USA > Kansas > Wyandotte County > History of Wyandotte County, Kansas, and its people, Vol. II > Part 18
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Mr. Becker married, June 5, 1898, Anna Schultz, who was born in Denmark, which was also the birthplace of her parents, Samuel and Sadie Schultz. Immigrating to this country with his family many years ago, Mr. Schultz located in Kansas City, Kansas, and for thirty or more years has here been associated with the Armour Packing Com- pany, at the present time being assistant foreman. Of the nine chil- dren born to Mr. and Mrs. Schultz, six are living, Mrs. Becker being the second child in succession of birth. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Becker has been brightened by the birth of six children. namely Albert, Edward, Thelma, Finley, who died in infancy; IIazel, and Raymond Sheriff.
VALENTINE LEAVENDUSKEY .- The great Empire of Germany has contributed its fair quota to the upbuilding up this nation and among its residents in this country are to be found successful men in every walk of life from the professions to the prosperous farmer. Valentine Leavenduskey came to America in the year 1883 and sinee that time has been a prominent and influential resident of Wyandotte county, Kansas. Ile is now engaged in farming on a finely improved estate of one hundred and eleven aeres, eligibly located two miles distant from Bethel, where his attention is devoted principally to fruit and berry growing. Ile is a sterling American citizen, loyal and publie spirited in his eivic life, broad minded and honorable in business, and alert and enthusiastically in sympathy with every measure tending to further the material welfare of the entire country.
Valentine Leavenduskey was born at Posen. Germany, the date of his nativity being the 15th of Jannary, 1850. He was reared to man's estate in his native land and there availed himself of the advan- tages afforded in the public schools. In 1883, at the age of thirty- three years, he immigrated to the United States. proceeding directly to Kansas and locating in Rosedale, where he secured employment in the Roller Mills. For a period of eight years he worked for the Armour Packing Company, at Kansas City, and at the expiration of that period he turned his attention to farming. He purchased his land in the year 1887 but did not begin to farm it until 1888. For a time Mr. Leavenduskey was engaged in diversified agriculture but he now devotes the major portion of his time and attention to the raising of fruit and berries, his estate being recognized as one of the finest fruit farms in Kansas. Beautiful modern buildings, in the midst of fine orchards, are splendid indications of the thrift and industry of this practical German.
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Mr. Leavenduskey has been twice married, his first union having been to Miss Anna Morrechuk, a native of Germany, where her death occurred in 1882. She was survived by two children, Stanislaus, who is engaged with his father on the farm; and Lena, who resides at Kan- sas City, Kansas. In the year 1883, in Germany, was celebrated Mr. Leanvenduskey's marriage to Miss Katie Polzen. To the latter union have been born seven children, whose names are here entered in re- spective order of birth : Mary, Anna, Tony, Joe, Effie, Nettie and Mike. In their religions faith the Leavenduskey family are consistent members of the Polish Catholic church, to whose good works they are generous contributors.
In politics Mr. Leavenduskey is aligned as a stalwart supporter of the principles of the Democratic party. He is not an office seeker but gives freely of his aid and influence in support of all measures and enterprises projeeted for the general progress and improvement. He is affiliated with a number of representative fraternal organizations of a local nature and mmmbers among his friends some of the prominent business men of the county.
CHRISTOPHER F. COFFEY is a native son of the county in which he lives-Wyandotte county, Kansas-and owns and operates a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres near Piper.
Mr. Coffey's parents, Barney and Catherine (Smith) Coffey, eame to this county from Ireland, where they were born and reared. Ar- rived in the United States, Barney Coffey found employment on the railroad, and just previous to the outbreak of the Civil war he eame to Wyandotte county, Kansas, and engaged in farming. During the war he served the country of his adoption as a member of the Kansas State Militia. He was a Democrat in politics, and throughout his life he was a devout Catholic. Ile took a deep interest in the general welfare of the community in which he lived, giving both his influenee and material support toward the advancement of school and church work. Indeed, he was the leader in the building of a school and a Catholic church in his district. For a number of years he served as a member of the School Board, and at the time of his death he was postmaster at Menager Junction, Prairie township. At the time he and his wife came to this country they had two children, and afterward eleven more were horn to them.
Christopher F. was born December 20, 1869; was reared on his father's farm, and received his education in the district schools near his home. When he reached manhood and started out in life for him- self he went to Henry county, Illinois, and engaged in the meat busi- ness. But the farm and his native county had their attractions, and he came back here and has sinee devoted his time and attention to agri- cultural pursuits. He now has one hundred and sixty acres of choice land near Piper and carries on general farming.
In 1893 he married Miss Mary Deren, of Illinois, whose untimely death occurred in 1901. Their happy union was blessed in the birth of four children : Elsie, Pearl, Madge and Roy.
Politically Mr. Coffey affiliates with the Republican party in affairs of national moment, but at the local polls he votes for the man rather
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than the party. As a progressive farmer and substantial citizen he is held in worthy esteem in the community.
JOHN P. J. HOVEY is a man who honestly lives up to his own beliefs and is a prominent merchant in Wyandotte county. Most people are consumed with anxiety as to what others will think of their actions and they govern their actions and conduct according to other people's ideas. There is another class of men who are utterly regardless of what their neighbors think and in order to show their independence they go ahead and do exactly the opposite to the approved, generally accepted methods. There are a few men who take the pains to find ont in their own minds what is the right course to pursue and they follow that course regardless of everything. It is through such men that reforms come and without them there would be no reforms. 3 It is to this class that Mr. Hovey belongs, a man of fine personality.
Mr. Hovey was born in Wyandotte county. Kansas, September 24, 1872, the son of the late G. U. S. Hovey and his wife Ella J. (Hurst) Hovey. Of the former, who was a remarkable man, more extended mention will be made in succeeding paragraphs. Mr. and Mrs. Hovey were the parents of the following children: Ella Jane, the eldest, who is dead; John P. J., residing at White Church; Emeline, who died in infancy: Josephine B., who makes her home with her mother: George, deceased; Anna T., living with her mother; and Alfred C., a farmer in Lincoln county, Kansas.
John P. J., the second child of his parents, was educated in the public schools in Wyandotte county and when he was very young he helped his father in the store. He possessed unusual business ability which he manifested even in his earliest youth and he soon took full "harge of the store. He now owns the business entirely and is very successful in managing it. In 1906, after the death of his father, Mr.
Hovey was appointed notary publie to succeed his father. The faet that he has held that position ever since that time is sufficient evidence that he has filled it in a satisfactory way. ITe is a young man and has a long life of usefulness before him, which, to judge by his past, will be one which will contribute materially to the well being of his fellow men.
It can not be otherwise than fitting that the life of a man such as George Underhill Stephenson Hovey should be given more than cursory notice in a work of this description and herewith is published an excel- lent appreciation which appeared in the Kansas City Sun and which gives an idea of his usefulness.
"Mr. Hovey was born in Ulster county, New York, July 19, 1842, and died at his home at White Church. Kansas, January 7, 1906, after a protracted illness with dropsy. IIe left a wife and four children. Mr. Hovey was the eldest of three children, born to Alfred and Eliza- beth (Underhill) Hovey, natives of England and New York, respective- ly. Mrs. Hovey was a direct descendant of old Captain John Under- hill, who made a record in the old country about the time of the Pil- grims. Mr. Hovey was educated in the schools of New York city, and at Elmville Seminary. In 1863 he went to California, taking a steamer to Nicarauga, crossing the Isthmus, then taking a steamer to San Fran- cisco. and remained in California about seven years, engaging in busi- ness in Sonoma county. Returning to New York city, he married Miss
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Ella Jane Jones, native of that metropolis, the date of their nnion being February 10, 1870. Coming to Kansas the same year, he located at White Church, where he has made his home ever since, enduring many of the privations and hardships of frontier life.
"Mr. Hovey was prominent in the development of the county and held many positions of trust. Ile was postmaster of White Church for thirty-five years, except for an interim of four years. He was justice of the peace twelve years and county commissioner six, during five years of which he was chairman of the board. During that time the county made rapid and important strides. It was while he was com- missioner that the fine brick building was erected on the poor farm: $500,000 in bonds were voted for the improvement of the roads of the county, and $270,000 for the building of bridges and culverts; the new jail was erected, bridges built across the Kansas river, and many other important improvements were made during his term of office. He assisted in negotiating the stock of the Kansas City Northwestern rail- road ; he always encouraged the erection and maintenance of good schools and was liberal in the support of the churches in his community.
"When the great educational movement swept over Kansas (per- haps the greatest educational move- ment that ever existed in any land- the Alliance movement-the good effect of which is being felt in all parts of the country even at this day ) he was one of the most prominent factors in eastern Kansas, and was made treas- urer of the County Alliance. He was initiated into the secrets of Masonry in Petalona Lodge, No. 77, of California, and was the first to join Delaware Lodge, No. 96, Ancient, Free and Ae- cepted Masons at White Church, after its organization. £ He was a consistent member of the Christian church; a member of the County Historical Society; the State Historical Society; and was made an honorary member of the Quivera Historical Society, on ae- count of his extended research and large collection of archaeological speci- mens.
"A short time previous to his death the following article appeared in the Leavenworth Post :
" 'Word was received in the city today of the critical illness of Hon. George U. S. Hovey, the postmaster and merchant at the village of White Church, south of here. He has been afflicted with dropsy for some time. Mr. Hovey came to this locality in 1870. He is well known throughout this section. He is an archaeological explorer of considerable prominence and has gathered in this region one of the most extensive collections of prehistorie Indian relies in Kansas. He is an authority on ethnology and early western history, a member of many seientifie and historie societies and a correspondent of the Smith-
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sonian Institute, Peabody Museum, and the scientific institutions in Europe.
" 'Mr. Hovey has a covered wagon, made to order, which he has christened the Yacht Gipsy, and in which he has traveled all over this region on his exploring expeditions. Ile is a life member of the Quivera Historical Society and has done some exploring in the oldl province of Quivera, visited by Coronado in 1541.'
"In his Yaelt Gypsy, (which was elegantly finished inside) ac- companied by his wife and daughter, he made two extended trips; one south through western Missouri into the Ozark Mountains, and then with a lighter vehicle, extended his trip into Arkansas. The other trip through the interior of Kansas, covering a part of the territory traversed by Coronado and his one thousand, one hundred soldiers, in 1541, was in search of the two towns of Quivera and Harahey, but they found only two poor villages.
"Mr. Hovey spent much time in his researches and his collection of prehistoric specimens, such as stone implements, some of which were used by these people many centuries ago in preparing their food and tanning the hides of animals. The idea that the early inhabitants of this locality, used these stone implements for tanning purposes, origi- nated with Mr. Ilovey but he presented his points so forcibly and ex- hibited so many of these implements from localities where communities had been located, the same being distant from the quarries, where such stones could be secured, that most of the archaeological students finally conceded the correctness of his position. Most of these specimens
were found in Wyandotte county, where there exists many evidences of there having been a town of considerable proportions. He believed that this locality, at the edge of the great prairies and convenient to water and timber, was the natural place for a town-a manufacturing town. Here doubtless the hides secured in the great buffalo hunts were tanned, the rough flint stones manufactured into arrow points and im- plements, as evidenced by large quantities of 'chips', or spaul-small pieces of flint, rock, etc. Here he secured thousands of specimens of flint arrow points, stone axes, tanning knives and other primitive im- plements. And as no stone of this kind exists within hundreds of miles of this locality he concluded that there must have been some kind of a commerce between these different points. He left probably five thou- sand specimens, estimated to be worth thousands of dollars.
"Mr. Hovey was passionately fond of nature; of the natural growth of the forest. He admired the large oaks, deplored the de- struction of the forests and always delighted to converse with any one who had collected prehistorie relics. Many an odd shaped stone, passed over by others, he discovered to have been an implement used by some unknown people who inhabited the country, centuries before Coronado's fruitless expedition. Ile had extensive correspondence with Professor Ritchie and Captain E. A. K. Killain, of Alma, Kansas, and the late Captain Robert Henderson, of Junction City, who was in- terested in erecting several costly monuments in memory of Coronado's expedition to the interior of Kansas in 1541. One of these, (a costly granite monument) was erected in Logan Grove, two miles south of Junction City, by Captain Henderson, on his farm.
"Mr. Hovey also had considerable correspondence with J. V.
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Brower, the Minnesota archaeologist, whose researches in 1896, and a few years later, developed much of interest concerning Coronado's march to the junction of the Republican and Smoky Hill rivers in search of Quivera, and not only was he in touch with that gentleman but with the following noted institutions of learning: the Smithsonian In- stitute, Washington D. C .; Cornell University, Utica, New York; Phillipsburg Academy, Andover, Massachusetts; Peabody Museum, of Harvard; Imperial Academy, St. Pettersburg, Russia; Leland Stan- ford University, Stockton, California; and University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.
"While Mr. Hovey had a general store at White Church, he also gave much attention to farming and fruit growing. That he was honored and respected by his neighbors and acquaintances was amply attested by the large attendance from all parts of the county at his funeral. He was laid to rest with Masonic honors, in the old Indian cemetery near his late residence. The funeral was conducted by Rev. George Gale, of Maywood and Rev. Mr. Litchfield, of Rosedale.
"Thus ended his career of usefulness on earth, and while he may have made a few mistakes in life, he was a man of high ideals and as a former neighbor, Mr. Litehfield said, 'Mr. Hovey never harbored an ill feeling toward any one, and no one in the community ever suffered for anything if Hovey knew it.' His name will be spoken, and his work referred to by historians long after many men of his time, who piled up millions of dollars shall have been forgotten."
His large collection of relies ean now be seen in the Kansas Uni- versity, of Lawrence.
JAMES L. SMALLEY .- He whose name initiates this review has gained definite prestige and success as one of the representative attor- neys and counselors at law in his native county and city, though he was reared elsewhere. He returned to Kansas City in 1896, in which year he was admitted to the bar, and here he has since been engaged in the active general practice of law in which he has gained a large and important elientage-his precedence and success offering the best voucher for his ability and sterling personal characteristics.
James L. Smalley was born in Kansas City, Kansas, on the 5th of December, 1875, and is a son of Henry H. and Josephine (MeGrew) Smalley, of whose five living children he is the eldest. The father was born in the state of Vermont and came to Kansas City, Kansas, in the early '70s. He became one of the leading contractors of the rapid- ly growing eity, and here he secured the contraet for the construction of the first street curbing in the place. In later years he has built up a large and prosperous enterprise as a contractor in the supplying of railroad ties, and he has maintained his residence in Springfield, Missouri, since 1891. He served as a valiant soldier of the Union in the Civil war and was the standard bearer of his regiment, with which he participated in many of the important engagements marking the progress of the great confliet through which the integrity of the nation was perpetuated. Ile is a stalwart Republican in his political pro- elivities and is an appreciative and valuable comrade of the Grand Army of the Republic. He removed with his family from Kansas City, Kansas, to Sedalia, Missouri, in 1876, and he has sinee continued
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to maintain his home in the latter state. In Kansas City was solem- mized his marriage to Miss Josephine McGrew, daughter of Hon. James McGrew, former lieutenant governor of Kansas. Hon. William Walker, one of the early governors of Kansas and a man of great influence in the state, married an aunt of Henry H. Smalley and after her death he wedded her sister.
James L. Smalley was about one year old at the time of the family removal from Kansas City to Missouri, and he passed his boyhood and early youth in Sedalia, that state, in the public schools of which city he gained his preliminary educational discipline, which was supple- mented by a thorough course of study in Mountain Grove Academy, that state, in which institution he was a student for five years. He was then matrienlated in the celebrated University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, and completed the prescribed course in its law department, in which he was gradnated as a member of the class of 1896 and from which he received his well earned degree of Bachelor of Laws. He was admitted to the Michigan bar upon his graduation and in the autumn of the same year he returned to Kansas City, the place of his nativity, and was forthwith admitted to the Kansas bar. Here he has made of success not an accident but a logical result, as he has been zealous and indefatigable in the work of his chosen profession, in connection with which he has gained recognition as an effective trial lawyer and well fortified counselor, with the result that his elientage is of appreciative and representative order. He is liberal and progressive in his civic attitude, is a stalwart in the camp of the Republican party, is affiliated with Kansas City Lodge, No. 440, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; and in the Masonie fraternity he has received the chivalrie de- grees, with incidental affiliation with Ivenhal Commandery No. 21. Knights Templars.
In the year 1905 occurred the marriage of Mr. Smalley to Miss Florence Brous, who was born and reared in Kansas and who was formerly a successful and popular teacher in the Kansas City High School.
ANDREW T. BRUGII .- One of the most active, busy, and enterprising men to be found in Kansas City, Kansas, is Andrew J. Brngh, whose serviees as a packer and shipper of household goods, and as a transfer agent, are in constant demand, his adaptability to the business, and his willingness to accommodate, making him popular with the people in general. He was born, January 27, 1877, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, which was also the birthplace of his father, Jacob Andrew Brugh.
A farmer by birth and breeding. Jacob Andrew Brugh was engaged in his independent occupation in the Keystone state until 1884, when he came with his family to Kansas, locating in MePherson county. Purchasing one hundred and sixty acres of partly improved prairie land, he carried on general farming until 1906, when he disposed of his property in that county at an advantage, and came to Kansas City, Kansas, to live. He paid but four dollars an aere for his land when he bought it, and after adding to its improvements, and placing the larger part of it under cultivation, he received sixty dollars an acre for it, a satisfactory price. He subsequently lived retired in Kansas City, Kansas, until his death, in 1908. He married, in Hagerstown, Mary-
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land, Elizabeth Thompson, who was born in Baltimore, Maryland, and died in Kansas City, Kansas, in 1907. Into their household seven chil- dren were born, as follows: Myrtle, deceased, was the wife of D. G. Sell; Minerva, wife of J. R. Ives, of Eureka, Kansas; Andrew T., the subject of this sketch; Paul, deceased; Maurice Ray, of Eureka; John, of Kansas City, Missouri; and Mary, of Kansas City, Missouri.
Andrew J. Brugh was brought up on a farm, and educated in the common schools of his distriet. At the age of sixteen years he came to Kansas City, Kansas, in search of remunerative employment, and for several years worked in the produce business. Securing a position then as traveling salesman for J. H. Bell, a wholesale coffee merchant of Chicago, he had charge for three years of all the territory west of the Mississippi river. The ensuing three years Mr. Brugh had control of the same territory, being in the employ, however, of J. M. Bour, one of the largest wholesale coffee dealers of Toledo, Ohio. £ During the last year that he traveled on the road, he established a boarding, livery and sale stable in Kansas City, Kansas, and in February, 1910, started his present business of transferring, storing, packing and shipping household goods, being the first one in that line of work to locate west of Tenth street. Mr. Brugh uses three motor trucks, and two furni- ture vans in catering to the needs of his patrons, and has more business on hand than he can conveniently care for.
Mr. Brugh married, May 26, 1899, Kate McGee, who was born in Elk City, Kansas, a daughter of Asbury MeGee, a native of Indiana. Politically Mr. Brugh is affiliated with the Republican party. Relig- iously he is a strong believer in the creed of the Dunkards. Frater- ally he belongs to the Kansas City, Kansas, Lodge of Ancient Order of United Workmen.
GEORGE A. PETERS .- For the past three years George A. Peters has been a conspicuous factor in the development of the industrial pros- perity of Bonner Springs, and now holds a position of prominence among its leading business men, being proprietor of the Bonner Bot- tling Works. A son of Henry C. and Sophia (Vordenholtz) Peters, he was born August 12, 1870, in Liberty, Union county, Indiana.
After his graduation from the Liberty High School, George A. Peters entered the employ of the Decring and International Harvester Company as an office hoy. Acquitting himself so ably and faithfully in that capacity, he received well merited promotions, being first made cashier and later becoming assistant general agent. He remained with the company eighteen years, from 1891 until 1908, when he resigned his position and started in business on his own account. Coming to Bonner Springs in March, 1908, Mr. Peters established his present bottling and manufacturing plant, putting in new and up-to-date equip- ments, and has since built up an extensive and profitable business. His plant has a capacity of from three hundred to five hundred cases, or from seven thousand to twelve thousand bottles per day. He manu- facturers soft carbonated drinks of all kinds. keeping five men besides Inimself busy in filling orders, and employing two teams of horses and a large auto truck which he has had built for delivery purposes. Mr. Peters is located at the corner of Front and Cedar streets, where he has erected a modernly constructed brick building, two stories in height,
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