USA > Kansas > Wyandotte County > History of Wyandotte County, Kansas, and its people, Vol. II > Part 39
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Judge Newhall married, November 14, 1865, in Vermont, Sarah Woods, who was born in West Windsor. Vermont: Her father, Edwin S. Woods, a native of West Windsor, Vermont, was a son of Daniel and Esther (Newhall) Woods, the former of whom was born in Ver- mont, while the latter was of Connecticut birth. He married Maria E. Stowell, who also was born in Vermont, a daughter of Fisher and Mary (Bailey) Stowell. natives of Massachusetts, and among the ehil- dren which they reared was Mrs. Newhall. Lillian S., the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Newhall, married Mark Maxwell, a real estate and in- surance agent of Kansas City, Kansas, and Mrs. Newhall resides with them.
JAMES P. WILES, who is one of the prominent and influential busi- ness men of Kansas City, Kansas, maintains his offices at 914 North Sixth street, where he conducts an extensive enterprise in insurance, loans and rentals. He has ever manifested a public spirited interest in all that pertains to the well being of Wyandotte county and Kansas at large, has served Kansas City in the capacity of councilman, and is very high in Masonry, having been honored with the thirty-third degree of the Scottish Rite.
A native of the fine old Buckeye state of the Union, James P. Wiles was born on a farm near Alliance, Stark county, Ohio, on the 4th of May, 1862. IIe is a son of William and Emily Jane (Roaeh) Wiles, both of whom were born in Jefferson county, Ohio, and both of whom are now living on the old farm, which has been their home since 1863. The father is engaged in diversified agriculture and the breeding of fine horses and high grade eattle. William Wiles is prominent in con- inunity affairs, is Republican in his political proelivities, and has given most efficient service as a member of the township school board. Of the eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. Wiles, six are living at the present time, in 1911, and of the number the subject of this review was the first born.
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Reared under the invigorating influences of the old homestead farm, James P. Wiles early became associated with his father in the work and management of the estate and during the winter months he was a regular and interested attendant in the district schools. At the age of twenty years he turned his attention to the pedagogie profession and engaged in teaching in Portage county, Ohio. In 1884 he severed the ties which bound him to home and immigrated westward to Kansas, obtaining a school at Lawrenceburg, where he taught for a time and whence he re- moved to Sharon Springs, in Wallace county. this state. He continued
to teach until 1890, at which time he became deputy county treasurer of Wallace county, retaining that incumbency up to 1894. In the latter year he was appointed principal of the Sharon Springs schools and after two more years devoted to educational work he resigned his principal- ship and came to Kansas City, where he purchased an insurance business at 9 South James street, later locating his office at 914 North Sixth street. lle is a business man of no mean ability and is widely known for his striet integrity and fair and honorable dealings. His various projects have added materially to the progress and development of this city, and in addition to representing a number of prominent insurance companies he also condnets a loan and rental business.
On the 25th of June, 1888, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Wiles to Miss Mand P. Phillips, whose birth occurred at Monnt Carroll, Illinois, and who is a daughter of William and Emma P. Phillips, both of whom are now residing on the farm near Clyde, Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. Wiles are the parents of eight children, all of whom remain at the parental home and all of whom are being afforded excellent educational advantages. The names of the children are here entered in respective order of birth: William G .. Nellie A., James P. Jr., Marguerite A., Thomas W. R .. Theodore R., Emily P. and Samuel S. In their religious faith the Wiles family are consistent members of the Methodist church and they are popular and prominent factors in connection with the best social activities of their home community.
In polities Mr. Wiles is aligned as a stalwart in the ranks of the Republican party, and while he has never had a great deal of time or ambition for the honors and emoluments of public office he has done all in his power to advance the best interests of the city in which he has so long maintained his home. He has served with all of honor and distinc- tion as a member of the city council but further than that he has not been a seeker of public office. He is very prominent in fraternal orders in the state of Kansas. 1Ie has passed through the circle of Scottish Ritt Masonry, being a member of Caswell Consistory, No. 5, and having at tained to the thirty-second degree. He has also been honored with the thirty-third degree and is a valued member of Wyandotte Lodge, No. 3, Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons. In the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, he is affiliated with Wyandotte Lodge. No. 440; and in the Knights of Pythias he is connected with Wide Awake Lodge, No. 153. Mr. Wiles is a man of fine intelligence and broad information. He is kind hearted and philanthropical, and it may be said concerning him that the circle of his friends is coincident with that of his acquaintances.
Vol. II-19
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MOSES AGERS .- In a publication of this character, it is indeed appropriate to incorporate a memoir of a representative pioneer citizen of such worth as Moses Agers, who devoted his activities to what Daniel Webster has called the most important industry of man, farming. Mr. Agers was one of the veterans of the Civil war and as such, his memory is entitled to particular distinction. Tle was born on the 13th day of Angust, 1837. in Montgomery county, Kentucky. He was reared in his native state and just previous to the Civil war came to Platte county, Missouri, where for a time he engaged in farming. In the course of a few years he removed to Kansas, where he engaged in freight- ing. carrying goods to and from Denver across the plains in ox teams. When the long lowering Civil war cloud broke in all its fury and the conflict between the states became a dread reality. Mr. Agers enlisted as a member of Company K, Fifteenth Kansas Infantry and saw active service throughout the entire course of the struggle. He returned to Wyandotte county. Kansas, at the termination of the war and engaged in farming for the remainder of his life, it being his fortune to serve his country as well and faithfully in time of peace as in war, as a good and useful citizen.
In the month of April, 1869. Mr. Agers was united in marriage to Miss Laura Gebhart. daughter of William and E. (Lizzie) Gebhart. Their happy union was blessed by the birth of the following nine child- ren : William, who died when young; JJames H .. Frances M., Lizzie E., Smith A., Gertrude, Charles, Roseoe and Ethel.
On September 22. 1890, occurred the demise of Moses Agers, and although nearly a score of years has passed since that time his memory remains green in the hearts of those who knew and loved him. His widow survives and makes her residence in Walcott, Wyandotte county. Kansas, where she owns a most desirable home.
FRANK MCKENZIE is well known throughout Wyandotte county. Kansas, as a raiser of high grade horses and mules. Ile and his wife own a fine tract of land, comprising six hundred acres, near Piper, where they have a beautiful and commodious home. Mr. MeKenzie operates the farm both as a stock and grain farm, and the yield from both his cultivated fields and from his broad pastures is evidence of his enterpris- ing management.
While a native of Wisconsin, Mr. MeKenzie has spent nearly all his life in the vicinity in which he now lives. He was born in 1853. son of William L. and Elizabeth (Dixon) McKenzie : second in the family of seven children, all of whom were brought by the parents to Kansas about 1867. William L. MeKenzie was a prosperous farmer in Wyan- dotte county for many years, and made this place his home until his death, October 8, 1909. ITis wife died here November 10. 1909. Further mention of the Mckenzie family will be found on another page of this work, in the sketch of Robert MeKenzie, youngest member of the family.
Frank MeKenzie received his education in the district school near his father's home, and under his father's instructions he became familiar with every detail of farm life. In 1906 he married Miss Lizzie Emhell- ing. Both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church, and, politically. he casts his vote and influence with the Republican party. As a prosperous farmer and leading citizen, he stands high in the community.
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ROBERT MCKENZIE, an energetic and prosperous farmer living in the vicinity of Piper, Kansas, dates his birth in Wisconsin, April 15, 1865, but has been a resident of Wyandotte county, Kansas, since his early childhood, the family home having been established here in 1868.
William L. Mckenzie, his father, was born in New York in 1824, and when a young man learned the trade of cabinet maker. From New York he went up into Canada, and from there to Wisconsin, where in 1850 he engaged in farming, which he continued until the opening of the Civil war. As a member of the Third Wisconsin Cavalry, he went to the front and was in the conflict until peace was effected. In 1868 he came to Wyandotte county, Kansas, and settled on a farm, and here he was engaged in agricultural pursuits the rest of his life. He died October 8, 1908. His wife, Elizabeth (Dixon) MeKenzie, died Novem- ber 10, 1900. They were the parents of seven children: William II., Frank, Charles C., Angus, Mary, Jennie and Robert. The father was identified with the Baptist church and the Masonic order, and as a worthy, respected citizen had the confidence and esteem of a wide circle of neighbors and friends.
On his father's farm Robert MeKenzie grew to manhood, and here he has continued to live and carry on farming operations. He married. in 1893, Miss Mary Courtney, a native of Ireland, who in girlhood came to this country with her parents.
Mr. MeKenzie has been initiated into the mysteries of Masonry and Odd Fellowship and is a member in good standing. IIe affiliates with Piper Masonie Lodge, No. 385, and is also a member of the Order of Eastern Star, No. 331, and Mrs. MeKenzie being also a member of the Eastern Star. He also affiliates with Bonner Springs Lodge of Odd Fel- lows, No. 358. Mr. MeKenzie traces his lineage to the "Land of the Thistle" or Bonnie Scotland. Politically he is a Republican.
ROY R. RUSSELL .- The man best fitted to meet the wonderfully changed life of today is not a new type of man. Ile is of the old ster]- ing stuff, clean in his individual life, great in his business life and great in his civic and partriotic life. Roy R. Russell, vice president of the Portsmouth Investment Company, of Kansas City, Kansas, is a promi- nent and influential citizen, whose loyalty and public spirit have ever been of the most insistent order. No worthy project advanced for the improvement and progress of this section of the state has ever failed to receive his heartiest cooperation.
A native of Kansas, Roy R. Russell was born at Oskaloosa, Jeffer- son county, on the 24th of May, 1881. He is a son of James M. and Emma N. (Price) Russell, the former of whom was born in Indiana and the latter of whom claims Michigan as the place of her birth. The father, whose demise occurred in 1905, was a farmer by vocation and on first coming to Kansas he located in Jefferson county, whence he later removed to Wabaunsee county. Ile was a man of prominence in public affairs in his home community and for two terms was incumbent of the office of sheriff. About the year 1900 he came to Kansas City, where he was engaged in the live stock commission business for five years prior to his death. He was a Republican in his political proclivities and his religious faith was in harmony with the tenets of the Congregational church. Mr. and Mrs. James M. Russell became the parents of six
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children, three sons and three daughters, five of whom are living. in 1911, and of whom the subject of this review was the fifth in order of birth. Mrs. Russell survives her honored husband and she now main- tains her home in this city.
Roy R. Russell received his preliminary educational training in the common schools and in the high school of Conneil Grove, Kansas, and later he attended Campbell University at Ilolton. He came to Kansas ('ity, Kansas, in 1902. and the first line of business to which he turned his attention was that of live stoek. In 1911 he was elected president of the Portsmouth Investment Company. This company is a contract- ing and building concern and since its organization has erected more than one hundred homes in Kansas City. Kansas, and is building about that number each year. It is incorporated under the laws of the state with a capital stock of one hundred thousand dollars and its official corps is as follows: R. R. Russell, president ; T. T. Kelly, vice president ; and W. II. Haskell, secretary.
In polities Mr. Russell is aligned as a staunch supporter of the cause of the Republican party and he is affiliated with a mimber of fraternal and social organizations of representative character. He is not married but that fact in no way detracts from his personal popu- larity. He is a business man of nmusual ability and taet, is broad minded and liberal in his views and is over tolerant of others opinions Socially he is genial and courteous, and the popularity that comes from those qualities, as coupled with the distinction that comes from his achievements, makes him a man among many. A thorough business man. a true friend, a jolly fellow and a gentleman, such will describe the marked characteristics of Mr. Russell.
JACOB ROSE .- It is gratifying at this point to accord recognition to a man, whose success in life is entirely the outcome of his own well directed endeavors. .Jacob Rose, whose birth occurred in the great Empire of Germany on the 22nd of November. 1871, is a son of Harry and Esther Rose, both of whom were likewise born in Germany. whence they removed to America in the year 1875. Location was made in the city of Chicago, where the father turned his attention to the mannfactur- ing of caps and where both father and mother still reside. Mr. and Mrs. Harry Rose became the parents of six children, four of whom are living at the present time (1911) and of whom the subject of this review was the fourth in order of birth.
Jacob Rose was a child of but four years of age at the time of his parents' immigration to the United States and he was reared to adult age in Chicago, to whose excellent schools he is indebted for his prelimi- nary educational training. As a youth he entered upon an appren- ticeship at the baker's trade and for a number of years he was in the employ of Kohlsaat, the noted lunch-counter and bakery man. July, 1894. he decided to try his fortunes further west and in that year he removed to Kansas City, Missouri, where he was engaged in the work of his trade until 1897, when he moved across the river into Kansas City, Kansas, where he purchased a bakery at 404 Minnesota avenne. ITe initiated his independent business career with but a very small amount of money but through determination and persisteney he has made of success not an accident but a logical result. Ile is now one of the
"OAK MOUND." RESIDENCE OF MRS. JULIA D. NEWTON
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THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY!
ASTOR, LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
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IIISTORY OF WYANDOTTE COUNTY
most prominent bakery men in this city and is everywhere known as a business man of square and straightforward methods.
On the 19th of August, 1897, was recorded the marriage of Mr. Rose to Miss Fannie Sehwarz, who was born in Illinois and who is a daughter of Daniel and Rosie Schwarz, both of whom were born and reared in Germany. Daniel Schwarz immigrated to the United States when he was a youth of fourteen years of age and he located at New York City, where he was engaged in a cigar factory. After thoroughly familiarizing himself with the cigar business he began to mannfacture cigars himself. He and his family now maintain their home at Kansas City, Kansas, and of their six children Mrs. Rose was the second in order of birth.
In politics Mr. Rose has not cared to identify himself with any special party but maintains an independent attitude, giving his support to men and measures meeting with the approval of his judgment. In a fraternal way he is affiliated with Wyandotte Lodge, No. 440, Benevo- lent and Protective Order of Elks; and with Wyandotte Aerie, No. 87, Fraternal Order of Eagles. He is also a valued and appreciative mem- ber of the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias and of the Mercantile Club.
PERIANDER C. NEWTON, M. D .- The profession of medicine and sur- gery in Wyandotte county, Kansas. lost one of its most valued members in the death of Dr. Periander C. Newton in 1903. This gifted gentle- man and fine citizen, praeticed medicine, owned and operated a farm near Piper and lived a life of usefulness, always giving his influence to advance the best interests of the community. He was born in Buchanan county, Tennessee, June 11, 1842, the son of Robert H. and Martha C. Newton. He passed his boyhood until the age of thirteen in his native state, and then came to Kansas with his parents to a claim of land lying near the present city of Atchison. In 1863 having come to a decision as to his life work, Dr. Newton entered the St. Louis Medical College and spent eight months in that institution. He then entered the Jefferson Medieal College at Philadelphia, where he com- pleted his course of study and was graduated from that college. Early in his professional career he located at Nashville, Tennessee, where he practiced for two years and also attended the Nashville Medical College for six months. He then returned to Kansas and settled at White Church on the Parallel road where he divided his time between the practice of his profession and merchandising and agriculture. He
made a great success of his life both in a professional sense and from a business standpoint. He was the oldest practicing physician in Wyan- dotte county and for a number of years was county physician. He was a man who held his home ties sacred and esteemed the family circle above all else. At his demise Dr. Newton left a widow and five children.
Mrs. Newton, formerly Miss Julia Donahue, is a daughter of Henry and Sarah (Burgess) Donahne, pioneers of Kansas, they having made settlement in Wyandotte county when she was a child of eleven years. Her mother died here in 1889, and her father in 190I. In their family were nine children, Mrs. Newton being the eighth in order of birth and the others as follows: Octavia, deceased; Warren, deceased; Hulda;
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HISTORY OF WYANDOTTE COUNTY
Hayden J., who is a prominent citizen of Wichita, Kansas; Miranda, deceased; Absalom, deceased; James, a retired farmer living in Welling- ton, Kansas; and Leon, deceased. The children born to Dr. and Mrs. Newton are: Abigail, teaching sehool in Rosedale; Robert, who mar- ried Miss Lula Ingram and is engaged in farming; Grace, a school teacher; James, who has just completed his high school course and is preparing to enter college; and Carleton, a high school student.
Mrs. Newton, with her children, continues to reside on the home farm, a tract of two hundred and seventy-six acres, and gives to it her personal supervision. She has always been interested in educational affairs, as also was her husband, and she enjoys a wide acquaintance among the leading citizens of the county, many of the old families of Kansas City, Kansas, being among her warmest friends. Both her husband and her father were politieally, Democratic, and her father was a Mason. The beautiful home of Mrs. Newton is known as Oak Mound.
A. F. MILLER .- A man of great enterprise and ability, A. F. Miller is actively and prominently identified with the development and advance- ment of the manufacturing interests of Wyandotte county, being junior member of the well known firm of Doyle & Miller, of Kansas City, proprietors of the Great Western Ornamental Iron, Wire and Brass Works.
Born in Nebraska, Mr. Miller came with his parents to Kansas City, Kansas, in 1897. He afterward learned his trade as a worker in metals in Kansas City, Missouri, spending several years with Frank Tilk, proprietor of the Ornamental Iron Works. Becoming skilful as a worker in iron and brass, Mr. Miller obtained valuable experience in Omaha, Denver, and in Kansas City, Missouri, in each of those cities serving as foreman of shops.
On May 1, 1909 Mr. Miller started in business on his own account, forming a partnership with Mr. F. A. Doyle, rate clerk for the Rosen- baum Grain Company, in the Board of Trade Building; they purehased the building located at No. 700 and 702 North Sixth street, Kansas City, Kansas, and having remodeled it, equipped it with practically new and up-to-date machinery and tools, making it one of the best and most modern plants of the kind in the county. The firm has in a compara- tively short time established a large and Incrative business in its line. making a specialty of manufacturing everything in the way of orna- mental iron, wire and brass work for either exterior or interior purposes. It manufactures bank and office railings, elevator ears and enclosures, arches, fire escapes, grilles, wickets, guards, doors, screens, feneing, wire signs and trellises, tree boxes, settees, etc., its metal manufactures being unlimited in numbers and designs.
Messrs. Doyle and Miller are filling valiable and important con- tracts in Kansas City, Kansas, having the contract for all of the iron work on the new Post Office Building, and on other buildings, their annual business amounting to about ten thousand dollars. The firmn has done much work on different publie sehool buildings in this city, designed and exeented the lamp posts in front of the eity library, and also the entrance gates to the Woodlawn cemetery. They are also the originators of the design of lamp posts furnished by them for Heathwood Park, Garrett Place and Splitlog Park, of this city.
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HISTORY OF WYANDOTTE COUNTY
EARNEST HOWARD EMBRY, general farmer and stock raiser near Piper, Kansas, ranks with the representative citizens of Wyandotte conn- ty. Mr. Embry was born in Douglas county, Kansas, July 14, 1861, son of Gibson H. and Josephine (Johnson) Embry, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Pennsylvania. Mr. Embry's father, and grandfather Johnson were among the pioneers of Lawrence, Kansas, and in its infancy worked hard to promote its growth and development. They built the old Johnson Hotel, a well known hostelry in those days, which was burned by Quantrell during the war. Gibson II. Embry and his wife are now living, retired, at San Antonio, Texas. Their children, nine in number, are all residents of Kansas. Their names in order of birth are as follows: Issola, Alberta. Clifton, Mabel, Ralph, Clarence, Harold, Avis and Earnest H.
Earnest H. Embry spent his boyhood days on a farm in Franklin connty, Kansas, and received his early education in the district schools, supplementing this training with a course in the agricultural school at Manhattan. His whole life has been devoted to farming. In 1897 he came to Wyandotte county, where he has since made his home. Here he has one hundred and sixty-seven acres, utilized for general farming and stock raising, and he is also the owner of a ranch comprising three hundred and twenty acres in San Juan county, New Mexico, near Flora Vista. His stock on his Kansas farm consists chiefly of horses and mules.
In 1890. Mr. Embry married Miss Clara Ware, of Grundy county. Missouri, and they have one son, Clyde L.
Mr. Embry, while not a member of any church, is inclined, as he says. "to lean toward the Methodist faith." His political creed is that of the independent. At the polls he picks out the best man, and always supports the man rather than the party. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.
DR. JOHN O. MILNER, physician and surgeon at Kansas City. Kansas, has practiced his profession in this place for nearly a quarter of a cen- tury, and has gained favor among a large and representative patronage. Ife is a practitioner of equipment equal to that of the best and he has been a devoted student of his profession since youth. His knowledge of the science, and his sympathetic manner have given him rank among the most skilful and popular physicians in the city.
Dr. Milner was born in Morgan county. Ohio, on the 28th of March, 1861, and he is a son of George and Mary Ellen (Orr) Milner, the former of whom was born in Belmont county, Ohio, in the year 1810, and the latter of whom was a native of County Antrim, Ireland, where her birth occurred in 1817. The great-grandfather of the doctor was Edward Milner, who came from England to Virginia.
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