. King, who was born in Ionia County, Mich., in 1844. The date of Mrs. King's birth was Oct. 9, 1850, and the place was Brighton, Ohio. Mr. King was reared on a farm, but in early life took up the trade of a printer, which he followed for many years. In 1870 he came to Kansas and took up a claim in Sedgwick county, but in 1875 removed to Wichita, and was engaged at the "art preservative of all arts" in the Eagle office. He served as Deputy Sheriff of the County, after which he entered the employ of the Lombard Mortgage Company, and is at present the Superintendent of their business in Oregon, with his headquarters at Portland. He and his wife are the parents of one child, Clarence H. 

            Mr. Mosher is one of the reliable and most esteemed citizens of Wichita, and is looked up to as one of the most influential citizens. His adherence to the dictates of honor in all his business transactions, his spotless private life and his public spiritedness in all matters for the benefit of the community, have elevated him to a high pinnacle in the minds of his fellow-citizens. In politics he is a Republican, a strong believer in the progressive principles of that party, and seeking in it a perpetuation of the principles of free government. 

            The portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Mosher are given on an adjoining page.

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