Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 723 - 724

ROBERT GLASS, a representative farmer, and proprietor of the Glass Nurseries, resides on section 10 of Union Township, where he has large landed interests, and has been engaged in farming and rearing stock since 1882. He is a man whose sound common sense and vigorous, able management of his affairs have been important factors in leading him to wealth, and with his undoubted integrity of character have given him an honorable position among his fellowmen.

             Mr. Glass was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, June 29, 1824. His father, Thomas Glass, was born near Pittsburgh, Pa., in 1787, and was the son of a Revolutionary soldier. Thomas Glass moved to Ohio when a young man, and there married Rebecca Stover. She was born in Harrison County, that State, in 1793. During most of their married life they lived in Ohio, where Mr. Glass owned a valuable farm of 200 acres, and carried on agriculture. In 1849 he made a trip to Illinois and purchased a large tract of land in Grundy County. In 1852 he removed with his family to that county, but instead of settling on his own land he bought an improved farm of 160 acres, and in their new home both he and his wife died in 1853. Of their union thirteen children had been born, of whom seven boys and one girl grew to maturity. There are five now living, of whom our subject is the eldest. The others are Andrew J., Thomas, Sumner and George. The last two live in Idaho Territory, as does also Andrew, his home being near the town of Lewiston. Thomas resides near Dwight, Ill. Mr. Glass gave each of his children a farm in that State.

             Our subject was bred to the life of a farmer, and received from his good parents many a lesson in thrift and honesty which have been his guiding principles through life. He acquired his education in the subscription schools of the day, attending from twenty to fifty days annually. He grew to be an active and ambitious young man, and early established a home of his own. He was married, Nov, 12, 1846, to Miss Mary Little, daughter of Francis and Rebecca (McDonald) Little. Her father was born in the North of Ireland in 1799, and when a lad of eleven years came to the United States with his parents. He learned stone-cutting, also engaged in merchandising, and for many years dealt in cattle; he is still living, at an advanced age, in Guernsey County, Ohio. Mrs. Little was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, and was of Scotch parentage. She died in 1876. There were eight children born to her and her husband, all of whom are living, and all were present at a family reunion in their father's home in March, 1887. It is a remarkable fact, which shows both parents and children to be endowed with unusual physical vigor, that there never was a death in the family or a doctor called until the final illness of the mother.

             After marriage Mr. Glass resided on a portion of his father's farm for awhile, removing therefrom in the spring of 1849 with his family to Grundy County, Ill., and locating on the quarter-section of land which his father had given him. They traveled in teams, crossing but one railway on the journey. He improved his land to a very high state of cultivation, and in 1865 it had so increased in value that he was enabled to sell it for $4,000. After that he purchased the farm adjoining, which contained 230 acres, paying for it $1,460, and there resided until 1882. In the meantime he had increased its acreage to 280 acres, and its value so that when he sold it it commanded $50 an acre. Besides managing his farming interests he worked in the coal mines for eight years, from 1862 until 1870.

             In 1882 Mr. Glass disposed of his property in Illinois, and immediately started for Kansas, attracted hither by the fine climate and the richness of the soil. He settled here on the 1st of March, on land he had purchased in 1881 for $2,650. He now owns a valuable farm of 800 acres, all more or less improved, and yielding fine crops. He is particularly interested in raising cattle and hogs, and has met with fine success in that line.

             Mr. and Mrs. Glass have had nine children, three of whom died in infancy, and two sons, George L. and Charles W., died when young men. The names of those living are Rebecca, Thomas F., Robert L. and William M. Rebecca is the wife of Henry Trittipoe, of Kiowa County, Kan. She was previously married to Charles Rahn, a native of Prussia. During their married life they lived in Gordon, Ill. Theirs proved to be an unhappy marriage, and was dissolved by divorce. One child was born of their union, Robert Edwin Glass, who is being reared by his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Glass.

             In politics Mr. Glass is a strong Republican. While a citizen of Illinois he was quite active in public affairs, and held the offices of Assessor and Justice of the Peace. He is an earnest worker in the Methodist Church, of which he became a member when fifteen years old. He has served as Trustee, Steward, Class-Leader and Sunday-school Superintendent. He and his wife are justly noted for their benevolence and for their many deeds of neighborly kindness.

             Mr. Glass is never so well satisfied as when developing some new project. In the spring of 1888 he, in company with his son William M., established the nurseries, and there is every reason to suppose that this venture will prove equally successful with the others. Twenty acres were planted to a rare selection of choice stock, and an addition to this will be made each year. It is the purpose of the proprietors of this industry to build up and maintain in Sedgwick County a nursery of which it will be proud and one that will benefit the entire Southwest. Not a State in the Union has equaled the wonderful growth and progress of Kansas. Almost every branch of business has been pushed to its fullest extent, and while a State grows in power, wealth and knowledge, she at the same time must beautify her hills, her valleys and her homes.

             The once broad prairies of Kansas are fast becoming groves of shade and ornamental trees, and these grand results have been accomplished in the face of much opposition. Eastern nurseries have shipped carload after carload of stock, and the Kansas man has paid the Eastern price. How much better will it be when a home country can supply the demands of a home trade. The stock raised in the rich Arkansas Valley will be better adapted to the soil of Kansas than that raised on the hillsides of the Middle and Eastern States. Mr. Glass will make a specialty of all the hardiest varieties, both of fruit and ornamental trees, and will introduce new varieties as soon as proved worthy of growing.

             The elevating influence of trees has been so thoroughly recognized that in many places the public schools set apart a day each year for planting, thus teaching the young the value of this important duty. Nothing proves a higher recommendation either to town or country than the cultivation of trees, which are the sure evidence of enlightenment and civilization. Mr. Glass proposes in this manner to be numbered among the benefactors of the day. A view of his home surroundings will be an object of interest to those who value this work, and we accordingly submit them as carefully sketched by our artist.

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