HODGEMAN COUNTY, KANSAS
John Bauer, farmer and legislator, was born at Musebach, Germany, April 24, 1861, son of Johannes and Margaretta (Haber) Bauer. He attended school in Germany until 1874, and since April 20, 1887, has resided in Kansas. A Democrat, he has been state representative from the 97th district since 1930.
In 1903 he was married to Susie Hubin at Hanston. She was born at Butterfield, Minnesota, April 5, 1882. To them the following children were born: Albert F., Elsie M. (Mrs. Harold Thompson); Clara M. (Mrs. Lynn Ball); John W.; Anna M.; Helen E.; and Viola M.
Mr. Bauer is a director and former president of the Farmers Elevator Company. He is a director also of the Hanston Telephone Company. Residence: Hanston.
(Illustriana Kansas, by Sara Mullin Baldwin & Robert Morton Baldwin, 1933, page 81)
Submitted by Peggy Thompson
Alta Mabel Hendrickson, county superintendent of schools in Hodgeman County, was born in Grant City, Missouri, October 21, 1899, daughter of Morgan taylor and Martha (Gish) Hendrickson. Her father, a farmer, was born in Champaign, Illinois, while her mother was born in Gentry, Missouri.
Miss Hendrickson first attended Sandhill school five miles southwest of Larned. Because of a tornado which swept the farm holdings of her family, they moved to a nearby farm and Miss Hendrickson to Larned. There she worked for her room and board in the family of John Edwards.
During her freshman and sophomore years in high school she continued working her way, then in the home of Harry E. Row. Her junior year she attended high school at Jetmore, returning to Larned for her senior year.
The following four years she taught in the Laurel rural school District No. 35, of Hodgman County, and the next seven years in the first grade in the Jetmore grade school. During the summers of 1924, 1926, and 1931 she attended Fort Hays State Teachers College. She attended the College of Emporia the summers of 1929 and 1930, and in the summer of 1928 was a student at Palmer Lake School, Palmer Lake, Colorado.
She was first elected to the office of county superintendent by having her name written in on the ballot, and in 1932 was re-elected without opposition, having received the highest number of votes in the primary.
Miss Hendrickson is a member of the Baptist Church, the Young Women’s Christian Association, the Parent Teachers Association, the Rebekahs, and the Royal Neighbors of America. In 1932 she was elected chairman of the County Superintendents Round Table of the 70th annual session of the Kansas State Teachers Association for 1933. She is a Republican. Residence: Jetmore. .
(Illustriana Kansas, by Sara Mullin Baldwin & Robert Morton Baldwin, 1933, pages 510-511)
Submitted by Peggy Thompson
Vernon Ward Koontz, merchant, was born in Hodgeman County, Kansas, February 6, 1892, son of Lewis Cass and Sarah Jane (Slocum) Koontz. Lewis Cass Koontz was born in Greensburg, Missouri, December 27, 1858. He served as county commissioner and county clerk of Hodgeman County, and as a representative of the state legislature from Hodgeman County. He came to Hodgeman County in 1889, where he obtained a farm by trading for a relinquishment. He is now serving his third term as mayor of Jetmore. His father was born of German descent and his mother of English descent, born in Tennessee.
Sarah Jane Slocum, who was born at Greensburg, on January 11, 1864, is now president of the County Women’s Christian Temperance Union. She is descended from English and Irish settlers, who came from Indiana to Missouri.
Vernon Ward Koontz attended public school in Hodgeman County, Kansas, and the high school of Great Bend. In 1910 he completed a course in bookkeeping and stenography at the Kansas Wesleyan Business College at Salina. The following three years he was bookkeeper and stenographer at Hoisington with the Westinghouse, Church, Kerr and Company; the Ochs Lumber Company, and in 1913 entered the civil service as a clerk and accountant in the Panama Canal Zone, where he remained two years. During this time he was active in athletics held there by the different posts.
From 1915 until 1922 Mr. Koontz was junior member of the firm of L. C. Koontz & Son, general merchants at Jetmore. Since 1922 he has been manager and partner in the firm of the Koontz Mercantile Company at Jetmore. He is a Democrat.
On July 25, 1919, he was married to Carrie Etta Rumford at Jetmore. She was born at Ocheydon, Iowa, March 28, 1895, and died at Dodge City, August 9, 1931. She was of Irish and English ancestry, and before her marriage was a school teacher. There are four children living, and one deceased, Jean Etta, born May 17, 1920; Dale Ward, July 28, 1921, who died July 29, 1921; Wayne Alton, august 10, 1922; Betty Jane, July 7, 1926; and Bonnie Bell, December 4, 1927.
On June 6, 1932, Mr. Koontz was married to Lillian Mae Bell at Jetmore. Mrs. Koontz who was a teacher before her marriage, was born at Beloit, Kansas April 18, 1903. She was the daughter of Charles and Myrtle (Johns) Bell.biographical From March 14, 1918, until July 16, 1919, Mr. Koontz served in the United states Army. He was a member of Company C, 42nd Engineers, later designated as 44th Company, 20th Engineers, in which he was company clerk. From May 10, 1918 until July 4, 1919, he was with the American Expeditionary Forces in France, and at the time of his discharge held the rank of sergeant first class. He is a member of the American Legion (Chester Hawkins Post No. 290). During the organization of this post Mr. Koontz served as commander and he has been chaplain for more than ten years.
A member of the United Presbyterian Church, he has been ruling elder of that organization since 1920 and from 1928 until 1931 was a member of the board of trustees of Sterling College. Residence: Jetmore . (Illustriana Kansas, by Sara Mullin Baldwin & Robert Morton Baldwin, 1933, page 659)
Submitted by Peggy Thompson
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