Marshall County KS Archives Biographies.....Travelute, Andrew J. 1841 - living in 1917
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher sdgenweb@gmail.com July 21, 2005, 11:24 am

Author: B. F. Bowen

ANDREW J. TRAVELUTE.

    Andrew J. Travelute, one of the early settlers of Marshall county, who
became prominent in the agricultural development of the section, and now living
a retired life, was born on June 30, 1841, in the state of Pennsylvania, being
the son of Charles H. and Margurete (Spealmann) Travelute.

    Charles H. Travelute was the son of Andrew and Christena Travelute and was
born in France in 1818, where he spent seven years of his life on the farm. In
1825 his parents came to the United States and located in Pennsylvania, where
they engaged in general farming, and where they lived and died. Charles H.
Travelute received his education in the common schools of Pennsylvania and there
grew to manhood. He later located in Marysville township, Marshall county. The
trip to Kansas from the home in Illinois was made in a covered wagon, which was
used the first summer as a residence. On his arrival in Marshall county, Mr.
Travelute homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land on which he built a
frame house and was soon actively engaged in the development and improvement of
his farm. In time he became the owner of three excellent farms, in addition to
ether valuable property. He was a man who took interest in local affairs and
served his county as assessor and as commissioner. After reaching an advanced
age he sold his farms and lived a retired life at Marysville, where he died in
1900.

    Margurete (Spealmann) Travelute was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, on November
6, 1818, and was the daughter of John and Mary Spealmann. The parents came to
Pennsylvania when the daughter, Margurete, was but a child, and later went to
Illinois, where they died. Margurete Spealmann grew to womanhood in Pennsylvania
and there completed her education in the common schools and was later married to
Charles H. Travelute. Some years later she and her husband located in Illinois
and then in Marshall county, Kansas, where she died on May 20, 1902.

    Andrew J. Travelute received his education in the public schools of Ogle
county, Illinois, and there grew to manhood on the home farm. His .school days
were not spent in well-equipped buildings as those of today, but in the log
cabin with a slab for a seat. On completing his education he remained on the
home farm assisting in the work, until the outbreak of the Civil war, when he
enlisted in Company A, Sixty-seventh Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, his
enlistment being for one hundred days. He saw service at Chicago, Illinois,
guarding prisoners and was later sent South, where he did guard duty. He later
returned to Chicago, where he contracted typhoid fever and was discharged. He
returned to his home in Ogle county and in 1863 he and Dendridge Dean drove
horses and mules across the mountains and plains to California. There he worked
for a time in the quartz mines and drove a stage coach. On July 3, 1865, he left
San Francisco for New York, by way of the Isthmus of Panama. He returned to Ogle
county, Illinois, where he remained until the spring of 1866, when he came to
Marshall county, Kansas, where he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of
land in Marysville township. The tract at that time was all wild prairie, on
which he built a small log cabin, which was used as a residence for four years,
when he built a frame structure, fourteen by sixteen, with upstairs apartments.
The house was dedicated with a dance in the upper part, a ladder being used on
the outside of the building to gain access to the dance room. It is needless to
say that the dance was the social event of the year, in that pioneer settlement.

    In time, the wild land was developed, and where once grew the tall prairie
grass in unrestrained freedom, were seen broad fields of golden grain. The farm
was enlarged until there was three hundred and twenty acres in the tract, all of
which was under high cultivation and well improved. Mr. Travelute continued to
reside on the farm until February, 1901, and was actively engaged in general
farming and stock raising, being particularly interested in the breeding and
raising of Poland China hogs. On his retirement from the farm he moved to
Marysville, where he has a handsome residence. Mr. Travelute is a man of rare
business judgment and, in addition to his extensive land interests, he is a
stockholder in the Elevator Company and the Citizens State Bank, being a
director of the latter institution.

    On October 9, 1866, at St. Bridget, Marshall county, Andrew J. Travelute was
united in marriage to Elizabeth Josephine Mohrbacher, who was born near
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on June 19, 1846. She is the daughter of Jacob and
Elizabeth (Latterner) Mohrbacher both of whom were natives of Bavaria, Germany,
where they received their education in the public schools and were later
married. The father was born on August 24, 1810, and died on April 6, 1872. In
his native land he was a cooper by trade, but did much farming. In 1845 Mr. and
Mrs. Mohrbacher decided to leave the land of their birth and seek a home in the
United States. On their arrival in this country they proceeded to Wisconsin,
where they established a home, and there resided for many years. They later
moved to St. Joe, Missouri, making the trip with oxen and wagons, having seven
prairie schooners and fourteen yoke of oxen, by which they brought their
building material. In 1860 they came to Marysville, arriving here on May 1, of
that year. Mr. and Mrs. Mohrbacher and their eleven children suffered many of
the hardships of primitive travel and the life on the plains. The daughter,
Elizabeth Josephine, received her education in the schools of Wisconsin and
after the family located in Kansas she taught the first school in Marshall
county, at district No. 1. The papers of the county some years ago, published a
most interesting article by her on the early school life of the district. The
first school house built in this county, was built at Barrett, the first steps
to build such a house having been taken by Mr. A. G. Barrett, deceased, but who
has several relatives residing in our city. The first teacher who wielded the
rod of correction in this humble school house was Miss Mohrbacher, now Mrs.
Travelute, of Marysville; she is the mother of Mrs. Brumbaugh, of this city. The
first white boy born in the county, Mr. P. F. Radcliffe, attended this school term.

    To Andrew J. and Elizabeth Josephine Travelute have been born the following
children: Robert Willard, Henry M., John A., Josephine, Charles L. and Emma.
Robert Willard, now deceased, married Carrie Moore and to that union two
children were born. Some years after the death of her husband, Mrs. Travelute
married Mr. Brock and now lives at Kansas City, Missouri; Henry M., who married.
Elizabeth Koppes, lives at Lincolnville, Marion county, Kansas, and they are the
parents of nine children: John A. is deceased; Josephine Brumbaugh lives at Home
City, Kansas, and is the mother of four sons: Charles L. lives in Smith county
Kansas; he has been twice married, his first wife at her death left two sons.
His second wife was Edna Forke, of Raymond, Nebraska. Emma is at home with her
parents.

    Mr. and Mrs. Travelute are devout members of the Catholic church and reared
their children in that faith. Mr. Travelute is identified with the Democratic
party and has always taken an active interest in local affairs and has served as
justice of the peace, road overseer and a member of the council. He is a member
of the Knights of Columbus and the Sons of St. Gregory, also a member of the
Grand Army of the Republic, of which he was commander for one year.


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)

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ks/marshall/bios/travelut16bs.txt

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