Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 253 

WILLIAM NIGHSWONGER, senior member of the firm of Nighswonger & Robinson, dealers in agricultural implements at Viola, is also a prominent farmer of the township, where he has distinguished himself as a useful citizen since the spring of 1881. His homestead occupies the southeast quarter of section 23, the land being thoroughly cultivated and supplied with good buildings, and he also has an interest in another quarter-section in company with his brother Solomon.

      Our subject, a native of the Prairie State, was born in Marshall County, June 2, 1856. He received a practical education in the public schools, and during his boyhood and youth made himself useful on the farm of his father. His parents, Abraham and Jane (Sellers) Nighswonger, were natives of Illinois, and settled in Marshall County, Ill. Thence, in 1881, they removed with their family to this county, the father purchasing a tract of land in Viola Township, where for a number of years he followed agriculture extensively. He died at his home in this township, July 10, 1885. Our subject found his bride in this county, having been married, on the 14th of September, 1881, to Miss Anna, the daughter of Moses and Mary (Shucks) Parker, of Clear Water. Mrs. Nighswonger, a native of Des Moines County, Iowa, was born March 1, 1861. Her parents were natives of Ireland and Iowa respectively, and are now living in Clear Water, Kan. Of her union with our subject there were four children: Perry P., born Sept. 16, 1882; Mary E., July 6, 1884, and Jay W., Nov. 9, 1887. Jessie, who was born Sept. 23, 1885, died Aug. 24, 1887.

      Our subject engaged in the agricultural implement trade early in the spring of 1887, and in the autumn following associated himself with Mr. Robinson as partner. This is the only establishment of the kind at Viola. Mr. Nighswonger has given much attention to improved farm machinery, and is the inventor of the roller cutter grain drill, a machine which will plant grain in stubble ground or even prairie without plowing. He has not begun the manufacture of this drill as yet, but there is a prospect that it will become a favorite labor-saver among the farmers of Southern Kansas. Mr. Nighswonger, in connection with James Grimsley, is also engaged considerably in the grain trade. His farm produces in abundance corn and wheat, to which it is admirably adapted, lying as it does on the bottom lands of the Ninnescah. He not infrequently gathers a corn crop averaging fifty bushels to the acre, and for the years 1883, 1884, 1885 and 1887, harvested over twenty-seven bushels of wheat per acre.

      Our subject, whose time is mostly occupied with his farming interests, takes little part in politics, otherwise than to vote the straight Democratic ticket at the general elections. He and his wife are members of the Baptist Church. The former has been connected with it for fifteen years, and Mrs. Nighswonger for eleven years.

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