Zirn Residence

[frawin]

Yes, Nettie was County Superintendent, at one time.  She also served in the State Legislature for a time.  Nettie was a sister to Roy Miller (who married Pauline Wyant - that was Dean and Don's Mother).  She is an aunt to Glenn D. Miller, who was Cashier in the bank when I worked there, Willis Miller, Helen Miller Kesner Rader & Nellie Fern Miller Clark.  Charles also known as "Cob" lived with Willard and Nettie growing up.  

They were very involved in many community activities.  Willard was also a "Wolf Hunter"!  They actually hunted coyotes!!!  Albert Criger, Jack Durbin, Tom Baughman, Carl Russell & Willard were among the ones that hunted together.  Willard's horse was Lindy and his most famous dog was Wheeler.  

They were very special people!!
Myrna

[patyrn]

Nettie's sister was Hattie Baughman (Walter).  I think they were twins, but I'm not sure. Jess Miller, the father of the previously listed children, must have been her brother, too. 

[frawin]

Dating one of the young girls that worked in the bank for Willard was like dating his daughter. Willard loved his employees. Willard helped a lot of people get started by loaning them money. Howard had a lot of really good civic minded agressive businessmen and women in those days. I would not have wanted to live anywhere else and I will always have fond memories of all of the people that helped and encouraged me in life.

[frawin]

Yes, that is correct.  The children of Howard and Nellie Miller were all born in Elk Co. except Leola, who was born in Indiana.  She was married to James Baughman - they had 5 children; Mabel was first married to Theodore Preston they had one daughter, and then she married Lee Armstrong  - they had 3 boys and one girl;  Jessie was married to Martha Jolly, - they had 3 boys and 3 girls: Nellie married Floyd Doughty, - they had 4 sons and 3 daughters and lived in Oklahoma;  Nettie married Willard L. Morss, - they had no children;  Hattie (twin of Nettie) married Walter Baughman, - had one boy and 2 girls; Roy married Pauline (Fralick) Wyant, - Roy had no children, but Pauline had two boys;  and Orval Glenn who married Margaret Clum - they had 1 daughter and 2 boys.  Margaret and Glenn were parents of  Mary Louise, Dan & Ted.
I took this from the Elk Co. History Book.

I have many fond memories of Willard and Nettie.  They helped many people in Elk County, personally, professionally, financially and sometimes just being a friend.  They worked tirelessly in the American Legion in Howard (Carter-Rader Post) and were very involved in the First Baptist Church there in Howard.

I knew several of the children of these families and Margaret Clum Miller(Margarets Mother was a Criger) taught school and was one of my dad's school teachers at Independence Rural school. 

Myrna

[Jo McDonald]

Fred and I lived in the west upstairs apartment of Rube and Gertie Criger's home, across the street south from the Zirn house.  We had a north window in our bedroom and would look across the street in awe of the "mansion" to the north.  To a 20 year old and an 18 year old, that house was very impressive and is yet to this day.  I believe Mrs. Henry lived there at that time.  Amy and Ralph Rader lived next door east of Rube and Gertie Criger.  I was told the interior of the two houses were identical, and built by the same man. (whether that was true or not, I don't know).  Amy was the director of the Welfare office in the courthouse at that time.  My sister Helen worked for her and Gladys Young was also employed there.  Jim Davis, and Bill Gragg were two of the commissioners, but I can't remember the third one.
 Nettie Morss was a lovely lady.  She was working in the courthouse in 1948 and asked me if I wanted to do the rural census...I tried, but after two days I knew for sure that was NOT what I should be doing.  I did not know the country roads and every house had a dog that just scared the bejessus out of me....so that was the shortest time of any job that I ever had.

[W. Gray]

Howard Courant-Citizen, April 22, 1971
Location for Movie?

HOWARD CONSIDERED AS LOCATION FOR MOVIE

A Home For A Very Wealthy Person? What could be more perfect than the H.G. Zirn residence, now owned and occupied by Geo. H. Sharp. It is still in mint condition and available to Hollywood.

This is a cut and paste from the Kansas Genealogical Trails website originally submitted by Lois Morgan under the Newspapers category at

http://genealogytrails.com/kan/elk/

[W. Gray]

Here is an item from the the Howard Courant of February 6, 1930, posted by Lois Morgan on the Kansas Trails Elk County, Kansas web site.


H. G. Zirn, President First National Bank, and Pioneer Citizen Stricken With Brain Trouble

This community was shocked, stunned to hear Tuesday morning, that Henry G. Zirn had suddenly passed away at his home in Howard. He was stricken with a brain trouble Monday evening while eating his dinner, but told his wife he would soon be better. In a few minutes however she called the physician who came quickly and ministered to him. He was evidently steadily weakening, and he was carried to his bed. He steadily sank away, and at 7 a.m., Tuesday, passed quietly away, apparently suffering no pain. He was unconcious from a few minutes after he was first stricken.

Mr. ZIrn had been in his usual good health, and was regularly at The First National Bank of which he was president, every day, day after day, giving his personal supervision to almost every part of the bank's activities and those associated with him in the bank, in clerical as well as official capacity saw nothing to indicate that he was not in his usual good health up to the time he went to his home Monday evening.

Mr. Zirn was known in a business and social way to almost every citizen of Elk county, having lived here from early boyhood. For almost forty years he has been connected with The First National Bank, and for the past twelve or fifteen years has personally guided that prosperous institution and built it up till it is acknowledged to be one of the safest, strongest and most conservative banks in this part of the state.

Mr. Zirn's place in this community will be hard to fill, for he has always been identified with the city's and county's progress,, always ready to further the best interests of the community. He has always been a loyal, helpful, charitable friend, a splendid influence, high-minded and honorable. His beautful home has always been one of the most hospitable in Howard, and Mr. and Mrs. Zirn have always been surrounded with loyal, companionable, admiring friends, who deeply deplore his sudden and untimely passing.

The funeral will be held at the home this afternoon, at 3:00 o'clock, and burial will be in Grace Lawn cemetery. All the ministers of the city will participate in the service, and a quartette from the Presbyterian church will sing.

The following brief sketch of the life of Mr. Zirn will be read at the services:

Henry George Zirn, son of German and Katherine Zirn, was born at LaCygne, Kansas, December 8, 1863, while the Civil War was being waged, his father being in active service in the Union Army, serving in a Kansas Regiment.

Henry Zirn, as a lad of 8 years came to this county with his parents, and was reared on the farm one mile south of Howard. He attended the common schools, and at an early age qualified himself to teach, and taught several years in the rural schools and then in the Howard High School. In 1892 he was offered a clerkship in the First National Bank of Howard, resigning from the high school faculty to accept it, and from that time to the day of his death his life was centered in the bank. He filled every position in that institution, beginning as the lowest paid clerk whose duties included the janitor work. He was regularly advanced to the various offices and positions of trust, member of the board of directors, cashier, and now for many years, president.

March 26, 1895, he was married to Miss Alice Rodman.

Mr. ZIrn, notwithstanding, the arduous duties and exactions of his busy life, found time to take active part in the civic affairs of the town and community. He was twice chosen Mayor of Howard, held the office of Master of Hope Lodge No. 155, A. F. & A. M. was active in the Commercial Club, the Good Roads work, and was always identified with the progressive activities of his city, county and state.

He was taken suddenly ill Monday evening, at his home and sank steadily, passing away Tuesday morning, February 4, 1930, at 7 o'clock. Age 66 years, 1 month, and 26 days.

He is survived by his wife, one sister and one brother.

Among the relatives of Mrs. H. G. Zirn who have arrived to attend the funeral services of Mr. Zirn are Mrs. Laura Kress, a sister, of Gruthrie, Oklahoma, Miss Josephine Rodman, a niece of Wichita, Edward Henry, a nephew of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Mr. and Mrs. Will Rodman of Kansas City, a brother and Mrs. Dora Henry and Leslie Rodman of Guthrie, a brother and sister, James Henry who is attending college at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, arrived in Howard last night.

*************************************

MAYOR'S PROCLAMATION
It is requested that all places of business in Howard be closed between the hours of 2:30 and 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 6, 1930, on account of the funeral of Mr. H. G. Zirn, who for so many years had been actively interested in all matters for the good of the city, community and country.

G. W. MOON, Mayor
Howard, Kansas, February 5, 1930

[frawin]

I need to give credit for this article to Don and Lois Morgan. Researchers, Genealogists researching Elk County and the Howard area owe Don and Lois a BIG THANK YOU for all of the work they have done in making so much Historical information available.

Howard Courant - February 22, 1917
MR. GERMAN ZIRN - Submitted by L. Morgan

Died at his home just south of Howard on Tuesday, February 13th, at 1 p.m., German Zirn. He was born in Wurtumberg, Germany, on October 23rd, 1831. Brother Zirn received his education in Germany. He took a special course of 6 years in a commercial college and after his graduation entered the mercantile business. In 1852 he came to New York City, where he remained for a short time. He came from New York to St. Louis and began steamboating between St. Louis and New Orleans. After a time he settled on a farm near Lexington, Missouri. In 1857 he came to Miami County, Kansas, settling near Lacine. He was married to Katherine Sherman of near Lacine, Kansas, in April 1861. To this union 5 children were born, viz., Henry, cashier of the First National Bank of this city, Millie and Carl who lived with their father just south of Howard, William and Joseph both dying in their infancy.

Mr. Zirn heard the call of his country and entered the Civil War as an Orderly Sergeant of Co. D 10 Kansas Infantry, serving 3 years, being mustered out at the close of the war. He was a member of the E. M. Stanton Post No. 23 of the G. A. R. of Howard. He came to Elk County in May 1872, settling on a farm just south of town where he made his home until his Heavenly Father called for him to come up and be at rest in his eternal home. His wife preceded him to their Heavenly home in September 1910.

Brother Zirn came of French and German parentage. His father was a major general in the French army under Napoleon Bonepart and received several medal of honor for his valor in the service of his country. Mr. Zirn was converted and he and his good wife were baptized into the fellowship of the Baptist church of Howard in 1876.

Brother Zirn lived an honorable and upright Christian life and was loved and respected by his neighbors and friends. His funeral was preached at the home of the deceased on Thursday afternoon, February 15th, by O.L. Weir, pastor First Baptist church of this city and his body was laid to rest in Grace Lawn cemetery.

May the God of all comfort console the bereaved.


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