FREDERICK W. KOESTER.
Frederick W. Koester is a native of Atchison, born April 6, 1860. He is a son of Fred and Anna (Bertha) Koester, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Zurich, Switzerland. The mother immigrated to America when she was a young girl, coming to this country with her mother. Fred Koester, the father, was born in Minden, Germany, January 18, 1835, and came to America when he was about twenty-one years of age. He landed in New Orleans, but remained there only a short time when he came up the Mississippi river by boat, and located at St. Louis. He remained there but a short time, however, when he went to St. Joseph, Mo. While there he learned the barber’s trade, and in 1857 came to Atchison, Kan., and established one of the first barber shops in the city. He was an industrious and thrifty man and although not highly educated, he was a man of unusual foresight and good judgment. Soon after coming to Atchison he began to invest his savings in real estate and became one of the extensive property owners of the city in the early days. He built several residences which he sold at a good profit and he built one of the first brick houses in Atchison. He also built the first pressed brick house in the city. The building is still standing and is known as the Koester house situated on Second street, between Commercial and Kansas streets. This was considered one of the magnificent residences of Atchison in the early seventies. Fred Koester owned a number of business places in Atchison as well as several residences. Frederick W. Koester is the older of a family of two. His sister, Susie Bertha, is now the wife of Carl Hachette, and resides in San Francisco, Cal.
Frederick W. Koester attended the public schools of Atchison, and later was a student in St. Benedict’s College, and also attended the Jesuits’ College, St. Louis, Mo. His father had advanced ideas in regard to education, and endeavored to give his children the best that could be obtained. After completing school F. W. Koester began life as a clerk in D. C. Newcomb’s dry goods store at Atchison. He remained there but a short time, however, when he went to work in his father’s barber shop and later opened a six chair shop of his own. He then went on the road as traveling salesman for a barber supply house, and was thus engaged for seven years. He went to California in 1886 where he was employed as timekeeper for a railroad contractor.
Mr. Koester was married in 1883 to Miss Bertha Bracke, a daughter of Albert Bracke, an Atchison county pioneer, who was engaged in freighting across the plains in the early days. Later, he was engaged in a cattle and butchering business in Atchison and was a very extensive dealer.
Mr. and Mrs. Koester are the parents of two children, Albert, born on January 21, 1885, is in the employ of the Seaton Foundry, Atchison, and Frederick William, Jr., born July 25, 1895, in San Francisco, is a student in Kansas University, department of journalism, and during his vacations is connected with the Atchison Champion as a reporter. Mr. Koester was appointed by Governor Hodges secretary of the Kansas State Barbers’ Board in April, 1913, serving two years. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Red Men, and secretary of the insurance department of Golden Cross. He and his family are members of the Christian Science church. Mrs. Koester died October 13, 1904, and on October 23, 1915, Mr. Koester was united in marriage with Miss Lillie Barth Hood, a native of Kentucky, and daughter of J. H. Hood, of McCloud, Okla.
CHARLES MYERS.
Charles Myers, farmer, stockman and contractor, of Lancaster township, Atchison county, Kansas, was born May 13, 1864, in Buchanan county Missouri. He is a son of Augusta and Hulcia (Snyder) Myers, and one of nine children, seven of whom are living. The father was born in Germany in 1818 and left there with his parents when a young man, the family settling in Cincinnati, Ohio. At the age of twenty-two he came to St. Joseph, Mo., and learned the carpenter’s trade. Later he engaged in farming in Missouri, and came to Atchison county, Kansas, and bought the old Captain Evans farm in Shannon township. He improved it considerably and then sold it, and moved to Atchison, where he resided until his death in 1905. The mother was born in Indiana. She died in 1903, at the age of seventy-four years.
Charles Myers, the subject of this sketch, was reared on his father’s farm in Shannon township and attended the district school. He worked for his father until he was twenty years old, and then rented land in Doniphan county, Kansas, and farmed for himself, and later came to Atchison county, where he rented a farm for two years. Having accumulated some capital, he bought 120 acres in section 13, Lancaster township, and farmed this for sixteen years, meanwhile making extensive improvements. He sold this land and bought 160 acres in section 23, Lancaster township, in 1904. The farm was comparatively unimproved and he set to work building the place up. He erected a large, modern, nine room, brick house, superintending the work himself. He also built an excellent barn and a commodious ice house. These buildings were planned by Mr. Myers, who had learned the carpenter’s trade at odd times. He selected the materials used in the construction and by his careful supervision thus insured the best of buildings. This work comes natural to Mr. Myers, although he has never spent much time at the work, but it was so easy for him that he just naturally drifted into it. Whenever he had any work to be done he personally took it in hand. Other important improvements were made by Mr. Myers. Several additions to his farm land were made, and he now owns 240 acres of good tillable farm land. Mr. Myers also keeps graded stock and takes pride in keeping up his breeds. Besides these activities Mr. Myers holds stock in the Independent Harvester Company of Plano, Ill.
He was married to Eva Kenbal in 1897. Mrs. Myers was born August 19, 1867, in Ohio, and is a daughter of Nelson Kenbal. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Myers: Ora (Snyder), Frazer, Mo.; Edna (Taylor), Lancaster township, Atchison county, Kansas; Merrel, Augusta, Glen, Hubert, Irene, Lafayette, all living at home. Mr. Myers is a Republican in politics and has served on the school board of his district. He belongs to the Baptist church, and is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. Myers, in addition to his occupation as a farmer and stockman, has found time for constructing several buildings in Atchison county, and has been remarkably successful in his construction work.