USA > Kansas > Wyandotte County > History of Wyandotte County, Kansas, and its people, Vol. II > Part 32
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74
John Lloyd, Jr., spent the first eight years of his life in Wheeling, West Virginia, and there he attended the public school, but his educa- tion was only just started when the family moved to Steubenville, Ohio, and it was deemed necessary for the lad to go to work, and assist in the support of the family, inasmuch as he, like many boys, did not want to go to sehool. Ile gained employment in a nail factory, before the child labor law had been passed, and from that time until the present day he had no more regular schooling, but he has picked up a great deal of useful information as he has journeyed through life. IIe had the misfortune to be deprived of a mother's care at the age of twelve, but he has nevertheless lived a good, wholesome life, although for many years it was a hard one. From the time he was eight years old until he had attained his thirty-second year he went from one employment to another, until he felt that the one thing he wanted was to live elose to nature and engage in agricultural pursuits. His father had recently secured a farm in Wyandotte county, and there the young man went and started a dairy business, beginning in a very modest way. He now has ten to fifteen cows, which are all high grade animals, and he keeps them in perfect condition. His sheds are absolutely sanitary and up- to-date, and he sells all of his milk in Kansas City, Missouri, so that it has no chanee to become sour during its shipment. 3 He lives on a farm near where his father raised so much fruit, but he himself ex- pends all of his energies on his dairy and the feeding of his cows.
Mr. Lloyd married Miss Mary Ann Watson, who was born in New York state, the daughter of Alexander and Mary (Hodgkins) Watson. Mr. Watson cannot elaim any state as his birthplace, as he was born on a ship near Maine, while his wife was born in Massachusetts. The couple are now living a retired life in Rosedale, where they can see their daughter and her two children, Anna Elizabeth and Richard, both of whom are on the farm with their parents. Mr. Lloyd has never cared to subscribe to the platform of any political party, but he votes for the man he considers the best fitted for the office in question. He is greatly respected in the community, where he has resided for so long.
JAMES M. SILVEY .- The present able and popular incumbent of the office of state manager for Kansas and Oklahoma of the fraternal organi- zation known as the Modern Brotherhood of America is James Meridith Silvey, who was born on the 4th of July, 1888, at Brunswick, Chariton county, Missouri. He is a son of James Samuel and Margaret (Spen- cer) Silvey, both of whom were natives of Howard county, Missouri, the former having been born at Glasgow, in 1861, and the latter at Fayette, in 1872. Both parents are now deceased, the father having been summoned to the life eternal on the 1st of March, 1910, and the mother having passed away on the 29th of January, 1905. To Mr. and Mrs. James S. Silvey were born three children, two of whom are living at the present time, namely, James M., who is the immediate subject of this review; and Georgia M., who maintains her home at
738
HISTORY OF WYANDOTTE COUNTY
Kansas City, Kansas. The father was identified with the law busi- ness during the early portion of his active career but on the 1st of October, 1900, he came to Kansas City, Kansas, as manager for Kansas and Oklahoma for the Modern Brotherhood of America. Ile continued incumbent of the above office until the time of his death, in March, 1910, and for eight years he was also secretary of the Mercantile Club of this city, having had to resign the latter office on aecount of the multifarious duties connected with his position in the Modern Brother- hood of America. In polities he was aligned as a stalwart supporter of the cause of the Democratic party, in the local couneils of which he was an active and interested factor, and while he never manifested anght of desire for political preferment of any kind he was ever on the alert and enthusiastically in sympathy with all movements advanced for the good of the general welfare. In the time-honored Masonic order he was a member of Caswell Consistory, No. 5, Ancient Scottish Rite, having attained to the thirty-second degree. He was also affiliated with Wyandotte Lodge, No. 440, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and in his religious faith he was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, South. He was a man of broad human sympathy and great benevolence and his private life was distinguished by all that marks the true gentleman. Endowed by nature with high intellectual qualities to which were added the discipline and embellishments of cul- ture, his was a most attractive personality.
James M. Silvey received his preliminary educational training in the public schools of Berkeley, California, and he was a youth of but twelve years of age at the time of his parents' removal to Kansas City, Kansas, where he attended high school, in which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1908. After leaving school he became asso- eiated with his father in the management of the affairs connected with the Modern Brotherhood of America and in February, 1910, he suc- ceeded his honored father in the office of manager for the states of Kansas and Oklahoma. In discharging the duties connected with this position he is aequitting himself with all of honor and distinction and it may be stated on good authority that, during his and his father's incumbencies, the Modern Brotherhood of America has made rapid strides to the front in point of membership and importance as a frater- nal organization in this section of the United States. While Mr. Silvey exercises his franchise in favor of the Democratic party in all matters of national import, in local polities he maintains an independent attitude, preferring to give his support to men and measures meeting with the approval of his judgment, rather than to follow along strictly partisan lines. He is recognized as one of the most popular and promi- nent men of the younger generation in Kansas City and is everywhere accorded the unalloyed confidence and regard of his fellow men.
Mr. Silvey was married June 14, 1911, to Miss Grace Frederick, a daughter of Berman S. and Jennie (Brown) Frederick. Mrs. Silvey was born in Columbus, Ohio, July 14, 1890, but was educated in Kansas City, Kansas, graduating from the high school.
OLA AKESSON .- There are so many would-be farmers who are per- petually grumbling because they cannot get ahead. They say if they had some one to give them a lift they could do as well as others, though
739
HISTORY OF WYANDOTTE COUNTY
as a matter of fact others manage to succeed, even though they have no one but themselves to depend on. Such has been the experience of Ola Akesson of Bethel, Kansas. He is today a prosperous farmer and he has only his own industry and individual efforts to thank for it. He is greatly respected in the community.
He was born in Sweden September 4, 1841, and is the son of Ake and Bengta Anderson. Both parents were born in Sweden, where they farmed. Ola's mother died in 1868 and her husband in 1872 in the place where they had always lived. Ola went to the public schools in Sweden and then learned the trade of plastering and bricklaying and he also worked on his father's farm. In 1867, the year before his mother died, he left his home and came to America, going first to Illinois, where he worked as a brick layer and plasterer. The follow- ing year, in 1868, he went to Kansas City, Missouri, where he worked as a plasterer and he finished several houses in plastering. IIe has always been very handy in many directions and if he could not get one kind of work he would take another. In 1875 he came to Wyandotte county, Kansas, and farmed, and has been living here ever since, and has been able to make a good living for himself and his family.
In 1871. while he was living in Kansas City, Missouri, and doing plastering for the most part, he married Elizabeth Lindstrom, who was also born in Sweden, February 8, 1852, and had come over to this country. She died in 1903, leaving two children, Charlie and Ellen. They are both living at home with their father and together they run the farm.
Mr. Akesson makes a specialty of fruit growing and ships large quantities to the market each week. His son Charlie has charge of the fruit farm, while Mr. Akesson oversees the rest of the erops and his daughter is the housekeeper. Mr. Akesson is a Socialist, but he does not always vote the Socialist ticket. He picks the best man for any given office and votes for him. It is this desire to have the best that is largely responsible for his success. He is well known in the county and is universally respected.
JOHN W. MERCHANT .- It is always a source of pleasure to find a man who has attained prominence of any kind entirely through his own efforts. A man is to be congratulated if he succeeds under any cir- cumstances in this age of specialization, competition and corporation, but a man who has educated himself, taken care of his mother, brought up his son to manhood and made of himself a man of mark in his world is doubly to be complimented. Such is the record of John W. Mer- chant. Ile has been engaged in several lines of business in Kansas City and has made good in them all.
John W. Merchant is the son of Thomas Merchant and his wife Winnie, whose maiden name was Robertson. Both parents were of Kentucky origin, but when a young man Mr. Thomas Merchant had removed to California and in 1849 he came back to Missouri. He was a contractor and builder by occupation and in politics was a Democrat. He died at the age of forty-two, and his wife was fifty-five at the time of her death. There were four children born to this union, three sons and one danghter. all living at this time (1911). The eldest child was
740
HISTORY OF WYANDOTTE COUNTY
John W., the second, Lee, the third, Lney (now the wife of William Simmons) and the youngest, Alexander W.
John W. Merchant was born in Platt county, Missouri, January 24,
1860. When he was only ten years of age his father died. His mother then bought a forty-acre traet of wild land at White Church, Wyandotte county, Kansas. For nine years John worked faithfully on this farm, in the meantime picking up what edneation he could and
serving as a grocery elerk. In August, 1881, he came to Kansas City and entered the grocery business in the employ of W. A. Griswold. Later he entered the employ of F. H. Williams, a grain and hay dealer. In 1884 he became extra weigh master for the Kansas City Stoek Yards Company ; he worked in that capacity for a little over three years. He next became the head bookkeeper and later the manager of the Land Department and also of the Insurance Department. He is a well- known figure in the Stock Exchange Building.
On February 28, 1882, John W. Merchant was married to Miss Dora B. Pepper. She was also born in Platt county, Missouri, and is the daughter of John and Martha Pepper, both of Kentucky origin. Dora was the fifth child in a large family. Iler father was a great lover of fine horses, but he had no use for any horse that would not take a premium. He was an extensive breeder of thoroughbred horses in Platt county and had a large stable. He was the owner of the noted stallion Pharoh and of many other celebrated horses. His political sympathies were entirely with the Democrats. Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Merchant have one son, Forrest L., who is married to Petricia L. Robin- son, daughter of Frank Robinson, of the Robinson Live Stock Company. Forrest L. Merchant is secretary in the firm of the Ryan & Robinson Live Stock Commission Company. He and his wife have one son, Russell.
J. W. Merchant is a member of several societies and has made a financial snecess of his life, together with successes along other lines. Ilis political views are in direet opposition to those of his father and also his father-in-law, for he is a Republican of a very decided nature. It may be that the future has political honors in store for him, but at present he has no ambitions along that line. We have seen men who boast of the fact that they have made themselves and we have wished that others might have had a hand in the work, but a man who has made himself and done such a good job as has J. W. Merehant may well be proud of himself.
AUGUST ISENBURG .- As proprietor of the Wyandotte Seed Com- pany, successor of the Wyandotte Seed Honse, August Isenburg is carrying on a large and profitable business as a dealer in garden, field and flower seeds and farm machinery, being advantageonsly located at Nos. 433 and 435 Minnesota avenue, Kansas City, Kansas. A native of Germany, he was born March 17, 1852, in one of the Rhenish prov- inces, and was there bred and educated. He was drafted into the German Army when young, according to the custom of the country. In 1872 he immigrated to the United States, landing at New York city. From there he proceeded directly to Saint Louis, Missouri, and after- ward visited various places while looking for a permanent location, gaining both knowledge and experience in his travels. He subsequently
741
HISTORY OF WYANDOTTE COUNTY
lived a few years in Hannibal, Missouri, from there coming, in 1884, to Kansas City, Kansas, and for two years thereafter being in the em- ploy of the Hannibal and Saint Joseph Railroad Company. Mr. Isenburg then became associated with the Glesner & Barzen Distillery & Importing Company, located at No. 519 Delaware street, Kansas City, Missouri, and was employed by this company until 1903, when they incorporated, Mr. Isenburg becoming assistant secretary and treasurer.
In 1906, on account of ill health, Mr. Isenburg moved on to his farm, where he has since resided. On January 15, 1909, at a bank- ruptey sale, he bought the stock and business of the Wyandotte Seed House, and has since carried on a substantial business under the name of the Wyandotte Seed Company. In addition to handling field, gar- den and flower seeds of all kinds, and in any quantity, he deals in farm machinery of all descriptions, and in poultry and chicken supplies, keeping an abundant supply of everything needed in any of these lines in stock.
On September 4. 1879. in Hannibal. Missouri, Mr. Isenburg was united in marriage with Emma Hubbard, a daughter of Nathaniel and Serinda Hubbard. Three children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Isenburg, namely : Otto, born May 14, 1885; Charles Augustus, born March 28, 1891; and Anna Gertrude, born April 13, 1893. The boys, who are now associated in business with their father, received their preliminary training in the public and high schools of Kansas City, Kansas, Otto afterward attending the Kansas City, Missouri, Commercial College, while Charles A. completed his studies at the Kansas City University. Although not now affiliated with any fra- ternal organization, Mr. Isenburg formerly belonged to the Knights of Pythias; to the Knights of the Maccabees, having assisted in forming the first lodge of Kansas City; to the Independent Order of Foresters ; and to two German Societies.
ANDERS L. WAHLIN is one of the successful farmers of Bethel, Kan- sas, who originally came from Sweden. Unless a man has enterprise and a determination to win out, he will as a rule stay in his own country and live in the old rut. The mere fact that Mr. Wahlin came to Amer- iea shows that he was anxious to be something better and to do something more than would have been possible if he had remained in the old home. He has prospered and is greatly respected in the township.
He was born in Sweden November 20, 1840, and was the son of Lars Pearson and Ingre (Larson) Wahlin, both natives of Sweden. His father died in 1864, and the mother passed away later.
In 1869 he came to America via Cunard Steamship Company, and eleven days from date of sailing he landed at Boston. He went at onee to Kansas City, Missouri, and for a time worked on the railroad, but in April. 1871, he came to Wyandotte county, Kansas, and farmed, at first in a small way, but he now has one hundred and thirty-two and one-half aeres, he having given one-half acre for a Swedish cemetery. ITe engages in general farming and has a very large dairy, selling a high grade of milk. His brother, Ola, is living with him on the farm and his sister, Mrs. Olson, is living near him, in Kansas City.
November 20. 1868, the year before he came to America, Mr. Wahlin married Brita Pearson, a young Swedish lady who lived near his home
742
HISTORY OF WYANDOTTE COUNTY
and they came across the ocean together. Mrs. Wahlin was reared and educated in her native land of Sweden. She was a kind and faithful wife and an affectionate mother, and nobly did her part in aiding her husband to win for themselves a nice home. For forty-two years, or almost one-half a century, did Mr. and Mrs. Wahlin travel the pathway of life together, and it was on October 27, 1910, that she passed away. She was interred in the Swedish cemetery, which lies on part of their farm. She was a lady who was well beloved by all who knew her. They had six children. as follows: Andrew : Ida, who died when eight- een months old; Frank, who married Mary Stottler and is living in Kansas City, Kansas ; Amanda ; Hilda and Frida.
Mr. Wahlin is a Republican in political sympathies and is very much interested in politics, though he does not take any very aetive part. Ile and his daughter Amanda are members of the Swedish Lutheran church and they are all highly esteemed in the community in which they reside. He lives a quiet life on the farm he has obtained through his own efforts and abilities.
VICTOR W. PUHR, the enterprising dairyman who is located at Rosedale, is building up a very successful business. He is possessed of the ability to hustle-one of the requisites of the man who would accomplish anything worth while-but combined with this characteris- tie is found a shrewd common sense, which acts as a check on his impetuosity.
Mr. Puhr is a native of Austria, where his birth occurred in 1881. He is the son of Frank and Elizabeth (Schlapfer) Puhr, both born in the same great Empire, where they were educated and married, and where some of their children were born. The father beeame identified with the agricultural prosperity of Austria, although he was a farmer in a small way. In 1888 he pulled up the stakes which limited his operations in his native land and with his wife and family took passage for America, going direet to Johnson county. Missouri. He secured a tract of land on which he did truck gardening, but his farming in Missouri was of short duration. He had heard of the agricultural possibilities of the state of Kansas, and he bought land in Wyandotte county, and here he brought up his children and lived until his death in 1910. Ile now lies in old Shawnee cemetery, survived by nine of his ten children and by his wife, who maintains her residence in South Park with some of her family.
The first seven years of Victor W. Puhr's life were passed in his native land and when he was of an age to enter school, the family came to the United States. They made a temporary halt in Missouri, as mentioned above, but Wyandotte county, Kansas is the scene of the Iad's school life and of his preliminary farming experiences. He early learned how to do all kinds of farm work, remaining with the family until he was twenty-four years of age, at which time, in 1905, he real- ized the advisability of establishing an independent business. Starting in a very modest way, he now has twenty-five cows and sells his milk in Kansas City to dealers and also to individual customers. It is the opinion of the farmers in his community that Mr. Puhr is a very promising young man whose success is assured, in that he is both capable and industrious.
743
HISTORY OF WYANDOTTE COUNTY
In 1907. two years after he commenced his dairy business, Mr. Puhr married Miss Mary Collins, a life long resident of Kansas. Her birth occurred in Louisburg, that state, and as a child she came with her parents to Rosedale, where the family still resides. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Puhr, Victor, Frank and Pauline. Both husband and wife were baptized and brought up in the Catholic faith and they are members of the Catholic church in their parish.
OLA JOHNSON, the well known farmer in Bethel, has not only be- come a leader amongst the Swedish farmers and residents of the town- ship, but he has become very much respected by the people in general. He represents the class of foreigners who come to this country with a determination to make good and he has succeeded beyond anything that could have been expected.
He was born in Sweden, February 2, 1843, and was the son of Jons and Buel Nelson. Both of his parents were born in Sweden and remained there all of their lives. Ilis father was a farmer in Sweden and he died in 1870. Ilis wife outlived him ten years and died in 1880
Ola Johnson was born on his father's farm and he attended the district school. After he left school he worked on his father's farm. He was ambitions and believed that he could do better if he started out for himself. Ile had heard of the wonderful possibilities for a young man in America and in 1869 he left his home and crossed the ocean. Ilis father died the year after he came to America. Ola Johnson came to Kansas in 1870 and located in Wyandotte county, starting farming in a small way at first. Ile now has a hundred and six acres of land on which he raises wheat. hay and general farm produce.
In 1870, the year he came to Wyandotte county, he married Cecelia Nelson, who was also born in Sweden and had come to this country in 1869. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have three daughters, Bettie, Hattie Mary and Ellen, who is now the wife of Oscar Johnson and lives at Kansas City, Missouri. Oscar Johnson, the son of Ola Johnson, is living at home with his father and assists him in the work of the farm.
Mr. Johnson is a Republican in politics and is a prominent man in that part of the country. He is a member of the Swedish Lutheran church. He belongs to the fraternal order of Masons and stands very high with the members of that organization. He is a first class farmer, one of the kind who is always on the lookout for improved methods of doing things. 3 He has a fine home and excellent barns and he may congratulate himself that he has made a success of his life and has no one to thank for it but himself, with the cooperation of his wife. He naturally has many good characteristics and he has enltivated them, even as he cultivated his land and both have been equally productive.
ISAAC LA GRANGE .- It is most gratifying to be able to present within the pages of this publication reviews of the careers of so large a number of the venerable pioneers of Kansas who are living within the borders of Wyandotte county, and among this number no slight precedence should be accorded to Mr. La Grange, who has been a potent factor in connection with the industrial and eivic development of the state and who has so ordered his life as to retain the inviolable confidence and Vol. II -- 16
.
744
HISTORY OF WYANDOTTE COUNTY
esteem of those with whom he has come in contact in a business or social way. He is now living retired, and in his attractive home in Kansas City is enjoying the gracions rewards of former years of earnest endeavor.
Isaac La Grange was born in the city of Albany, New York, on the 24th of November, 1828, and is a son of Isaac and Susan (La Grange) La Grange, the former of whom was born at Saint Armand, province of Quebec, Canada, and the latter of whom was born in Schoharie connty. New York. The mother was thirty-two years of age at the time of her death and the father attained to the venerable age of eighty-three years. Of the six children Isaac is the eller of the two now living. and his brother. Jacob, is a resident of Colorado. The lineage of the La Grange family is traced back to French-Huguenot origin. In the early part of the eighteenth century two brothers of the name were driven from their native land to escape the religions persecution inci- dental to the revocation of the Ediet of Nantes and after remaining for a time in Holland they came to America and settled near Albany. New York, in the Mohawk valley, where so many sturdy Hollanders founded homes, as did also a number of the French-Huguenot families. Inter- marriages were made between the two and thus Mr. La Grange claims descent in both of these sterling lines, the genealogy on the maternal side likewise showing a blending of the French and Holland Dutch strains. Isaac La Grange, Sr., was a man of strong character and
marked intellectuality. As a young man he was a successful teacher in the common schools of New York state, where he continued to be en- gaged in farming for a number of years after his marriage. Ile next
established himself in the mercantile business in Alabany, where he continued to be identified with this line of enterprise for many years. He was located on a farm near Albany for some time after going out of business, and from this farm he moved to Paris. Illinois, where he died. As one of the representative citizens of the capital city of New York and as a man of broad views and marked publie spirit he formed the acquaintance of many of the leading men of his day. Ile was an intimate friend of Governor Seward and of Thurlow Weed and in polities was a stanch Whig of the "old-line" type.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.