USA > Kansas > Wyandotte County > History of Wyandotte County, Kansas, and its people, Vol. II > Part 15
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In April, 1891, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Catley to Miss Florence Hoyle, who was born and reared in England and who is a daughter of Joseph and Isabel (Adams) Hoyle. To this union have been born two children, Gertrude and Ernest, both of whom reside at the parental home. Mr. and Mrs. Catley adopted and reared to maturity two other children-Gladys and Evelyn, the former of whom is now working in the Meyers Manufacturing Company, jewelers, at Kansas City, Missouri, and the latter of whom is the widow of Albert Weaver and who is now the ineumbent of a position in the First National Bank of Phillipsburg, Kansas.
Mr. Catley is a man of broad and generous mind and his fine executive ability has well fitted him for the various responsible railroad positions he has held during his career. Ilis life has been one marked by varied and eventful experiences. Reared in England and coming to America with practically no capital, he has been dependent upon his own resources and not only has he achieved success, but he has been identified with labors resulting in the material upbuilding and im- provement of his adopted state.
LARMON E. SCOTT, Piper, Kansas, has been a resident of Wyan- dotte county for over thirty years, and not only enjoys a wide acquain tance here but also has the confidence and respect of all who know him At one time he owned a portion of the site now occupied by Piper.
Mr. Scott is a native of the Green Mountain State, born August 15, 1846, son of Harris and Julia (Cushman) Scott, both natives of Vermont. About 1853 the Scott family moved west to Illinois and settled on a farm in Cook county, where the parents passed the rest of their lives and died. They had four children, as follows: Richard H., now postmaster at Richland, Kansas; Larmon E., whose name in- troduces this review; Mary J., wife of Joseph Marshall, lives on a
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farm in Leavenworth county, Kansas; and Ella L., who was the wife of John Waldron, who died in 1900.
Until he was seven years old Larmon E. lived on his father's farm in Vermont, his early recollections being of the large maple orchard his father operated. Then came their removal to Illinois, and on a farm in Cook county he grew to manhood, receiving his edu- cation in the district schools. Ilis first work away from home was for the Union Pacific Railroad Company, the employ of which he left to enlist in the Union army during the Civil war. He served as a mem- ber of Company E, Fifteenth Kansas Cavalry, and remained with his command until the conflict was ended, receiving his honorable dis- charge in November, 1865. After the war he went to Platte county, Missouri, and engaged in merchandising, which he continued in that locality for a period of ten years, and prospered. In 1879 he came to Wyandotte county, Kansas. Here he bought the farm of two hundred and fifteen acres on which he has since lived, and a portion of which he sold as village lots. His land is well improved with good farm buildings, including large barns and sheds for his stock. For a number of years he has been largely interested in breeding horses and mules.
On August 26, 1869, Mr. Seott married Miss Margaret Waldron, a native of New York and a daughter of William and Margaret (Keefe) Waldron. She came west with her parents, in 1869, to Missouri, and settled in Platte county, where she and Mr. Scott were married. To them have been given twelve children, and some brief data concerning each follows herewith: Viola was educated in the common sehools of her native county, and wedded Thomas Hart by whom she had four children, Glenn, deceased, Lavena, Elwin and Evelyn, twins; Mrs. Hart died December 20, 1899; Eva also received a good education in the common schools, from which she graduated, and she is a prominent member of the Order of the Eastern Star; Lena, who, after completing her school course, married Allen Gable of Prairie township, is like- wise a valued member of the Eastern Star; William Albert married Ella Ellis, and they have one son, Armour; both father and son are faithful members of the Modern Woodmen of America, and his wife is a member of the Eastern Star and Royal Neighbors; Larmon Elmer, who is at present, 1911, a rural mail carrier in Kansas, being a resident of Piper, was united in marriage to Myrtle Zink, and they have had three children, Raymond, Edith and Elsie; Claude is the wife of Harry Turner, a suburbanite of Kansas City, Kansas, and a well known con- tractor, and they have three children, Leonard, Arthur and Edwin : Florence married William Meade, a resident of Prairie township, and they have four children, Ralph, Clifford, Logan and Margaret; they live at Dodge City, Kansas; Walter and Warren, who were twins, and the latter is a graduate of the public schools; Stanley, who is the youngest, is still in school; two of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Seott died in infancy. All of Mr. Scott's sous are connected with the Modern Woodmen of America excepting the youngest, Stanley, and Mr. Seott is an honored member of the Ancient and Accepted Order of Masons, and the Order of the Eastern Star. His wife is secretary of this latter organization of the Piper Lodge.
Mr. Scott's father was in early life a Whig, and afterward a Re-
THE NEW YOR& PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENGY TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
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publican, and he himself has always given his support to the Republi- can party. For years he has been more or less interested in loeal polities, and at different times has filled township office, including those of clerk, treasurer and justice of the peace.
JOHN J. STROHMYER, the blacksmith in Vance, Kansas, has gained the good will and the respect of all who know him. He is a young man who has had his own way to make in the world and he has accom- plished much.
He was born in Leadville, Colorado, August 3, 1884, being the son of George Strohmyer. In 1884 Mr. Strohmyer came to Kansas and located in Russell county, where he worked as a "smithy". In 1889 he came to Wyandotte county, where he died in 1897. Mrs. Strohmyer is now married to W. R. Malott.
John has no remembrance of his birth place in Colorado, for he came to Kansas with his father when he was six months old. They located in Russell county, where John's first years were spent, but when he was five years old the family moved again, coming to Wyandotte county. John attended the district school very soon after they ar- rived in the county and when he was thirteen years of age his father died. It was then necessary for him to go to work and earn some money. IIe learned the blacksmithing trade and also that of a wagon
maker. He learned quickly and proved to be very capable. In 1905 he started out in business for himself, at the place where he is now, and he has bought a new outfit that is entirely modern.
On November 6, 1907, John Strohmyer married Lillian Riley, the daughter of George W. and Hattie (Wolf) Riley. Mrs. Strohmyer was born in Quindaro township June 11, 1890, having been educated in the district school and she has spent her entire life here.
Mr. Strohmyer is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and has held membership with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Ile is a man who does his work well and the people are always sure of getting the best treatment at his shop. He has many friends, who agree in calling him a fine fellow.
DAVID E. CLOPPER, M. D., is engaged in the practice of medicine at Kansas City, Kansas, where he has resided since 1896 and where he has participated actively in public affairs. The world instinctively pays deference to the man whose success has been worthily achieved, and because of his capability, close application, devoted attention to his profession and his strict regard for the ethics of the medical science Dr. Clopper receives this deference and respect from his fellow men. In 1903 he was elected mayor of Argentine, and he served in that capa- city with the utmost efficiency. In 1906 lie was elected president of the Argentine State Bank, and he has continued incumbent of that position to the present time, in 1911.
In the fine old commonwealth of Maryland, on the 20th of January, 1867, occurred the birth of Dr. David E. Clopper, who is a son of Simon and Nancy (Light) Clopper, both of whom were likewise born in Maryland. They traced their ancestry back to stanch German stock and of their sixteen children nine are living at the present time, the subject of this review having been the thirteenth in order of birth.
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The father was identified with farming during the greater part of his active carer and he is still living at his old home in Maryland. Ilis cherished and devoted wife passed away in about 1884. To the public schools of Leitersburg, Maryland, Dr. Clopper is indebted for his pre- liminary educational training. Early deciding upon the medical pro- fession as his life work, he entered the Barnes Medical College at St. Louis, Missouri, attending that institution for a period of one year, at the expiration of which he was matriculated as a student in the medical department of the University Medical College at Kansas City, Missouri, in which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1896, duly re- ceiving his degree of Doetor of Medicine. Immediately after gradua- tion he located at Argentine, Kansas, where he soon succeeded in build- ing up a large and lucrative patronage. Within recent years he has pursued three post-graduate courses in New York, the last in 1910. Since 1897 he has been physician and surgeon for the Santa Fe Rail- road Company, and as proof of his ability in the line of his chosen vocation he controls a very extensive patronage.
In the year 1906 at Kansas City, Missouri, was solemnized the marriage of Dr. Clopper to Mrs. Rena Malow, Dr. and Mrs. Clopper have no children. They are prominent and popular factors in con- nection with the best social activities of the community in which they live.
In politics Mr. Clopper is aligned as a stalwart supporter of the cause of the Republican party. In 1902 he was elected to membership in the city council of Argentine, Kansas, and in the following year was elected mayor of Argentine, serving as such for a period of two years. In 1906 he was elected president of the Argentine State Bank, which is one of the most substantial and reliable financial institutions in this section of Kansas. In connection with the work of his profession he is a vahied and appreciative member of the American Railroad Sur- geons Association and the Kansas State Medical Society. In fraternal cireles he is affiliated with Ben Hur Lodge, No. 272, Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons; and with Caswell Consistory, No. 5, Ancient Scottish Rite, having attained to the thirty-second degree. ITe is also eonneeted with Abdallah Temple. Ancient Arabie Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Leavenworth, Kansas. In the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks he is a member of Wyandotte Lodge, No. 440. In his profession Dr. Clopper has attained high rank because his equip- ments were unusually good, because his work has been prompted by a love of scientific investigation and broad humanitarian principles and because he has steadily advanced, keeping in direct touch with the most progressive thought of the medical world. His prominenee is indi- cated by the large patronage which is accorded him and which has made him one of the substantial residents of this eity.
PROFESSOR OWEN M. WEST .- A pre-eminent figure in commercial education in Kansas is Professor Owen M. West, president of the Kan- sas Commercial College, whose enlightened ideas and splendid methods have proved of marvelous benefit to the yonth of this section. This institution which is the pride of the city, is one of the best in the United States and presents advantages which cannot be found any- where else. There are at the head of this school men of education,
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ability and experience, who have made a success of the commercial school business and who are here combining their ability and knowl- edge in making this the foremost institution of America. The Kan- sas Commercial College is particularly fortunate in its president ; scholar, educator, gentleman, he has been summed up, and not only is he esteemed in highest degree as an educator and instructor, but as a citizen of unusual public spirit.
The Kansas Commercial College, located at 721-723 Minnesota avenue, was founded in the year 1903, its original location being the corner of Fifth and Minnesota avenue. Its founders were the McKee brothers, F. J. and E. E. It first had capacity for about one hundred and twenty-five pupils and afforded a general business and commercial course. From the first its results were unusually gratifying. After remaining at the first address for three years the college was moved to the present location.
On March 19, 1910, a corporation was formed by the McKee brothers with a capital of thirty-five thousand dollars, and Professor West was made president, which position he holds at the present time. The corporation owns and manages two other schools, one at Lebanon and one at Norton, Kansas. Their present location is most advan- tageous and the college which is attended by about five hundred pupils annually, has the benefit of the most modern equipment, while the handsome building which houses the institution was especially built for the purpose. The various departments are as follows : Commercial (This is not necessarily to prepare one for a business position, but to give him the practical knowledge he needs in commercial law, accounts, etc., whether he is to be a doctor, business man, preacher or farmer) : Bookkeeping taught by actual business; Commercial Law; Rapid Cal- culation ; Penmanship; Shorthand. the Gregg and Pittman systems be- ing taught ; Grammar ; Correspondence ; and English. It is of such an institution as the Kansas Commercial College that Horace Mann was doubtless thinking when he said: "If a father wishes to give his son a legacy better than houses, land, gold or silver, let him send him to an an institution where he can obtain a practical business education. Such knowledge is most directly conducive to mercantile honor and suc- cess." And to such did Henry Ward Beecher refer when he ob- served: "Whatever occupation you may choose as your life work, the first step is to secure a practical business education. By all means attend a good college."
The Kansas Commercial College makes a specialty of preparing stenographers and bookkeepers for civil service and it also has courses preparing aspirants for the positions of rural mail carriers and mail «lerks, enstom house assistants, departmental clerks, salesmen, and mechanical and architectural drawing and drafting. In addition to the day school. there is a night school for those who cannot attend dur- ing the day, this being on Monday, Wednesday and Friday evenings, and covering the same line of studies. At the present time the teach- ing force numbers six. The official personnel of the college is as fol- lows: president and treasurer. Owen M. West: secretary. S. R. Max- well ; vice president, Louis Tedder; board of directors, Messrs. O. M. West. S. R. Maxwell, Louis Tedder, Samuel Me Williams and J. D. Rice.
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The Kansas Commercial College has prepared hundreds of students, most of whom are holding positions high in the business world ; they are in the government employ and also in that of the state, connty, city; they are found in the largest commercial and manufac- turing houses in the country.
Owen M. West was born and reared at Fithian, Illinois, fourteen miles west of Danville, his parents being James II. and Lura J. (Davis) West. When young Owen was a boy about nine years of age he re- moved to Linn county, Kansas, and there he received his public school education. Ile subsequently entered the Kansas Normal School from which he was graduated in 1897. He at once entered upon a career as a teacher and was eventually eleeted county superintendent of schools of Linn county, Kansas, serving two elective and one appointive terms. Hle continued in the field of public school education until 1902, when he engaged with the National School of Correspondence and had charge of their vast interests in Kansas and Oklahoma, with the most excellent results. In 1903 he resigned to accept the principalship of the Chelsea School of Kansas, Kansas City, Kansas, which position he re- tained until after his election as president of the Kansas Commercial College. Ile resigned that, however, to take full charge of college affairs.
Professor West is a prominent and popular fraternity man, hold- ing membership in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; the Knights of Pythias; the Redmen; the Fraternal Aid: the Life and Annuity; the Workmen ; the Modern Woodmen of America; Ben Hur; the Triple Tie; and the Yeomen. Politically he is independent and takes great interest in putting the man into office who stands for the cleanest and most altruistie service to the people. He has never married.
Professor West is a man who takes a fatherly interest in the wel- fare and progress of his students and he with his educational staff, do everything possible to advance the pupils as much as possible in every direction. IIe is a big hearted gentleman and stands at the head of his profession. While county superintendent of school of Linn coun- ty, he did much to improve the school system, making it one of the best in the state and this zeal is apparent in all his endeavors. In faet, he is known throughout the state and far beyond it, as an educational leader.
Professor West is of peculiarly philanthropie and admirable nature. He has done much to help the needy and poor, and his every day life is replete with kind deeds. During the year 1911 his home was broken and fond ties were severed, death claiming his mother.
Professor West is of most lovable personality and has hosts of en- thusiastie friends. One of them, the editor of Popular Therapeutics, published at Nevada, Missouri, recently was moved to an appreciation, from which a few enlightening paragraphs are here taken :
"I knew Mr. West some fifteen or more years ago. during the stormy days in Kansas. He lived in Linn county and I was residing for a time in the southwest part of the state, and both of us were active in politics in those good old days when polities in Kansas was the most militant thing in the world. West as a young man was successful in politics in his own county for the reason that he obtained that repu- tation invaluable to a politician : i. e. 'He always delivers the goods.'
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"Ile has a great school in Kansas City, Kansas. The college has adequate equipment and the students it turns out are in demand, because of their thorough training and capability to do the work along various commercial lines. The course taught at the Kansas Commer- cial College is in advance of the large majority of courses taught in the various colleges in this country. Civies and Political Economy are thoroughly taught and also a course of instruction in salesmanship. This latter course is practically psychology as applied to the selling of the commodities of commerce. The course in Commercial Law is the best course I have ever come in contact with in a business college."
The Kansas City Journal of August 7, 1911, says:
"A test of the practical efficiency of the class of shorthand of the Kansas Commercial College was made last week in the district court, Kansas City. Kansas, when the members of the class successfully took the proceedings of a case on trial. It is said that within thirty min- utes after the trial had closed copies of the evidence were presented to the court and attorneys which corresponded verbatim with that of the official court stenographer. Friends of Prof. West, president of the school, have been congratulating him on the success of this demon- stration, as well as for the distinction his school is winning as an in- stitution of complete business training."
In concluding this brief record of an admirable man there can be no more fitting manner of so doing than to quote from the clever tribute of a fraternal friend. Says this gentleman :
"West has been immortalized by the poets. 'Let me have about me men who are fat, sleek-headed men and such as sleep o' nights,' said William Shakespeare, and had West in mind. James Whitcomb Riley, speaking of West said: 'When God made Jim, I bet he didn't do anything else that day but jes set round and feel good.' And O. W. Holmes, anticipating West, said. 'You hear that boy laughing? Yon think he's all fun, but the angels laugh too at the good he has done. The children laugh loud as they troop to his call-and the poor man who knows him laughs loudest of all.'"
JOSEPH LEEFROM .- Among the representative citizens of Wyan- dotte county. Kansas, is Joseph Leefrom of Walcott.
Mr. Leefrom was born in Illinois, in the year 1851, son of John and Mary (Scott) Leefrom, the former a native of Germany and the latter of France. John Leefrom came to this country in early life, and it was in Illinois that he met and married Miss Scott. To them were born three children: Mary, now the wife of Edward Blaekman ; .Joseph, the subject of this sketeh, and Andrew. The father was reared in the Catholic faith, to which he faithfully adhered throughout his life. By occupation he was a farmer. And it was on his father's farm in Illinois that Joseph Leefrom passed his boyhood days, his only educational advantages being those of the district schools. On at- taining his majority in 1871, he left the scenes of his childhood and rame west to Kansas, Wyandotte county his objective point, where he found employment as a farm hand. Later he went to Atchison eoun- ty. There he became the owner of several farms, which he sub- sequently sold. He now owns the principal houses in Walcott, which
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he rents, and here he makes his home, he having returned to Wyan- dotte county several years ago.
Mr. Leefrom married, in 1877. Miss Lizzie Horstman, like himself, a native of Illinois. She shared the joys and sorrows of this life with him for nearly twenty-five years, until her death, which occurred in 1901: and their happy union was blessed in the birth of seven ehil- dren, namely: Jessie. Alvin. Edward, Fred, Cora, Mamie and Andrew. Two of the daughters are married-Jessie and Cora. the former being the wife of Fred IJinkenbrant of Leavenworth; the latter, the wife of Clark Robinson, a farmer and dairyman of Wyandotte county. Two sons, Edward and Andrew, are residents of Kansas City, Missouri. and one son. Fred, died three years ago. The other two are with their father. Mr. Leefrom has always voted the Democratic ticket, but has never been active in political affairs.
JOHN E. MCFADDEN .- Bringing to bear an alert mentality. through technical discipline, broad and exact knowledge of the science of jurisprudence, and a personal integrity of the most impregnable order. John Edward McFadden, who is engaged in the successful practice of his profession in Kansas City, is to be designated as one of the essentially representative members of the bar of Wyandotte conn- ty, where he has secure place in popular confidence and regard.
John E. McFadden was born at Gananoque. York county, province of Ontario, Canada, not far distant from the beautiful city of Toronto, and the date of his nativity was November 1. 1862. IJe is a son of Edward and Bridget (Malone) McFadden, both of whom were born and reared in Ireland. where their marriage was solemnized. Not long after their marriage the parents immigrated to America and took up their abode in the province of Ontario, Canada. whence they later re- moved to the state of Michigan, where they maintained their home for a number of years. In 1871 they left the Wolverine commonwealth to cast in their lot with the state of Kansas, and they were numbered among the early settlers of Jackson county, where the father secured a tract of land and eventually developed a productive farm. Of the twelve children of Edward and Bridget McFadden the youngest is he whose name introduces this sketch. and of the others four sons and two daughters are now living.
John E. MeFadden was a lad of nine years at the time of the fam- ily removal to Kansas, and he duly assisted in the work of the home farm, the while he availed himself of the advantages of the public schools of the locality and period. Through close application to his studies he prepared himself for collegiate work. his ambition along this line being of most insistent order. He finally was matriculated in Lane University. at Lecompton. this state, where he remained until the latter part of his senior year, when the death of his honored father rendered it necessary for him to return home. In 1884-5 he was engaged in teaching in the schools of Jackson county, and in Noven- ber, 1887. in pursuance of carefully formulated plans for a future career, he entered the law office of one of the representative members of the bar of Kansas City. Kansas, where. under effective preceptorship. he continued the study of law, which he had prievously carried forward while engaged in teaching school. Ilere he was admitted to the bar in
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