My Genealogy Hound

DANIEL H. KOGER.
Daniel H. Koger, deceased, one of the large farmers and well-known and most highly esteemed citizens of Topeka township, Shawnee County, died on his fine farm of 80 acres located in section 35, township 12, range 15, on April 9, 1899. Mr. Koger was born April 20, 1838, in Powell’s Valley, Tennessee, and was but a few months old when his parents removed to Kentucky and settled on a farm near Lexington, which remained his home until he was 22 years of age. When about 17 years old he determined to secure a good education and managed, by boarding himself, to spend the winters of some three years at school in Lexington.

When the trouble between the North and South threatened to result in civil war, Mr. Koger determined to remain neutral but different members of his family became either Union men or Confederates, and as political excitement daily grew higher he decided to change his residence. In 1860 he moved to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and during the whole period of the war, although not an enlisted man, he worked in some capacity for the government. He drove a wagon with army supplies, was a government shipping clerk, assisted in guarding supply trains and was wagon master on many dangerous expeditions. He remained at Fort Leavenworth some 10 years and then bought a farm of 160 acres west of Leavenworth. This not turning out as well as he had hoped, he returned to Leavenworth and was in the employ of the government there as transportation agent and in other capacities until 1882, when he came to Topeka. He also spent some three months on one of the Indian reservations, in an official capacity and was wont to tell many remarkable experiences that came to him during this period. He was a man of responsibility and the greatest confidence was placed in his judgment and ability.

When Mr. Koger came to Topeka, he engaged with his brother-in-law in a livery business, which was continued two years under the firm name of Bloomer & Koger, and then he established a cattle ranch in Sheridan and Decatur counties, Western Kansas, in partnership with Jacob W. Thomas, of Leavenworth. He continued to reside in Topeka some five years and then sold out to his partner and removed to the farm where the remainder of his life was spent. He erected here the comfortable family residence and made many improvements. The farm is now conducted by his son as a dairy and fruit farm, and is one of the best in the county.

In 1872 Mr. Koger married Annie Smith, who was born near Taneytown, Carroll County, Maryland, November 29, 1849, and who moved to Leavenworth, Kansas, with her parents in 1856. She is a daughter of David and Caroline (Spalding) Smith, the former of whom was at that time a well-known buyer and shipper of stock,—he now resides with his second wife, at Kansas City, Mr. and Mrs. Koger had six children, namely: Walter S., operating the farm, who is a widower and has one son,—Daniel Hugh; Mrs. Cora Witwer, of Shawnee County; Daniel, of Topeka township; and Mabel, David S. and Frank H., who live at home.

Mr. Koger was a life-long Democrat, but he consented to fill no offices except those relating to school affairs in which he took a great interest. He was a man who loved to see his friends under his roof and, with his estimable wife, proffered a generous hospitality. During his long period of suffering, prior to his death, he always had a welcome for all and a genial, pleasant manner which brought him many friends. By his family he was deeply beloved and by his fellow-citizens, universally esteemed.