Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 978 - 979

SAMUEL IMBLER, now deceased, was numbered among the highly respected citizens and successful farmers of Union Township. A native of Muhlenberg County, Ky., he was born Aug. 30, 1815. His father, a native of Virginia, was a pioneer of the Blue Grass State. The subject of this sketch spent his early years at home, attending school and assisting on the farm. When quite a young man he went to Louisiana and acted as overseer on his brother's plantation, retaining that position seven years. He then returned to Kentucky, and with his father's family migrated to Jefferson County, Iowa. There he became acquainted with Miss Christiana Lathers, the young lady whom he induced to share his fortunes and assist him in building a home, and in 1842 they were married.

            The mother of Samuel Imbler was a native of Adams County, Ohio, where her birth occurred March 23, 1824. Her parents, James and Elizabeth Lathers, moved with their family from Ohio to Indiana, where they settled in Shelby County, and remained several years. In 1837 they took another westward flight and became pioneers of Jefferson County, Iowa.

            Mr. and Mrs. Imbler resided in Iowa several years after marriage, and then removed to Knox County, Mo. In 1870 they came to the pleasant valley of the Arkansas and took up a homestead claim on the southwest quarter of section 2 in Union Township, and thus were among the pioneers of this subsequently fertile region. During the busy years that followed Mr. Ambler developed a fine farm from the wild prairie, and with the able assistance of his wife built up a comfortable home. He was greatly interested in the welfare of his adopted town and State, and aided by every means in his power the advancement of this section of the country. At his death, which occurred Nov. 28, 1886, the community was deprived of a useful member, as he had always faithfully fulfilled the obligations of a husband, a father and a citizen. In. politics Mr. Imbler was a strong Union man, and a firm supporter of the Republican party.

            Mrs. Imbler now owns and occupies the homestead. She is a consistent member of the German Baptist Church. To her and her husband were born six children, namely: Dorcas A., Frances E., William H., Mary E., Lida and James L. Dorcas A. married W. F. Stevens, and died, leaving three children; Frances is the wife of Lewis Rhodes; Mary is the wife of Perry Garrett; Lida married Robert Glass; James L. resides in Maize, being engaged in merchandising at that place; he was born in Knox County, Mo., Feb. 10, 1865, and removed with his parents to Kansas at the age of five years. He is an industrious, worthy young man, who, by his energy and attention to business, has accumulated some property, including an 80-acre farm. In politics he is a Republican.

            Like the majority of the early settlers of Kansas, Mr. Imbler was obliged to labor under many disadvantages. His nearest mill was thirty miles distant from his home, and there were no bridges across the streams. A little more than a year after taking up his residence in Union Township, and when returning from mill, in crossing the Big Arkansas River, at a time of very high water, he accidentally drove into a place from which the sand had been washed away, and where his horses lost their footing and the wagon turned over. His daughter Frances was with him, and he succeeded in getting to shore safely with her, but the valuable team was drowned. He was thus left without a team, with very little money, and quite a large family upon his hands. It was a time of severe trial, but his perseverance and industry enabled him to hold his land and later provide his children with a good education. Those who are surviving are settled in comfortable homes of their own, and are numbered among the reputable and well-to-do citizens of this region.

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