USA > Kansas > Leavenworth County > History of Leavenworth County Kansas > Part 24
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Mr. Barnes has done a vast amount of constructing and building, and is one of the most prominent men in his line of work in the state.
Charles Edward Curtin, a native of Leavenworth, Kansas, is a well known and successful mechanic, and is the vice-president of the Leaven- worth Motor Company. He was born in Leavenworth, Kansas, May 27, 1886, and is the son of Charles and Catherine (Cronin) Curtin, both of whom live at 720 Kiowa street, Leavenworth. Charles Curtin was born in County Cork, in 1860, and his wife was born in Baltimore, Maryland. They were married at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, in 1882, and the fol- lowing children were born to them: Josephine, the wife of D. E. Connole, of Kansas City, Missouri; May, wife of Dr. J. W. Risdon, of Leavenworth ; Charles Edward, the subject of this sketch, and William Thomas, of 716 Kiowa street, Leavenworth. Mr. Curtin is an engineer on the Union Pacific railroad.
Charles Edward Curtin was educated at the Cathedral School of Leavenworth, and was graduated in 1903. He then took a course in the Leavenworth Business College under Professor Leach, after which he was with the Fisher Machine Works for four years, completing his apprentice-
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ship as mechanic in 1907. He was with the Great Western Manufactur- ing Company for two years, and with the Hesse Motor Car Company of Leavenworth for ten years. He has been associated with the Leaven- worth Motor Company since its organization in June, 1918, and due to his consideration and courtesy and ability as mechanic, has materially as- sisted in increasing the trade from year to year.
Mr. Curtin was married in 1910 to Mary Michalak, a daughter of' Frank and Barbara (Swanak) Michalak, the latter being dead and the former living in Leavenworth. Mr. Curtin is a member of the Knights of Columbus and is one of Leavenworth's most substantial citizens.
Ira N. Chapman is the prominent and efficient county agricultural agent of Leavenworth County. He was born in Rockford, Illinois, August 10, 1877, the son of S. H. and Abigail (Higgins) Chapman. His father was a veteran of the Civil War, belonging to the Second New York Volun- teer Cavalry. After the war, he engaged in farming and died in 1906 at Milford, Kansas. Abigail Chapman is a native of Pennsylvania and is now living at Milford.
Ira N. Chapman reecived his preliminary education in the common schools of Kansas. He then attended the State Normal School at Emporia, Kansas, for two and one-half years. He finished his education at the State Agricultural College, graduating in 1916, having entered this school in 1914. In the summer of 1916 he was with the farm management de- partment as assistant farm management demonstrator, and in September, 1916, he came to Leavenworth as county agent.
Mr. Chapman was married June, 1906 to Florence Edelblute of Keats, Kansas, a daughter of Henry and Sarah (Knapp) Edelblute, the latter deceased. Her father lives at Manhattan, Kansas. They were among the first settlers of Wild Cat Valley, Riley County, Kansas.
During Mr. Chapman's few years as county agent, a number of ac- complishments have been made. He organized seventeen canning clubs in the county in 1917 and was instrumental in organizing ten clubs, be- sides, in the city. At the close of 1917 two assistants were employed, but one has been discontinued since the war closed.
The live stock work has been a leading feature, five Pure Bred Hol- stein Calf Clubs and three Pure Bred Shorthorn Calf and Cow Clubs hav- ing been formed. Mr. Chapman has also been the means of starting pure
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bred sales in the county, which are doing a great deal toward the advance- ment of pure breeding. Mr. Chapman was instrumental in assisting in the organization of the Missouri and Kansas Dairy Producers' Association in 1917 at Lansing, Kansas, with a membership of forty-three. This county now has seven locals and the organization has spread in eastern Kansas and western Missouri until the present membership is 1,200, with a capitalization of $200,000.00. The company operates a plant in Kansas City, Missouri, which was purchased from Morrison and Company for $146,000.00.
In addition to these outstanding features, there has been a continu- ous line of work in progress in livestock improvement, soil testing, disease control, orchard management and other problems of rural life.
Mr. Chapman is well qualified for the responsible position he holds, being thoroughly educated along farm lines, and also having the initiative to organize and instruct. He is a member of the Ancient Free and Ac- cepted Masons.
Peter Everhardy, commissioner of finance of Leavenworth, Kansas, is one of the best known men of that city, and is respected by all. He is a native of Ohio, born in Hamilton County, October 27, 1847, the son of Matt and Margaret (Kommer) Everhardy. The former was a pioneer of Cincinnati, locating there in 1837 when the city was in its infancy, and lived there until his death in 1866. His wife died in 1854.
Mr. and Mrs. Matt Everhardy were the parents of the following children: Matt, who died in California in 1905; Mrs. Josephine Paff, de- ceased; Mrs. Agnes Haag, of Leavenworth; Peter, the subject of this sketch; and Jacob, who died in California a few years ago. The latter left Ft. Leavenworth, accompanied by Matt Ryan, in 1865 for Ft. Larimie, Wyoming, and, on arriving there, the war had closed and prices had fallen to less than one-half, losing them about $30,000.00. They sold their wagons for twenty-five dollars, which cost them $275. Jacob Ever- hardy eventually located in California, where he engaged in horticultural work until his death.
Peter Everhardy was educated in the public schools of Cincinnati, Ohio. He came to Leavenworth September 2, 1866, and learned the butcher trade with his brother, Jacob. He sold out in 1917, after fifty years of successful business. Peter Everhardy is a public spirited man.
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He has served the city of Leavenworth three terms as councilman for the Fourth ward, and two terms as sheriff of the county, from 1898 to 1903. After serving as sheriff, he was elected mayor for two terms. In April, 1919, he was elected to his present position, commissioner of finance and revenue. Mr. Everhardy, by his rugged honesty and straightforward conduct, has taken a place at the front rank of Kansas pioneers, who the people delight to honor. He is a capable and conscientious public officer, and his administration of the affairs has always met with approval. He served as jury commissioner during the Populist administration of Gov- ernor Llewellen, Morris Franks, of Fairmount, serving with him.
Mr. Everhardy was married February 20, 1873, to Elizabeth Naegel, a native of Cincinnati. She came to Leavenworth in 1868 with Joe Whittaker's family. Mrs. Everhardy died November 28, 1908, and is buried at Mt. Calvary Cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. Everhardy are the par- ents of five children: Mary and Clara, both at home; Blanche, a stenog- rapher for the Santa Fe Railroad at Leavenworth; Dr. J. L., of Leaven- worth, who married Louise Hesse, a daughter of W. G. Hesse, a pioneer of Leavenworth; and Louise H., who is art teacher at State Agricultural College at Manhattan, Kansas. Mr. Everhardy and daughters live at 510 Seneca street.
Dr. J. L. Everhardy, a well known and successful physician of Leav- enworth, Kansas, is a native of this state. He was educated in the Leavenworth schools and at St. Mary's College, St. Mary's, Kansas, re- ceiving his A. B. degree in 1893 and A. M. degree in 1895. He was grad- uated from the University Medical College, Kansas City, Missouri, in 1897, and also studied under the late Dr. J. W. Brock, who died November 26, 1900.
Dr. Everhardy has been practicing at Leavenworth since 1897. He is a capable physician, has a large practice, and stands high in the community.
During the World War Dr. Everhardy was medical examiner for the Local Draft Board, having been appointed by Governor Capper. He was secretary of the Medical Advisory Board No. 2 of Kansas, and also A. A. S., United States Public Health Service in 1917 and 1918. He also worked under the Department of Justice and in the American Red Cross. He is a member of the Medical Section, Kansas Council of Defense.
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For the past twelve years Dr. Everhardy has been secretary of the Leavenworth County Medical Society, and secretary for the Northeast Kansas Medical Society for six years and is now serving his third term as vice-president of the Kansas State Medical Society. He was secretary of the Kansas Tuberculosis Association for eight years, and has filled the offices of city health officer, police surgeon and county health officer, and is now secretary of the United States Board of Examining Surgeons. He has held the last office since 1905. In 1916 and 1917 Dr. Everhardy served as president of the Kansas Public Health Officers' Association ; also served during the World War on the Council of National Defense. He was county organizer of the Volunteer Medical Service corps of the United States.
Dr. Everhardy is untiring in his professional duties and, because of his extensive practice and the large number of offices he has filled, he has a large acquaintance in Leavenworth and the state.
Dr. Thomas John Boone, a popular young dentist of Leavenworth, with offices in the Axa building, was born in Lansing, Kansas, May 2, 1893. He is the son of T. J. and Theresa (Ruckel) Boone, who reside in Lansing.
T. J. Boone was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, November 28, 1866, and came to America in 1882. His wife was born in Junction City, Kan- sas, July 26, 1872. They are the parents of the following children: Dr. Thomas J., the subject of this sketch; Grace, who lives with her parents and teaches in the Lansing schools; Winfield, a cadet at West Point, New York, and Cornelius, at home. Mr. Boone is now employed as guard at the State Penitentiary at Lansing.
Dr. Thomas J. Boone was educated in the public schools of Kansas, and was graduated from the Lansing High School in 1912, and from the Kansas City Dental College in 1918, after which he taught for three years in Kansas City, Missouri. He began the practice of dentistry in Septem- ber, 1919, upon his return from the United States service.
Dr. Boone enlisted in September, 1917, for service in the World War, and was sent to Camp Funston with the 353rd Infantry. He was there until in December, 1917, when he was transferred to the Reserve Corps, and, in June, 1918, was stationed at Kansas City, Missouri, and, from there, to Camp Greenleaf, Ft. Oglethorpe, Georgia, until June 22, 1919, when he was discharged at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas.
Dr. Boone is a charter member of the Byron H. Mehl Post of the
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American Legion; a member of the Knights of Columbus, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is a very progressive young man, both in his profession, and in affairs of Leavenworth, and, because of his ability has a bright future.
Carl and Ernest Hunnius, jewelers, located at 104 North Fifth street, Leavenworth, Kansas, are capable and successful business men. The firm established by Carl Hunnius twenty-seven years ago has won a reputation of fair and honest dealing and has grown as the years have gone by. Carl Hunnius was born in Leavenworth, Kansas, October 25, 1872, the son of Ado and Bertha (Baechle) Hunnius.
Ado Hunnius wts born at Leipsic, Germany, in 1842, and came to this country in 1858. During the Civil War he enlisted in the Fifty- fourth New York Volunteer Infantry and served during the war. He received a wound in the limb but was otherwise unhurt during his years of service. After the war he came to Fort Leavenworth, where he was located until 1876, riding a mile to and from his business from his home on Osage street. Later he went into business in Leavenworth, conducting a toy store and news stand. Later he conducted a book and stationery store and. the state agency for school books. He retired from active business in 1909. He is one of the interesting pioneers, being very well posted on early day history. Despite his seventy-nine years, he is still . interested in the present as well as the past.
Mrs. Bertha (Baechle) Hunnius is a native of Switzerland, born in 1848. She is the daughter of Meinrud and Marie Baechle, who came to this country when she was a year old. They settled at St. Joseph, Mis- souri, where they lost all their worldly possessions during the Civil War. They moved to Leavenworth, Kansas, where they established a hotel and boarding house, and are both now deceased.
Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Adolph Hunnius, as follows: Carl, subject of this review; Herman, with the Abernathy Furniture Com- pany; Ernest, of this review; and Elizabeth, wife of A. S. Hatton, in the grocery and confectionery business, Leavenworth, Kansas.
Carl Hunnius was educated in the public schools of Leavenworth. He graduated from the Horological Institute of Peoria, Illinois, in 1893. Prior to this, when Carl Hunnius was sixteen years of age, he worked two years as an apprentice for J. A. Schmidt and two years for W. A.
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Kirkham. The first six months he worked without pay, the next six months for $1.50 a week and at the end of four years was getting $5.00 a week. When he was twenty-one years of age he started his business at 104 North Fifth street and three years later moved to 104 South Fifth street, where he is now located. The first year he was in business his place was robbed of everything which he possessed. Today he has an excellent line of goods and a first class trade.
Carl Hunnius is a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Mod- ern Woodmen of America and the Security Benefit Association. For two years Mr. Hunnius was captain of the drill team for this lodge, resigning in 1919. He is now and for the past fourteen years captain of the Mod- ern Woodmen of America drill team.
Ernest Hunnius was born June 9, 1877, and received his education in the Leavenworth public schools and the Bradley Horological Institute, graduating in 1900. He has since been employed by his brother, Carl Hunnius.
June 14, 1905, Ernest Hunnius and Sarah Weisman were united in marriage. She died August 20, 1910, leaving two sons: Oscar, born September 27, 1907, and Tracy, born January 8, 1909. They are students in the Leavenworth public schools.
Carl and Ernest Hunnius are good substantial business men, who have aided in the building of the city of Leavenworth, Kansas.
Dr. A. R. Adams, acting surgeon for the Santa Fe railroad, with offices in the Axa building in Leavenworth, Kansas, is one of the skilled and widely known physicians and surgeons of this part of Kansas. He is a native of Kansas, born in Jewell County, July 17, 1879, the son of J. W. and Mary (Lane) Adams. The former was a native of Kentucky, born in 1849, reared in Illinois, and now lives in Leavenworth. His wife was born in Illinois in 1852 and died in July, 1912. She is buried at Lebanon, Kansas. They came to Kansas in 1872 and entered land in Jewell County. He egaged in the mercantile business at Salem, Kansas, and later at Leba- non, Kansas. He was postmaster of Lebanon for nearly eight years, during President Wilson's administration. The Adams children are: E. W., barber of Topeka, Kansas; Fred W., merchant of Formosa, Kansas ; Dr. W. A., of Denver, Colorado; Dr. A. R., the subject of this sketch ; Love, the wife of Leonard Asper, of Manley, Iowa; Carmen, the wife of
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William Tilsey, of Manley, Iowa; and Bertha, the wife of John Beagle, of Kansas City, Missouri.
Dr. Adams was educated in the Lebanon, Kansas, High School, and spent two years at Washburne College in Topeka. He was graduated from the Kansas City Medical College in 1904 and immediately began the practice of medicine at Easton, Kansas. While at Easton he was associated with his brother, Dr. W. A. Adams, and they conducted, for a number of years, a private hospital. Dr. W. A. Adams is now a success- ful practitioner of Denver, Colorado, having located there in 1918. Dr. A. R. Adams succeeded Dr. C. D. Lloyd, of Leavenworth, in 1920. He is a member of the Leavenworth County, Northeast Kansas, State and American Medical Associations, and is also a registered pharmacist. He is vice-president of the Leavenworth County Medical Association.
Dr. Adams rendered assistance during the World War, having en- listed in the United States Army in the Medical Reserve Corps, and was commissioned first lieutenant, serving at Ft. Riley, Medical Officers' Train- ing Corps, in January, 1918, and followed his work at Base Hospital, Ft. Riley. He afterwards was transferred to Columbia, Missouri, where he was made unit surgeon, serving seven months, until the close of the war. He was commissioned captain of the Medical Reserve Corps, which posi- tion .he now holds. He is a member of the Association of Military Surgeons.
Dr. Adams was married April 15, 1907, to Lucy Haws, of Stanberry, Missouri, a daughter of Albert and Emma (DeSavior) Haws, the for- mer a native of New York, born in Philipstown July 1, 1840, and died January 25, 1921. The mother was born in Carrollton, Missouri, Decem- ber 4, 1855. Mr. Haws served throughout the Civil War, and was with Company C, Illinois Infantry. Mrs. Haws resides at Stanberry, Missouri. Dr. and Mrs. Adams have three children: Leona Edith, a freshman in the high school; Alonzo Robert; and Walter Alfred. The family reside at 310 Fifth avenue, the family residence of Dr. Lloyd.
Dr. Adams is a member of the Thirty-second Degree Scottish Rite Mason, and a Shriner, a charter member of the Mehl Post of the American Legion, Order of the Eastern Star, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Ancient Order of United Workmen and is medical examiner for the latter order. He is also a member of the Degree of Honor and Yeomen. Dr. Adams is a director of the Easton State Bank, the State Savings Bank,
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Leavenworth, and of the Lansing State Bank. Dr. Adam's life is a busy one, for, in addition to his professional career, he takes a keen interest in local affairs of a public nature.
Martin J. Eggert, commissioner of the Leavenworth Water Works and Street Lighting, also sales manager for Joseph V. Stoltz Wholesale Grocer Company, is a well known citizen of Leavenworth and a son of M. J. and Mary Eggert, natives of Wurttemberg, Germany. They came to America in 1866 and settled at Quincy, Illinois, where they were mar- ried, and came to Leavenworth in 1868. M. J. Eggert was a cabinet- maker and worked for different firms in Leavenworth. He died in 1913, and is buried at Kansas City, Missouri. His wife died two years later at Columbus, Ohio. The Eggert children are Martin J .; Severin J., now de- ceased; Markus, who died at Columbus, Ohio; and Beata, wife of J. M. Schumacher, of Columbus, Ohio.
Martin J. Eggert was educated in the Leavenworth parochial schools, and was graduated therefrom at the age of eighteen years. He was then engaged in the retail grocery business for about ten years. He began with the firm of Joseph V. Stoltz in 1899 and for the past fifteen years has been sales manager, which position he has filled creditably and suc- cessfully.
Mr. Eggert was elected commissioner of Water Works and Lighting in April, 1917, and re-elected in April, 1919, the latter time without oppo- sition, and was again re-elected in April, 1921. He has served the city capably, being instrumental in reducing the price of street lights and also water, the total saving for the first term being over $5,000. He also reduced the levy for his budget two-tenths of a mill during his first term.
On August 22, 1898, Mr. Eggert was married to Eleanor F. Morton, daughter of John and Catherine Morton, of Blaine, Kansas. Her parents are both now deceased.
Mr. and Mrs. Eggert have eight children, as follows: Mary Catherine, Josephine, Louise, Pauline, Florence, Martin J., Jr., Edward F. and Florian F. The family reside at 818 Ottawa street, Leavenworth, and are among the city's most substantial citizens.
Mr. Eggert is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, Court of Honor and C. M. B. A.
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Ira J. Bright, one of the leading educators of Kansas and superin- tendent of the schools of Leavenworth, is a native of Iowa. He was born in Greenfield, the son of T. M. and Elizabeth (Anthony) Bright. The former was a Virginian, and came to Iowa in 1878. He died in 1915, and his widow lives at Massilon, Iowa. They were the parents of the following children: C. J., an attorney of The Dallas, Oregon; C. S., a farmer of Alexandria; A. T., agent for the Milwaukee railway at Mas- silon, Iowa; W. T., agent for the Milwaukee railway at Elwood, Iowa; Clara, wife of C. L. Savage, of Little Falls, Minnesota; Mollie, who died at the age of twenty-one years; and Ira J., the subject of this sketch.
Ira J. Bright received his education in the public schools of Massilon, Iowa, and high school at Oxford Junction, Iowa. He attended the State Normal School at Cedar Falls, and Emporia State Normal. He was graduated from the latter with the B. S. degree in 1915. He spent one year at the Kansas State University and one year at Teachers' Col- lege, Columbia University, New York City, receiving the Masters degree, and teachers' college diploma as superintendent of schools.
He taught for three years in the Iowa public schools, and then came to Abbeyville, Kansas, where he taught three years, and for seven years was superintendent of schools at Lansing, Kansas. He then came to Leavenworth, Kansas, and was head of the department of normal train- ing. He was also efficiency expert, organizing the first department of research work in the Kansas public schools. He spent three years in Topeka as director of research and efficiency. He returned to Leaven- worth as principal of the high school in 1918, and the following year was elected superintendent.
Mr. Bright is a member of the National Association of Directors of Educational Research, comprising those who are engaged in doing special work. Bulletins are issued monthly showing what the different schools connected with this work are doing.
The Leavenworth High School has an enrollment of 561 pupils, and 2,000 pupils attend the ten grade schools. Dr. Allen Albert, during his survey of the industrial and social conditions of cities, came to Leaven- worth at the call of the Chamber of Commerce. He reported the Leaven- worth schools as among the best in the mid-west. His article was printed in Colliers, October, 1920. The Leavenworth High School was one of the first schools to become a member of the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.
IRA J. BRIGHT
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The members of the Board of Education are: Dr. S. B. Langworthy, William S. Albright, Fred S. Bolman, M. Toppler, Lee Todd, W. W. Hooper. Mary M. Pferferkorn is director of tests and measurements.
The high standard which the Leavenworth schools have attained is due largely to the expert knowledge of Superintendent Bright.
Mr. Bright was married August 26, 1908, to Mary Elizabeth Lawson, of Hutchinson, Kansas, a daughter of J. H. Lawson, a pioneer of that city. Mr. and Mrs. Bright reside at 326 Pine street, Leavenworth.
Franklin Wuerth, of the firm of Wuerth & Son, jewelers, is the senior member of one of Leavenworth's best jewelry firms. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, February 6, 1865, the son of J. H. and Catherine (Rock- ert) Wuerth, both natives of Germany, but who came to the United States when small. They were married at Cleveland, Ohio.
J. H. Wuerth came to Leavenworth in 1859 to visit his brother, Gott- lieb Wuerth, who was a clerk for John F. Richards, a pioneer hardware man of Leavenworth. In 1869 he left Cleveland and settled on a farm three miles west of Millwood, and for five years lived there, suffering many misfortunes, in the way of drouths, grasshoppers, losing hogs with cholera, and, in the panic of 1873, he lost practically all he had. He then moved to Leavenworth and was in the wholesale flour, feed and commis- sion business for several years, and also operated a transfer line. In 1886 he and his son, Franklin, the subject of this sketch, started in the retail jewelry business, which he conducted until his death, about the year 1896, at the age of sixty-five years. He is buried at Mt. Muncie cemetery. His wife died three months previous to his passing. Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Wuerth were the parents of the following children: Charles, who is engaged in the cigar business in Kansas City, Missouri; H. E., who has been a jeweler in Kansas City since 1886; John, deceased, who was in business in Leavenworth until the time of his death at the age of fifty- four; Bertha, the wife of J. K. Roller, a retired real estate dealer of San Diego, California; William J., who operates a fruit ranch at Fresno, Cali- fornia; and Franklin.
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