USA > Kansas > Wyandotte County > History of Wyandotte County, Kansas, and its people, Vol. II > Part 26
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INGRAM J. TALBOTT is a native son of Kansas and has here attained to definite prestige and snecess in the practice of law in Wyandotte eoun- ty, within whose borders he has resided since his boyhood days, and where he controls a large and important practice. Both by reason of his personal standing in the community and on the score of being a scion of one of the well known and highly honored pioneer families of the Sunflower state, Mr. Talbott is well entitled to recognition in this volume.
Ingram J. Talbott was born in the city of Leavenworth, Kansas, on the 3rd of August, 1873, and is the only child of Albert G. and Nellie (Tabor) Talbott, the former of whom was born at Greencastle, Put- nam county, Indiana, in 1846, and the latter of whom was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa. The mother died at the age of twenty-two years. when her only son was an infant, and the father later married Miss Jennie Gray, of Leavenworth, Kansas, who survives him, as do also their two sons and four daughters. Albert G. Talbott passed the elos- ing years of his life in Kansas City. this state, where his death oeeurred in 1901. TIe received limited educational advantages in his native state and when but twelve years of age he left his home in Indiana in company with his father, his mother having died, and went to Califor- nia, where the gold excitement was then at its height. He embarked on a vessel in the port of New York city and the voyage to the New Eldorado on the Pacific coast was made by way of the Isthmus of Panama. In California he attained to adult age and there he eventual- ly accumulated a very appreciable fortune through his identification with gold mining. With such fortification he finally established him- self in business in San Francisco as a money broker, and through this venture, together with unfortunate investments in mining stocks, he lost the fortune which he had previously gained, in the amount of abont one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. A man of invincible courage
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and indefatigable energy, he was not dismayed by these reverses, but boldly set forth to retrieve his fortune so far as possible. He went to Idaho, where he gained further experience in connection with frontier life. Alert in discerning opportunities, he secured from Ada county, that state, which was still a territory, a charter for the construction and maintenance of a toll wagon road from Boise City, in the valley of the Boise river, to Idaho City, a mining town in the mountains, the charter being given to cover a period of twenty years. Ile initiated the work of construction on the 4th of March, 1865, and by the first of May he had the road completed and open to the publie, as fine a wagon road as could be found in any mountainous distriet. By the Ist of November of the same year his tolls had been sufficient to defray the cost of construction and give him a profit of twenty thousand dol- lars. In the month last mentioned a disastrous fire practically oblit- erated the business portion of Idaho City. and under these conditions, necessarily entailing at least a temporay reduction in the revenues from the toll road. Mr. Talbott sold the property and charter to Henry Greathouse, one of the principal stockholders of the Oregon & Idaho Stage Company. In April, 1866, he set forth from Boise City, in a train of twenty wagons and teams, for Fort Benton, Montana, then at the head of navigation on the Missouri river. He reached his destina-
tion on the 14th of May and then took passage on one of the litte river steamers, the "St. John," for Omaha, Nebraska. On reaching that place he invested his capital, on the adviee of friends, and the result was another heavy financial loss to him. He later took passage on a steamer going south and he eventually visited all of the more important cities of the South. In February, 1868, while in New Orleans, he was in somewhat of a quandary as to whether he would better return to Cali- fornia or Leavenworth, Kansas, and he finally decided to leave the de- cision to chance, whose aid he invoked by the tossing up of a coin. The dictum was in favor of Leavenworth, and on the Ist of April he en- barked on a packet boat, with that city as his destination.
Soon after his arrival in Leavenworth Mr. Talbott secured a posi- tion on the old Learemworth Bulletin, at that time one of the leading newspapers in the state, and in this connection he rendered most valu- able service in promoting the election of Hon. A. Caldwell to the United States Senate. Upon the consolidation of the Leavenworth Times and Leavenworth Bulletin, in the spring of 1872, he became a member of the advertising staff of the new paper, and after the same was purchased hy Colonel D. R. Anthony he was retained in this position, from which he was soon afterward promoted to that of business manager. He did much to further the success of this newspaper and through his assoeia- tion with the same, gained a wide acquaintanceship among the represen- tative men of the state. In October 1878, he resigned his position and located in Edwards county, this state, where he was engaged in the real estate and insurance business until April, 1880, on the 14th of which month he established his home in the old city of Wyandotte, the nucleus of the present thriving metropolis and judicial eenter of Wyan- dotte eounty. Here he soon became associated with L. II. Wood in the real estate and insurance business. under the firm name of Wood & Talbott, and in 1882 he sold his interest in the enterprise to his part- ner to become special agent for Kansas of the Continental Fire Insur-
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ance Company of New York, in the interests of which he traveled ex- tensively throughout the state during the ensuing three years, within which he built up a large and substantial business for the company. His final resignation was made on account of his impaired health, and in 1885 he again engaged in the real estate business in Wyandotte. In the preceding year he was elected a member of the Republican state central committe of Kansas, and in the same he was chosen one of the five members of the executive committee that so successfully planned and directed the campaign that resulted in the election of Hon. John Martin to the office of governor of the state. For many years he was a valued and influential factor in connection with the manoeuvering of political forces in Kansas, and he was specially prominent in the wise ordering of public affairs in Wyandotte county. His broad views, strong personality and sterling integrity made him a natural leader in thought and action. and he never was denied the fullest measure of popular confidence and approbation. Ile was a great admirer of the old Whig party but found in its virtual successor, the Republican party, an economic vehicle equally worthy of his stanch support. Tle was signally true in all the relations of life. was every ready to aid in move- ments and enterprises tending to advance the best interests of his home city, county and state, and his name merits an enduring place on the roster of the sterling pioneers of Kansas.
Ingram J. Talbott was about seven years of age at the time of the family removal from Leavenworth to what is now Kansas City. and here he was reared to manhood. ITis early educational discipline was se- cured in the public schools of the old city of Wyandotte and in prepara- tion for the work of his chosen profession he entered the Kansas City (Missouri) School of Law, in which he completed the prescribed course and in which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1906, duly receiving his well earned degree of Bachelor of Laws. He has since been engaged in the general practice of law in Kansas City, Kansas, and he controls a large and representative business. Reared in the faith of the Republican party. he has never wavered in his allegiance thereto, and he has given efficient service in behalf of its cause, though he has deemed his profession well worthy of his undivided attention and thus has shown no ambition for the honors or emoluments of public office. The is identified with the Knights of Pythias and other social organizations and his popularity in his home city is of the most un- equivocal order.
Mr. Talbott was united in marriage to Miss Pearl Brayton, who was born and reared in Kansas City, Kansas, and who is a popular factor in the social activities of the community which has ever represented her home. The issue of this union is a son, Jack W.
RUSSELL A. ALGIRE .- As state agent for Kansas of the National Surety Company of New York, with headquarters in Kansas City, Kan- sas, Mr. Algire holds an office of marked importance and responsibility and his ineumbency of the same affords the best evidence of his execu. tive ability and sterling personal characteristics.
Mr. Algire finds a due mede of satisfaction in reverting to the Sunflower state as the place of his nativity and to the fact that he is a representative of a family whose name has been linked with its history
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since the pioneer days. He was born at Wellington, Sumner county, Kansas, on the 24th of November, 1879, and is a son of Willard and Lillian (Topping) Algire, the former of whom was born in Sangamon county, Illinois, and the latter in the city of Baltimore, Maryland. The parents now reside in Kansas City, this state, and of their two children Russell A., is the elder ; the younger son, George W., is now engaged in contracting in Kansas City, Missouri. Willard Algire was reared and educated in Illinois, whence he came to Kansas in 1877 and numbered himself among the pioneers of Sumner county, where he secured from the government a homestead claim of one hundred and sixty acres of land. near the present village of Belleplaine. He gave his attention to the development and improvement of his farm for a period of five years, at the expiration of which he sold the property and removed to Van Buren county, Iowa, where he continued to be identified with agri- cultural pursnits until 1884, when he removed to Fayetteville, Washing- ton county, Arkansas, in which state he continued to maintain his resi- dence until 1909, when he came to Kansas City, Kansas, where he has since lived virtually retired. IFe is aligned as a stanch supporter of the principles and policies for which the Republican party stands sponsor, is affiliated with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and both he and his wife hold membership in the Christian church.
Russell A. Algire is indebted to the publie schools of Fayetteville, Arkansas, for his early educational privileges, which were supplemented by a course of higher academic study in the University of Arkansas. In 1898 he located in Kansas City, Missouri, and for the following year he was there employed as a representative of the National Surety Com- pany, of New York eity. He then assumed the responsible position of traveling passenger agent for the Chicago, Burlington & Quiney Railroad, with headquarters in the city of Cincinnati, Ohio. After retaining this position three years he again entered the employ of the National Surety Company, with headquarters at St. Louis, Missouri. In 1907 he established his residence in Kansas City, Kansas, as state agent for the same company, of which office he has since remained incumbent and in which he has built up a substantial business for the concern. He has shown marked executive and administrative ability and has en- listed the co-operation of sub-agents of the highest order. He is recog- nized as one of the representative insurance men of the state and is held in high esteem in both business and social circles in his home city. He is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity and the order of Moose, and his political allegiance is given without reservation to the Republican party.
On the 9th of June. 1909, Mr. Algie was united in marriage to Miss Ceeilia MeEvilley, who was born and reared in Cincinnati, Ohio, and who is a daughter of Peter and Mary MeEvilley, who still reside in that city and both of whom were born in Ireland.
JONATHAN H. LASLEY .- One of the sterling and highly honored citizens given to Wyandotte county by the stanch old Buckeye state is this well known resident of Kansas City. where he has maintained his home since 1880 and where he is now engaged in the aetive work of his profession. that of civil engineer. In this connection he has done a large amount of important service in this section of the state. especially during his ineumbeney of the office of county surveyor of Wyandotte Vol. II-13
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connty, and in his varied relations as a citizen he has shown the same intrinsic loyalty that prompted him to go forth as a soldier of the Union when the integrity of the nation was thrown into jeopardy through armed rebellion.
Jonathan II. Lasley was born on a farm in Gallia county, Ohio, on the 24th of February, 1840, and is the eldest of the eight sons of Mat- thew and Rebecca (Eakin) Lasley, the former of whom was born in Ohio, a scion of one of the honored pioneer families of that state, and the latter of whom was born at Darlington, Beaver county, Pennsyl- vania. The father passed the closing years of his life in Cass county, Missouri, where he died at the age of sixty-one years. ITis wife sur- vived him by more than two decades and was eighty-one years of age when she was summoned to the life eternal. All of the sons are still living and the five elder sons were all members of Ohio regiments in the Civil war, namely: Jonathan II., Joseph, David, Matthew and James. The other three sons, who were too young for such service, are William, Homer and Alonzo. The father was a man of marked business capar- ity and mature judgment. He became the owner of five hundred acres of land in Ohio. where he also did effective work as a surveyor. In 1871 he removed to Cass county, Missouri, where he became the owner of more than seven hundred aeres of land and where he continued to be successfully identified with farming and stock raising until his death. Well equipped for leadership in thought and action, he was called upon to serve in various local offices of trust, including that of township treasurer, of which he was incumbent for fifteen years. In polities he was originally an old time Whig, but he allied himself with the Republican party at the time of its organization and thereafter continued an enthusiastie supporter of its eause.
Jonathan H. Lasley was reared to maturity in his native county. where he was afforded the advantages of the common schools of Galli- polis, the county seat, and he attained to his legal majority at the time when the Civil war was precipitated upon a divided nation. On
October 1. 1861. he showed his intrinsic patriotism by enlisting as a private in Company A, Fifty-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which he was mustered into the United States serviee on the 26th of October, 1861. He was with his regiment in all the skirmishes and battles in which it was involved up to and inelnding the memorable battle of Shiloh, in which he was severely wounded in the left thigh. He received a compound fracture of the thigh and was thus disabled for further active service in the field. Ile was second lieutenant of his company at the time he received this injury, and later, in recognition of his gallant serviees, he was given the rank of captain by the governor of Ohio. He received his honorable discharge, on account of physical disability. in September, 1864, and soon afterward he was elected ronnty sureveyor of his native county, having previously gained practi- cal experience in this line of work under the direction of his honored father. He retained this office two years, at the expiration of which. in 1866, he came to Missouri. He taught the first term of school in the village of Pleasanthill, Cass connty, that state, and after having been thus engaged for a period of three months he turned his attention to agricultural pursnits and stock raising, with which he continued to he actively identified in that county, for the ensuing twelve years. He
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then disposed of his property in Cass county and came to Wyandotte county, Kansas, where he has since maintained his home. Here he became deputy county surveyor and after thus serving four years he was elected county surveyor, of which position he continued the efficient and valued incumbent for six consecutive years. Thereafter, with residence in Kansas City, the county seat, he was engaged in the work of his profession as a civil engineer until 1903, when he was again elected county surveyor, in which office he served two terms. Extra- ordinary duties and responsibilities devolved upon him at this time, as in the year mentioned there occurred the most disastrous flood in the history of this section of the state. All the bridges on the Kaw river were carried away and he had charge of the building of new bridges throughout the county, a work which he performed with characteristic energy and efficiency. Since his retirement from office he has devoted his attention to his profession, and there is constant demand for his serviees in a consulting capacity, owing to his ability and long and practical experience.
In politics, as may naturally be inferred from his birthplace and military service, Mr. Lasley accords an unswerving allegiance to the Republican party, and he is well fortified in his convictions as to ma .. ters of publie import. He is an appreciative and valued member of Burnside Post, No. 28, Grand Army of the Republie, and has been for many years affiliated with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and with the Loyal Legion of Leavenworth.
On the 18th of January, 1870, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Lasley to Miss Rachel A. Custer, who was born at Mountville, Loudoun county, Virginia, in which historie old commonwealth were also born her parents, Joel M. Custer and a Miss Bane, the former of whom is a cousin of General Custer, who lost his life in the historic Indian massaere that bears his name. Joel M. Custer, who is now (1911) in his eighty-sixth year, resides in Greenwood, Cass county, Missouri, where he has long maintained his home and where his devoted wife died a number of years ago. Of the five children Mrs. Lasley is the eldest. Mr. Custer was identified with agricultural pursuits in his native state, as he was later in Illinois, where he remained a few years, after which he removed to Cass county, Missouri, where he continued to be identi- fied with the same great basie industry until the infirmities of advanced age impelled his retirement from active labors. He held the office of county commissioner for many years and as the duties of the office at that time ineluded those of magistrate, he has long been familiarly known as Judge Custer. A scion of stanch old southern aneestry, he has never deviated in his allegiance to the Democratic party. Mr. and Mrs. Lasley became the parents of twelve children, of whom only five are now living: Charles O., is a resident of Toledo, Ohio, and is a civil engineer by profession; Hallie, is a teacher in the Kansas City high school ; Katherine, is on the editorial staff of the Hutchinson News. at Hutchinson, Kansas; Myrtle E., is the wife of Frederick W. Epps, of Kansas City, Kansas; and Miss Pearl remains at the parental home. All of these children were afforded excellent educational advantages and all are graduates of the University of Kansas.
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JOIN W. FAUST, M. D .- The world instinctively pays deference to the man whose success has been worthily achieved and whose prominence is not the less the result of an irreproachable life than of natural talents and aequired ability in the field of his chosen labor. Dr. Faust oceu- pies a position of distinetion as a representative of the medieal pro- fession in Kansas City, Kansas, and the best evidence of his eapability in the line of his chosen work is the large patronage which is aeeorded him.
A native of the fine old Empire state of the Union, Dr. John Wesley Faust was born at Poughkeepsie, Dutchess county, New York, on the 10th of July, 1877. He was the fifth in order of birth in the family of eight children-four boys and four girls-born to Frederick J. and Frederica (Sorg) Faust, both of whom were born and reared in the great Empire of Germany. The mother died in September, 1891, and the father is now living at Kansas City, Kansas. Frederick J. Faust has devoted the major portion of his active career to the cooperage business.
After completing the eurrienlum of the publie schools and of the high school of Poughkeepsie. New York, Dr. Faust was matrienlated as a student in Cornell University, at Ithaea, New York, in which excellent institution he has graduated as a member of the class of 1900, with the degree of Bachelor of Science. Subsequently he attended the New York City Medieal College, in which he was graduated in 1903, duly receiving his degree of Doctor of Medicine. Thereafter he served for two years as interne in the New York City Hospital and in the Willard Parker Hospital. In 1905 he decided to try his fortunes in the West, and in that year he immigrated to Temple. Texas, where he be- eame connected with the Santa Fe Railroad Company's hospital. He remained in the Lone Star state but a short time, however, and in the latter part of 1905 he came to Kansas City, Kansas, where he has since maintained his home and where he has succeeded in building up a large and luerative patronage. He is engaged in the general practice of medieine but gives special attention to surgery. in connection with which he is a member of the staff of surgeons of Bethany Hospital in Kansas City. Kansas, and of the staff of surgeons of St. Joseph's Hos- pital and St. Mary's Hospital. both of Kansas City, Missouri.
On the 31st of July, 1907, was celebrated the marriage of Dr. Faust to Miss Minnie R. Mnenzenmayer, who was reared and educated at Junetion City, and who is a daughter of W. F. Muenzenmayer, the present mayor of Junetion City. Kansas, and a prominent and influen- tial business man at that place. Dr. and Mrs. Fanst have two children : Doris Jessica Faust and J. Wesley Faust, Jr. They are devout mem- bers of the German Methodist Episcopal church and are popular fac- tors in connection with the best social activities of Kansas City, where they are accorded the unqualified confidence and esteem of their fellow citizens.
In his political convictions Dr. Faust is not aligned as a supporter of any special party as he maintains an independent attitude, prefer- ring to give his vote to men and measures meeting with the approval of his judgment rather than to follow along strietly partisan lines. In connection with his life work he is affiliated with the Wyandotte Coun- ty Medieal Society, the Kansas State Medical Society and the American
Greeley Faust M.D.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATKINS
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Medieal Association. He is also connected with a number of fraternal and social organizations of representative character including his mem- bership with the Elks, Knights of Pythias and the Masons. In all the relations of life he has so conducted himself as to command the highest regard of all with whom he has come in contact.
GRANT A. WOODCOCK .- As one of the enterprising and representa- tive business men of Kansas City Mr. Woodcock is well entitled to recog- nition in this history of Wyandotte county and its people, and he is known as a citizen of progressive ideas and utmost civie loyalty, the while he has that definite personal popularity that indicates sterling characteristics.
Grant A. Woodeock was born in the city of Pittsburg, Pennsyl- vania, on the 29th of July, 1863, and is a son of John W. and Isabella D. (Best) Woodcock, both of whom were born in Pennsylvania, the former in 1814, and the latter in 1830. The father died in August, 1896, and the mother now resides with her son. Her paternal grand- father was of Irish nativity and was numbered among the pioneer set- tlers of Pennsylvania, where he beeame a citizen of promise and in- fluenee and where he lived to attain to the patriarchal age of ninety- nine years and ten months. John W. and Isabella D. Woodcock became the parents of seven children, of whom are now living, Kate, who is the wife of Samuel L. Evans, of Kansas City, Missouri; Cyrus J., who maintains his home in the state of Arkansas; Grant A., whose name initiates this sketch; and Horace S., who resides in Rosedale, Wyandotte county, Kansas.
The father was reared and educated in his native state, and went to Pittsburg, when a young man. He was there in the employ of the government for a number of years, and dur- ing the elimacteric period of the Civil war he held the responsible post of superintendent of the United States arsenal at Pittsburg. In 1867 he came to Kansas, where he remained for some time and then returned to Pennsylvania. IIe had been notably impressed with the Sunflower state, however, and in 1881 he returned to Kansas and established his home in Crawford county, where he secured a traet of land and turned his attention to farmning and stock growing, with which he there continued to be identified for many years. After his retire- ment from active labor he lived for some time at MeCune, that county, and he passed the closing years of his life at his home at McCune. In polities he was originally a Whig and later a Republican, and his relig- ious faith was that of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which his widow likewise has long been a devout member.
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