Marshall County KS Archives Biographies.....Schlax, Benjamin E. 1883 - 
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Author: Emma E. Forter (1917)

BENJAMIN E. SCHLAX.

    Benjamin E. Schlax, one of Franklin township's well-known and substantial
young farmers and the proprietor of a well-kept farm of one hundred and sixty
acres in section 24 of that township, is a native son of Marshall county and has
lived here all his life. He was born in Marysville, the county seat, August 17,
1883, son of John and Mary (Scherer) Schlax, the former a native of Germany and
the latter of the state of Wisconsin, who were among the early and influential
settlers of Marshall county and the latter of whom is still living at
Marysville, an honored and respected pioneer. They were the parents of thirteen
children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the tenth in order of birth and
all of whom are living save three.

    John Schlax was born in Germany on March 28, 1830, and was early trained to
the trade of wagon-maker, in which he became very proficient. As a young man he
came to this country and wras married in Wisconsin. In 1867 he came to Kansas
and settled at Marysville, there opening the first wagon-making shop in that
city and for years was engaged there in making wagons. The superior quality of
the product of the Schlax shops is attested by the fact that quite a number of
the wagons Mr. Schlax made are still in use in this and adjoining counties and
are still doing excellent service. The Schlax shop was situated on the site now
occupied by the city hall at Marysville and for years was one of the leading
industries of the county seat. In 1872 John Schlax homesteaded a tract of eighty
acres in Center township, machine-made wagons by that time having reduced the
demand for the product of his shop to the point that it no longer was profitable
to operate the same, and presently established his home on that farm, gradually
increasing his land holdings to two hundred and forty acres, and there he spent
the rest of his life, his death occurring in 1915. His widow, who was born in
Wisconsin on November 29, 1840, is now living in Marysville, the growth of which
town she has witnessed from the days of its hamlet period of existence, when it
was but little more than a stage stop on the old overland trail.

    Benjamin E. Schlax was reared on the homestead farm in Center township and
received his schooling in the district in the neighborhood of his home. He
remained at home until he had attained his majority, when he rented a tract of
land from William McKee and began farming on his own account, making his home on
that farm, after his marriage in 1906, until 1910, when he bought the quarter
section of land in section 24 of Franklin township, on which he now lives, and
where he ever since has made his home, he and his wife now being very
comfortably situated there. Since taking possession of that farm Mr. Schlax has
built a new house and barn and now has a very attractive place. He has set out
an acre of orchard to supplement his grove and has brought his farm up to a high
state of productivity.

    In 1906 Benjamin E. Schlax was united in marriage to Regina Peterson, who
was born in Sweden on August 8, 1881, and was but an infant when her parents,
Nels and Regina Peterson, came to this country in that same year and settled in
Center township, this county. Nels Peterson is now living in Illinois. Mr. and
Mrs. Schlax have a very pleasant home and take a proper part in the general
social activities of the community. In his political views Mr. Schlax is
"independent."


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

History of Marshall County, Kansas: its people, industries, and institutions
by
Emma E. Forter

Indianapolis, Ind.: B.F. Bowen & Co. (1917)


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