USA > Kansas > Wyandotte County > History of Wyandotte County, Kansas, and its people, Vol. II > Part 6
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official honors, his private affairs demanding his entire time and atten- tion.
Mr. Davis married February 29, 1888, Eva Trickey, who was born in Maine, June 16, 1859, and came to Kansas in 1865. Mrs. Davis re- reived a good education in St. Mary's Academy near Leavenworth, Kansas, and she had an excellent musical training. Her parents were John and Annie J. (Marshall) Trickey and she was the only child of their union. The father was a native of New Hampshire and he re- ceived an edneation of some thoroughness and adopted agriculture as his calling. Ile traced his lineage to England, three Trickey brothers from one of whom he descended, coming to this country at an early period in its history, probably early in the seventeenth century. Poli-
tically he was a Republican. He was a soldier in the Civil war, en- listing in Company I, First Maine Heavy Artillery. lle was wounded at the battle of the Wilderness and died of his wounds at Washington. D. C., in 1864. His widow married again, her second husband being Lonis A. Menager, a native of Gallipolis, Ohio. Ile was born Novem- ber 19, 1833, and died November 23, 1910. Mr. Menager received ex- reptionally good edneational training and was an expert accountant. He, with his brother Edward, were large landholders in Wyandotte county. The brothers Menager were of French descent, for although born in this country, both of their parents came from France. Mr. Menager's brother-in-law, Julius Pitrat, was the inventor of the com- puting scales, used by commerce in the United States.
Mr. and Mrs. Louis Menager were the parents of one child-Elsie Romaine, who received a splendid education in literary and musical lines. As previously stated, Mr. Menager was associated with his brother and they owned the large estate now controlled by Mr. and Mrs. Davis. This comprises over five hundred aeres, and the Menagers were the first owners after the Delaware Indians. The brothers, Edward S., was a student at West Point Military Academy and he was a man of commanding physique, being six feet, six inches in height and finely proportioned. lle had studied law, although he did not engage in its practice. IIe was a Republican in politics and a man of superior ability. Hle died in 1889, aged about sixty-two years. When the llon. John G. Pratt had governmental charge of the Delaware Indians Louis Menager was his bookkeeper. Mrs. Menager, the mother of Mrs. Davis, was born November 8, 1836.
Mr. and Mrs. Davis have two children, namely: Anna M., a grad- uate of the Kansas City, Kansas high school, wife of John L. Hastings, who assists Mr. Davis in the care of the farm; and Elizabeth E., a graduate of the Kansas City, Kansas high school, of the class of 1911, who is now at home.
JAMES M. CHRISTY, head of the Grand View Furniture Company, a flourishing concern dealing in furniture and carpets, is one of the honored and enterprising citizens of Kansas City, Kansas, and plays a prominent part in the many-sided life of the community, commercially, fraternally and as a publie spirited citizen. Mr. Christy is a native of the state of Ohio, his birth having ovenrred in Fairfield county of the Buckeye state on March 8, 1863. His parents were Joseph and Hannah (Steward) Christy, the former born in Maryland, in the year 1834,
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and passing on to the Undiscovered Country in the month of February, 1909. The mother, who was born in Burks county, Pennsylvania, still resides there, this venerable lady being over eighty years of age. Joseph Christy was a farmer and dealer in live stock and he and his wife became the parents of a large family of children-twelve in num- ber-he whose name inaugurates this review, being the seventh in order of birth.
Mr. Christy was educated in the district schools of Fairfield county and in his youth learned through actual experience the many seerets of agriculture. ITowever, he was not drawn to adopt the great basic industry as a life work and in December, 1886, when about twenty-three years of age he bade farewell to the home roof and started forth like the proverbial hero of romance to seek his fortunes. ITe went far afield. Kansas City being the haven of his desires and his first work in the new scenes was in the round house of the Union Pacific railroad in which he was employed for seven months. Ile then engaged with the Kansas City & North Western railroad as fireman and remained in that capac- ity for some time, in September, 1890, being promoted to the position of engineer.
In March, 1905, Mr. Christy made a radical change of ocenpation, for he abandoned railroading and adopted a mercantile pursuit, es- tablishing himself in the furniture and carpet business at Tenth and Central avenue. He carries a full line of furniture and carpets and in the seven years of his career has enjoyed the most thorough pros- perity and has built up a large and enthusiastic patronage. His store is known in the city under the caption of the Grand View Furniture Company. For a number of years C. A. McCampbell was in partner- ship with the subject, this association continuing in a satisfactory manner until March, 1910, when Mr. Christy bought out his partner and has since continued independently.
On October 3, 1894, Mr. Christy established a happy and congenial life companionship by his union with Miss Leah M. Crawford, a native of Washington Court House, Ohio, and a daughter of Sammel II. and Atlanta (Smith) Crawford, both natives of the Buckeye state. Mr. and Mrs. Crawford removed to Kansas City, Kansas, at an early day and both are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Christy are the parents of a promising quartet of children, namely : Harold Bryan, born June 23, 1896; Howard C., born September 1, 1898; Myrtle L., born December 3. 1901 ; and lloraee J., born February 7, 1910.
Mr. Christy is affiliated with the Christian Science church, at- tending the services held in the Portsmouth Building. In politics he is an Independent Democrat, ever giving his support to the man and the measures he believes to be worthiest. He is an enthusiastie member of the time-honored Masonic fraternity, belonging to Lodge No. 3, of Kansas City, Kansas, and he is also a Royal Arch Mason, with member- ship in the Chapter of Seneca, Kansas. Ile is also popular in the ranks of Division No. 491, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.
JOHN C. TAYLOR .- Among the various lines of enterprise which contribute materially to the attractiveness of a city, that of contracting and building takes first place. £ Substantial, well constructed buildings are an ornament on any street and hence an architect and eontractor
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may be regarded as a public benefactor. John C. Taylor, who is a prominent citizen in Kansas City, Kansas, is a contractor and architect by occupation and his business headquarters are located at No. 828, Minnesota aveme. All his dealings have been characterized by fair and honorable methods and in all the relations of life his loyalty and public spirit have been of the most insistent order.
A son of Francis II. and Edmonia (Chamberlain) Taylor, the sub- jeet of this review was born near Boonville, Missouri, on the 17th of October, 1878. The father was a carpenter and cabinet-maker by trade, now living in Oklahoma, the mother having passed away in 1902. John C. Taylor was the sixth in order of birth in a family of seven children and he was reared to the age of ten years in his native place. In 1888 he accompanied his parents on their removal to Kansas City, where he completed his preliminary educational training. As a youth he entered mpon an apprenticeship at the cabinet-maker's trade, under the able preceptorship of his father and for a number of years was associated with the latter in that line of work. In 1900 he decided to launch out into the business world on his own account and in that year opened an office at 937, Sandusky avenne, where he remained until the 1st of April, 1911, when he removed to his present comodions headquarters at 828 Minnesota avenue. His shop is well equipped with all kinds of wood-working machinery and in addition to his other work he is en- gaged in a general contracting and building business. In connection with his particular line of work he has built the addition to the Odd Fellows building, for which he also drew up the plans; and he erected the attractive residences of C. A. Dunham, J. D. Wright, J. W. Olander, W. S. Boylan, II. T. Howell, the district school No. 44. and many other private and public buildings. He has gained distinctive prestige as an architect and draws up the plans for many buildings in addition to those he vonstrnets for himself. His business is conducted under the firm name of J. C. Taylor & Company and in recent years the work con- trolled by this concern has reached gigantic proportions. Mr. Taylor is a man of remarkable mechanical skill and it is worthy of note that the splendid success he has achieved is the direct result of his own well applied endeavors.
At Kansas City, Kansas, on the 26th of October, 1900, Mr. Taylor was united in marriage to Miss Myrtle Seward, who was born and reared at Kansas City, Kansas, and who is a daughter of Atwell and Naney (Luddington) Seward, long representative citizens at Kansas City, Kansas. Mrs. Taylor is a cousin of General Luddington, of U. S. A. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor are the parents of four children, whose names are here entered in respective order of birth : Eilleen, Ferdinand, Laurel and Naomi, the three eldest of whom are attending school in Kansas City, Kansas. Mrs. Taylor is a woman of most gracious per- sonality and she and her husband are popular factors in connection with the best social activities of the community in which they reside. Their spacious and attractive home is recognized as a center of refinement and generons hospitality and it has been the scene of many happy social gatherings.
In his political adhereney Mr. Taylor votes independently and while he has never sought political preferment of any description he gives freely of his aid and influence in support of all measures and
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enterprises projected for the good of the general welfare. In a fra- ternal way he is affiliated with the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and in their religious faith the family are devout mem- bers of the Episcopal church, to whose philanthropic work he is a most liberal contributor.
OSCAR BROWN .- During the many years that he was a resident of Kansas City, Kansas, the late Oscar Brown was known as a faithful and loyal citizen, and enjoyed the fullest confidence and esteem of his neighbors and friends. He was born December 15, 1844, in Platte county, Missouri, a son of Obadiah and Eliza (Grover) Brown, and died at his home in Kansas City, Kansas. January 16, 1911, his death being a cause of general regret.
The son of a farmer he became familiar with the various branches of agriculture during his boyhood days, and followed general farming during his early life. Coming with his family to Wyandotte county in 1886, Mr. Brown located in Kansas City, where he at first found em- ployment as a teamster, but afterwards, for seven years worked in the Fowler Packing House. He subsequently lived retired until his death. as above stated. His body was laid to rest in a pleasant spot in Mount Hope cemetery.
Mr. Brown married, July 26, 1876. Kate Kuykendahl, who was born in Topeka, Kansas, March 21, 1859, a daughter of James and Sarah (Link) Knykendall. Her father was born and bred in Kentucky, but as a young man moved first to Missouri, later becoming a pioneer settler of what is now Topeka, Kansas, where he remained two years and then settled in Platte county. Missouri, where he spent his remain- ing days. Seven children were born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Brown, namely: Ora N., of Kansas City, Missouri. was born August 4, 1877; Ira L. born August 25, 1879. resides in Kansas City, Kansas ; Bettie, born August 23, 1882, died July 23, 1884, and was buried in Platte county, Missouri ; Bertha, born February 22, 1884, died Febru- ary 14, 1886, and was buried in Polk county, Missouri; James, born February 19, 1886, lives in Kansas City, Kansas; Ettwell, born Mareh 5, 1892, lived but five weeks; and Robert, born February 14, 1896. In April, 1888. Mr. Brown joined the Kansas City, Kansas, Lodge, No. 216, Ancient Order United Workmen, and held various offices in that organization. Religiously he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
JOSEPH PARADOWSKY .- The Quality Drug Store, located at No. 800, Minnesota avenue. Kansas City, Kansas, is owned and conducted by Joseph Paradowsky, whose business and personal traits are summed up in the word "quality." He is a man of sterling worth and integrity. loyal in his civic attitude and ever ready to give of his aid and influence in support of all measures and enterprises advanced for the good of the general welfare. As a result of his fair and straightforward dealings he is honored and esteemed by all with whom he has come in contact and through his own well directed endeavors he has made of success not an accident but a logical result.
A native of the state of Missouri, Joseph Paradowsky was born in Jackson county, the date of his birth being the 4th of August, 1879.
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Hle is a son of Frank and Catherine (Phillips) Paradowsky, both of whom are living, their home being in Kansas City, Kansas. The father was engaged in the mercantile business during the major portion of his active career and he is now living virtually retired. He was in the United States regimental army for thirteen years, and saw a great deal of service in the west and was under Custer in the Indian troubles. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Paradowsky became the parents of six children, of whom the subject of this review was the second in order of birth and of
whom five are living in 1911. In the year 1886, the Paradowsky family removed from Missouri to Kansas, locating in Kansas City, where the young Joseph was reared and educated. After completing the currieu- him of the parochial schools of the neighborhood he was matriculated as a student in the College of Pharmacy, at Kansas City, Missouri. in which excellent institution he was graduated as a member of the class of 1903. As a boy he worked in the drug stores of J. W. Giesburg and C. E. Abraham for a number of years and after receiving his degree of gradu- ated pharmacist he entered the employ of Scott & Poinsett, prominent druggists in this city. Three years later he decided to launch ont into the business world on his own responsibility and accordingly, in 1906. he and James Swartz, opened a drug store at No. 800 Minnesota avenue. This mutually agreeable partnership alliance continued until 1909, in which year Mr. Paradowsky purchased the interest of Mr. Swartz. Since that time he has condueted the business individually, naming his establishment the Quality Drug Store. Ile caters to a large and fas- tidions patronage and his courteous treatment of all enstomers makes his place one of the most popular concerns of its kind in the city. Ile makes a specialty of quality, quantity and price and his extensive trade has won him a fair profit.
In his political affiliations Mr. Paradowsky is aligned as a stalwart supporter of the principles and policies for which the Republican party stands sponsor. While he has never manifested aught of ambition for the honors or emoluments of public office of any description he is ever on the alert and enthusiastically in sympathy with all matters affecting the good of the community. In fraternal and social organizations he is affiliated with a number of representative orders of a local nature and in his religious Faith he is a devout communicant of the Catholic church. lle is a valued and appreciative member of the Knights of Columbus and of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, in addition to which he is also connected with the Kansas City Commercial Club. Ile is a man of unusual business ability; though versatile he is not super- ficial; and in all the walks of life he has so conducted himself as to command the universal confidence and esteem of the entire circle of his acquaintances. Mr. Paradowsky is not married and he makes his home with his parents.
THOMAS CROOKS .- As the years relentlessly mark the milestones on the pathway of time, the older generation slowly gives way to the new and gradually there passes from our midst the men who made our country what it is and who built up this western empire for the men of now. In every generation and in every community some few men leave an indelible imprint upon the history of that community and upon the memories of those who have known them by their ability to
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fight and win even against great odds, and by that kind of character which wins lasting friends because of that innate quality which people know as loyalty. Thomas Crooks, who passed into the great beyond on the 6th of March, 1902, was one of those. Ile was a resident of Quindaro township, Wyandotte county, Kansas, at the time of his demise and his widow and children now reside at Kansas City, Kansas.
A native of the fine old Buckeye state of the Union, Thomas Crooks was born in Tusearawas county, Ohio, the date of his birth having been the 8th of September, 1831. He was a son of Henry and Catherine (Donley) Crooks, the father having been engaged in farming operations in Ohio. Reared to maturity on the old home farm in Ohio, Thomas Crooks early became associated with his father in the work and man- agement of the estate and in his youth he received an excellent common- school educational training, and later attended the New Hagerstown Academy. Before attaining his majority he was engaged for a time in teaching school in Tuscarawas connty. Ohio. At the age of twenty- four years he came to Kansas, where he farmed on a place belonging to Frank Cotter for a period of one year, at the expiration of which he purchased a traet of thirty-one acres of land from an Indian woman named Lucinda Forschithe, a sister of a man he had formerly worked for. This land was virgin wilderness and subsequently Mr. Crooks added to his original traet by buying a tract of nine arres from Jim Zane, another Indian, and twenty aeres from James Hayden. A small portion of the new acreage was cleared and after clearing the remainder he erected a one-room log house. eighteen by twenty feet in lateral di- mensions, later adding to it until he had a nine-room house, in which domicile he continued to reside until his death, on the 6th of March, 1902. With the passage of time he succeeded in improving his place, which he gradually raised to a high state of cultivation. He enlarged the original log house, covered it with siding and altogether made it so attractive that it became one of the picturesque places of the township. At the present time, in 1911, the Northwestern railroad and the Leaven- worth Electric line both run through the Crooks estate, those roads taking up some six acres of the land. When the Civil war broke out Mr. Crooks enlisted in the Union army from Quindaro township; was made lieutenant and later captain, holding the latter rank when he was mustered out. In polities Mr. Crooks was an advocate of the cause of the Republican party and after coming to Kansas he was overseer of the poor for a number of years. Ile also served with the utmost efficiency as township trustee for some two terms and during practically the entire period of his residence in Quindaro township he was a member of the local school board. Prior to his death he was the owner of a farm of sixty arres and on the same devoted his entire time and atten- tion to diversified agriculture and the raising of high-grade stock. Ile was a man of broad human sympathy and great kindliness of spirit, giving generous assistance to all individuals less fortunately situated in life than himself. As a citizen and man he was possessed of a wide circle of friends and at the time of his death his loss was uniformly mourned throughout this section of the county, where he was held in high esteem by all with whom he had come in contact. In his religious affiliations he was a devout member of the Congregational church, in which he was a member of the board of trustees for several years.
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In Clay county, Missouri, on the 11th of April. 1867, Mr. Crooks was united in marriage to Miss Julia Farnsworth, who is a daughter of Isaac and Louisa (Tracy) Farnsworth, both of whom were reared in the commonwealth of Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Farnsworth migrated to Missouri from Wheeling. West Virginia, about the year 1854. The father died just before the family reached Clay county, Missouri. and there the widowed mother bought a tract of land and established a home for her children. She passed the closing years of her life in Kansas City, Missouri, where her death occurred in January, 1891, at the vener- able age of eighty-one years. Mr. and Mrs. Crooks became the parents of six children, concerning whom the following brief data is here in- corporated : Albon C. died at the age of two years, in 1870; Alva Claude (lied on the 28th of June. 1871, at the age of three months: Julietta died on the 13th of July. 1873, at the age of eight months: Clara Louise passed away in 1884, at the age of nine years; Lillie May, born on the 19th of January, 1878, remains at home with her widowed mother: as does also Adeline Inza, whose birth occurred on the 16th of Angust. 1880.
ATWELL C. SEWARD .- A cherished memory is an enduring monu- ment, more ineffaceable than polished marble or burnished bronze. "To live in the hearts we leave behind is not to die." Atwell Clark Seward was for many years a leading and influential citizen of Kansas City, Kansas, and his activity in business affairs, his cooperation in public interests and his zealous support of all objects that he believed would contribute to the material, social or moral improvement of the com- munity. kept him in the foremost rank of those to whom the city owes its development and present position as the leading metropolitan center of Kansas. His life was characterized by upright, honorable principles and it also exemplified the truth of the Emersonian philosophy that "the way to win a friend is to be one." His death occurred on the 24th of May, 1911, and his loss was universally mourned throughout the entire community and city at large.
A native of the fine old Empire state of the Union. Atwell Clark Seward was born in Chenango county, New York. the date of his nativity being the 11th of June. 1830. He was a son of Daniel C. and Nancy (Rood) Seward, both of whom were born in New York. The father was a farmer and minister of the Methodist Episcopal church during the greater part of his active career. The first in order of birth in a family of five children. Atwell Clark Seward was reared to maturity in his native state, where he was afforded an excellent com- mon-school educational training. In 1852 he decided to try his fortunes in the west and in that year removed to Rockport, Illinois, whence he later went to Adel, Iowa. In the latter place was solemnized his mar- riage. in 1857, and after that important event he and his wife went to Nebraska, where they resided for the ensuing three years. Later they established their home at Denver, Colorado, and at the expiration of two years they returned to Plattsmonth, Nebraska. On the 6th of April. 1866, in company with the Weatherby family, they removed to Kansas City, Kansas, where they maintained their home until Mr. Seward's death and where his widow still resides.
At the time of the inception of the Civil war. Mr. Seward's sympa-
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ASTOR, LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATIONS
James murray
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HISTORY OF WYANDOTTE COUNTY
thies were with the cause of the Union and while a resident of Colorado he enlisted for one hundred days' service in Company D. Third Regi- ment of the United States Cavalry. He gave valiant service as a gal- lant and faithful soldier and while he was prominent in the frontier warfare with the hostile Indians, he was never seriously wounded. As a young man he became interested in engineering and he followed that line of work throughont practically his entire life time. In 1893 he met with an accident while operating his engine. his left hand getting canght and ent off. This injury so impaired his health that he was an invalid from that time until his demise, in 1911. In his politieal con- vietions Mr. Seward was an independent, preferring to give his support to men and measures meeting with the approval of his judgment rather than to follow along strictly partisan lines. £ In a fraternal way he affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows in 1887. and he became a valued and appreciative member of the Knights of Pythias in 1880. Ile was a prominent factor in both those organizations and held a number of important offices in each. Shortly after coming to Kansas City, Mr. Seward erected a residence across Jersey creek; later the family resided on Nebraska avenue and eventually the present home at No. 931 Sandusky avenue, where Mrs. Seward lives, was constructed.
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