USA > Kansas > Wyandotte County > History of Wyandotte County, Kansas, and its people, Vol. II > Part 62
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of seventy-nine. She outlived her husband fourteen years; he died December 5, 1893, at the age of seventy-six. Mr. and Mrs. Perkins had three children, inelnding John S., who lives in this county and is a man of great influence, and Robert H.
Some of the earliest recollections of Robert H. Perkins center around the district school house which he and his brother attended. It was made of logs and the benches were made of logs; in his case the road to learning was not a downy one. His parents moved to Kansas with their family when Robert was a very small boy and the schools at that time were very crude in the way of architecture, rather inefficient in regard to teaching, but most effective in their methods of discipline. The district school which Robert attended has turned out several men who have made their mark in the community. Mr. Perkins is a born farmer; when a ehild he worked in his little garden, digging it up and planting potatoes, digging it again to plant roses and yet again to plant something else. It is of little moment that neither potatoes or roses grew under such treatment, he was learning by doing, which is the quick- est method in many cases. He learned to farm and now has under his control two hundred acres of land, the greater part of which he rents. He has built a large, modern home, where he lives with his family.
In 1891 Robert H. Perkins was married to Miss Maud Funk, a
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charming Missouri young lady. They have three children, Robert G., Charles S. and Aliee.
Mr. Perkins is a Republican, like his father. He takes the greatest interest in all matters pertaining to the county and state. He has the full confidence of his party and was a member of the legislature in 1903 and 1904. He has been on the township board for five years, serving as trustee and treasurer. Ile belongs to the fraternal order of Masons and to the United Workmen, having a high standing in both of these organizations. He is one of the leading citizens of Shawnee township and is well known not only in Wyandotte county but through- ont the state.
THOMAS W. WRAY .- At this juneture in the history of Wyandotte county attention is given to the career of Thomas W. Wray, an essen- tially representative and public spirited citizen of Rosedale, who has been incumbent of the position of superintendent of the Kimball Cereal Company for the past eight years. Mr. Wray was born in the state of Missouri in 1860, and he is a son of Tillman and Sarah (Hereford) Wray.
Thomas W. Wray passed his boyhood and youth in his native place, where he attended the public schools and where he was graduated in the high school. After leaving school he began to learn the mill- wright business, in which field of endeavor he has since been engaged. Prior to coming to Rosedale he was in the employ of the Bauer Fuel & Supply Company, and he also worked for a number of other milling concerns at various points in the west. In 1903 he made his advant in Rosedale in order to accept a position with the Kimball Cereal Com- pany, with which eoneern he has remained to the present time, in 1911, being now superintendent of the plant. As a faithful and trusted em- ploye he has been promoted from one important position to another and he is generally recognized as a business man of unusual executive ability and shrewd diseernment.
At Clinton, in Henry county, Missouri, in 1885, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Wray to Miss Lillie E. Magill, who was born and reared in Missouri, and who is a daughter of William and Ellen (Joseph) Magill. Mr. and Mrs. Wray have no children. They are exceedingly popular in the community in which they have so long maintained their home. While residing in Henry county, Missouri, Mrs. Wray was deputy county recorder under a brother-in-law of Mr. Wray's, W. M. Stevens, who was county recorder at the time.
Mr. Wray is liberal in his contributions to all matters projeeted for the good of the general welfare. In a fraternal way he is a member of the local lodges of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Majestic Workers of the World. He is deeply interested in community affairs and his efforts have been a potent element in the business progress of this section of the county. He is possessed of a genial kindly person- ality and numbers among his intimate friends many of the most in- fluential citizens of Rosedale, where he is accorded the highest regard of all with whom he has come in contact.
GEORGE D. KENNEDY .- For a number of years sinee reaching man's estate George D. Kennedy has been engaged in the bakery business at
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Rosedale, Kansas, where he is a representative citizen whose loyalty and public spirit have ever been of the most insistent order. A native of the fair Emerald Isle, George Dennis Kennedy was born at Waterford, Ireland, the date of his birth being the16th of October, 1882. He is a son of James and Sarah (Murray) Kennedy, both of whom were likewise born in Ireland, whence they immigrated to the United States with their family, in the year 1889. Mr. James Kennedy after his arrival in America located in Kansas City, later removing to Rosedale, where he and his wife passed the closing years of their lives. The father was summoned to eternal rest in the year 1890, and the mother passed away in 1901, both being buried in the Argentine cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. James Kennedy were the parents of fourteen children, of whom the sub- ject of this review was the fourth in order of birth.
George D. Kennedy was reared to the age of seven years in his native land and after his parents' location in Kansas City he grew up and availed himself of the educational advantages afforded in the public schools of that place. After the family home was established in Rose- dale he entered upon an apprenticeship at the baker's trade here. In 1903 he engaged in the bakery business on his own account at Rose- dale, but at the expiration of a few months he disposed of his baking establishment and began to work for others. In 1904, however, he opened np a pool and billiard hall at Rosedale and when, a few months later, this business burned he returned to the work of his trade Later he again opened up a bakery of his own, but this business, too, was destroyed by fire. Though somewhat disheartened by his disastrous luck, Mr. Kennedy did not lose faith in his ability to make a success even against great odds, and in September, 1910, he once again entered into the bakery business on his own responsibility, this time at No. 1713 Kansas City avenue. He makes a specialty of wholesale baking, turn- ing out great quantities of bread and rolls for the consumption of husky Kansas appetites. , In connection with the work of his trade Mr. Ken- nedy is a member of the Bakers Union, of which he was treasurer until September, 1910, and in a fraternal way he is affiliated with the local lodges of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. While he has never been desirous of political pre- ferment of any description, he is always ready to tender his aid and influence in support of measures and enterprises projected for the good of the general welfare. Mr. Kennedy is unmarried, but this fact does not in any way militate against his social popularity.
HORACE G. RANDALL .- That the present efficient and popular superintendent of public instruction for Wyandotte county has virtually followed the advice of the illustrious statesman and editor in whose honor he was named needs no further proof than his presence in the west, where he has, at least partially, been afforded the privilege of "growing up with the country," as he was a lad of sixteen years at the time of the family removal to the Sunflower state. Here he has accomplished a most successful work in the pedagogic profession and he is specially well equipped for both the administrative and academic responsibilities devolving upon him in his present office. He is a valued factor in connection with edneational affairs in Kansas and his enthusiasm in his chosen vocation has been equalled only by his success
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therein. He has been a resident of Wyandotte county for a quarter of a century and has here stood exemplar of the most progressive and loyal citizenship, the while he has well established himself in the confi- dence and esteem of the entire community.
ITorace Greeley Randall was born on a farm in Vermilion county, Indiana, on the 26th of December, 1856, and is a son of Ansel Britton Randall and Amanda Ruth (Howard) Randall, the former of whom is likewise a native of Vermilion county and a representative of one of its honored pioneer families, and the latter of whom was born in the state of Tennessee. Abel Randall, grandfather of him whose name initiates this review, was born in Ohio, where his parents settled in a very early day and where he was reared under the conditions and influences of the pioneer epoch. Later it was his portion to gain further pioneer experi- ences in a more independent way, as he moved to Vermilion county, Indiana, where he reclaimed a farm from the wilderness and where both he and his wife passed the residue of their lives. The lineage of the Randall family is traced back to stanch Irish stock, and that of the Howard family to English origin, both names having been identified with the annals of American history since the Colonial epoch. Ansel B. Randall has given his allegiance to the great basic industry of agri- culture during virtually his entire active career. Hle removed from Indiana to Illinois, and in the autumn of 1872 he came with his family to Kansas. He became one of the pioneers of Crawford county, where he reclaimed and developed a valuable farm and where he has since maintained his home. Ilis Democratie proelivities are indicated by the name which he applied to his son, Horace Greeley, and in this also is given assurance of his identification with the Greenback party during the period of its organie activity.
Horace G. Randall was a child at the time of the family removal to Illinois, in which state he gained his rudimentary education in the dis- triet schools. He was a lad of sixteen when the parents came to Kansas, and in the schools of Crawford county he continued to apply himself diligently, in the meanwhile assisting in the work of the home farm. He early manifested a predilection for pedagogic work and through his association with the same he has won his own way in the world and also been a power in the helping of others to secure proper education. He began teaching in the district sehools in 1877, when about twenty years of age, and later, through his own resources, was enabled to attend the Kansas State Normal School at Fort Scott for two years. He continued teaching for twenty-two consecutive years, and the only interruption of definite order in connection with his active identification with educa- tional work was during a period of eight years devoted to farming in Perry township. Wyandotte county. Ile came to this county in 1886
and he served four terms as township trustee of Perry township, where he was an influential factor in civie and industrial affairs. In 1906
there came recognition of his eligibility for a position of trust in con- nection with the public school system of the county, as he was then elected to the office of county superintendent of public instruction, in which position he was chosen as his own sureessor in 1908. Mr. Randall has given untiring energy, much study and marked discrimination to the systematizing of the work of the county schools and bringing them up to a high standard. His efforts have been fruitful in results of enduring
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order and he has secured the earnest cooperation of the people of the county as well as of the teachers in all departments of the work. All of his own work as a teacher has been in country schools and he has thus realized the expediency of raising the standard of the same and thus offering the best possible facilities to many whose scholastic advantages can not be further extended. He is a member of the Kansas State Teachers' Association and also the Northeastern Kansas Teachers' Asso- ciation, in the work of each of which he has shown a most active interest.
Taking an intelligent interest in political affairs, Mr. Randall is found arrayed as a stanch supporter of the eanse of the Demoeratie party, and in the Masonic fraternity he has advanced to the thirty- second degree of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, besides which he is also affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He still resides on his farm in Perry township, near the village of Wolcott, where he has maintained his home for the past twenty years. He has made excellent improvements on the place, and it is one of the valuable places of the county, the while it represents the concrete results of his own well directed endeavors as one of the world's workers. Mr. Randall served one year as postmaster at Wolcott. under Republican administration, though he himself is a Demoerat. as already noted.
In the year 1888 Mr. Randall assumed connubial responsibilities and gained a devoted companion and helpmeet by his marriage to Miss Jessie I. Schagel. daughter of a representative farmer of this county. The four children of this union are Glenn Howard. Lola Aretha, Roscoe Ray and Charles Nelson.
WILLIAM A. Cov .- A scion of families whose names have been iden- tified with American history since the early Colonial era, a native . son of Ohio and a pioneer of both Towa and Kansas, there has been no dearth of incident in the career of this venerable citizen and still active business man of Kansas City, where he is senior member of the mereantile firm of Coy & Hitehins, conducting a well equipped general store in the Armourdale disvision of the city. His life has been one of consecutive industry. and he has been identified with normal lines of business enter- prise at various places in Kanses, the while he has stood exponent of loyal and progressive citizenship and has so deported himself in all the relations of life as to merit and receive the high regard of his fellow men.
William Allen Coy was born on a farm in Portage county, Ohio. on the 30th of November, 1835. and is a son of Allen M. and Sarah (Bush) Coy. the former of whom was a native of Chenango county. New York, and the latter of whom was also born in that state, within whose borders the family was early founded. Shubel Coy, grandfather of him to whom this sketch is dedicated, was the youngest in a family of fourteen sons, and his father moved from Connecticut to New York in an early day. The genealogy is traced back to sturdy English origin and the original American progenitors settled in New England in the Colonial days. Representatives of the name were found enrolled as patriot soldiers in the Continental line in the war of the Revolution, and the name has ever stood exponent of the highest type of patriotism and loyalty, as well as of usefulness in connection with the productive activities of life. Allen M. Coy was reared to maturity in the old Em-
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pire state, whence as a young man he made his way to Ohio and num- bered himself among the pioneers of Portage county, in the historie old Western Reserve. There he reclaimed a farm and also became a pros- perous merchant and an extensive dealer in cattle, this stock being driven overland to the eastern markets in the early days. He was one of the honored and influential citizens of Portage county for many years, and he finally removed thence to Buchanan county, Iowa, where he died at the age of sixty-two years. Mr. and Mrs. Coy became the parents of three sons and three daughters.
Under the environments and influences of the pioneer homestead farm in Portage county, Ohio, William A. Coy was reared to years of maturity and after duly availing himself of the advantages of the com- mon schools of the locality and period he pursued high academie studies for a time in a local seminary. In 1852. at the age of seventeen years, Mr. Coy severed the gracious home ties and set forth to seek his fortunes in the west. He went to Buchanan county, Iowa, where he secured a tract of land and instituted the development of the same. He platted the little pioneer village of Coyville, in association with his father, who came with other members of the family to that county somewhat later than did William A., and there the latter established the first general store. To his farm and store he continued to devote his attention until 1856, when he came to Kansas and purchased land near Valley Falls, Jefferson county. He had but recently attained to his legal majority and abont a year later he found it expedient to angment his financial resources by assuming the position of traveling salesman for a large concern in Buffalo. New York, engaged in the handling of drugs and
patent medicine. He thus continued to travel in the western states for a period of about four years, at the expiration of which he returned to his farm in Jefferson county, Iowa. He was soon afterward eleeted register of deeds of the county and he retained this office two years. Before the expiration of his term he was given further assurance of popular confidenee and esteem by his election to the position of county treasurer. In the latter office he served two years. £ After his retire- ment he assnmed a position as salesman for the wholesale dry goods house of Fairchild & Pierce, of Leavenworth, Kansas, and after having been thus engaged for two years he returned to Jefferson county, Iowa, and opened a general store at Oskaloosa, the county seat. There he con- tinned to be actively engaged in the mercantile trade for nearly forty years. as one of the leading business men and influential citizens of the county.
In 1886, noting the industrial development and promising future of Kansas City. Kansas, Mr. Coy came to Wyandotte county and opened a general store at Armourdale, where he has since continued to be en- gaged in the retail mercantile business, with marked success and where the enterprise is now condneted under the title of Coy & Hitehins, his coadintor being likewise a progressive and reliable business man. Mr. Coy has also been interested in several other mercantile enterprises, both in Kansas City, Kansas, and Kansas City, Missouri, and he has shown capacity for the effective administration of business affairs of wide scope. He continued his business at Oskaloosa, Iowa, for several years after his removal to Kansas, but he has disposed of the greater part of his property in the Hawkeye state.
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As a citizen Mr. Coy has shown the utmost loyalty and progressive- ness, and he has contributed of his influence and co-operation in the up- building of Kansas City, of which he had the distinetion of serving as mayor in 1891, in an administration of most excellent order. In poli- tics he has ever given an unqualified allegiance to the Republican party. and he recalls with pleasure that he cast his first vote in support of General John C. Fremont, the first candidate of the party for the presi- deney, in the fall of 1856. His father, who had previously been affi- liated with the Whig party, was by his side at the time and likewise cast a vote for the standard-bearer of the new party. Thus it comes that Mr. Coy has exercised his franchise in support of every presidential candidate presented by the "grand old party." He has been identified with the Masonie fraternity sinee 1864, and his maximum degrees in the same, taken about 1866. are those of the capitular body, or Roval Arch Masons.
In Illinois, in the year 1861, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Coy to Miss Julia Cole, who was born and reared in that state and whose father was one of its sterling pioneers. Mr. and Mrs. Coy have but one living child, who is the wife of a Mr. Sims, a representative business man of Armourdale.
TIERA FARROW .- Such distinctive executive ability as that posses- sed by Miss Farrow prechides the obscuring of the same, but not many similarly fortified are called to positions of such important public trust as that of which she is incumbent. She is city treasurer of Kansas City, the fine metropolis of the county to which this publication is de- voted, and in the handling of the fiscal affairs of the city she has shown great discrimination and financial acumen. A gracious and womanly woman, she is held in unqualified esteem in the city of her home, and she has been a resident of Kansas since her childhood days.
Miss Farrow, who is twenty-nine years of age at the time of this writing, in 1911, claims the fine old Hoosier state as the place of her nativity, as she was born at Columbus, the judicial center of Bartholo- mew county, Indiana, in which state were likewise born her parents, Alva Curtis Farrow and Martha (Haislup) Farrow, both of whom traced their ancestry back to stanch English origin. The present eity treasur- er of Kansas City was three years of age at the time of the family removal from Indiana to Kansas, and she was reared to maturity in Garnett, the county seat of Anderson county, where her parents still maintain their home and where her father has long ben a representative merchant and influential citizen. After her graduation in the Garnett high school, as member of the elass of 1898. Miss Farrow went to Kansas City. Missouri, where she completed an effective course in stenography and hookkeeping, after which she assumed the position of private secretary in the office of the Kansas state grain inspector, in Kansas City, this state. She retained this incumbency for five years, doing her assigned work with all of care and thoroughness, and in the mean while she further showed her ambition and independence by taking up the study of law. in which connection she completed the preseribed three years' course in the Kansas City School of Law, in Kansas City, Missouri. This course was pursued in the night classes, while she continued to give due attention to her responsible duties in the office of the state grain
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inspector. She was graduated in the institution mentioned as a member of the class of 1903, and received therefrom the degree of Bachelor of Laws. In the same year she was admitted to practice in the state and federal courts of Kansas and thereupon entered the law office of Dail & Carter, of Kansas City, this state, where she became actively and suc- cessfully identified with the work of her profession, to which she thus gave her undivided attention until 1907, when she yielded to the impor- tunities of many of her friends and consented to become a candidate for the office of city treasurer, to which she was elected in that year, by a gratifying majority. The best assurance of the effective service given by her in this office is that afforded in her re-election in 1909, by an in- creased majority. Though denied the right of franchise, Miss Farrow is admirably fortified in her opinions as to matters of publie polity and is a stanch advocate of the principles and policies for which the Republi- can party stands sponsor. She is an earnest and zealous member of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union and the Young Women's Chris- tian Association, in which latter she is a valued member of the board of trustees of the local association. She has been specially aetive in work for the benefit of women and girls and has given every possible assis- tance in works of private and organized charity and benevolence. The progress made by Miss Farrow as one of the world's noble army of pro- ductive workers stands the more to her honor by reason of the fact that through her own efforts she provided the means for her professional education and personal maintenance, the while she has not denied herself the gracious amenities that have made her a favorite in the leading social activities of her home city.
HARRY DARBY .- One of the important industrial enterprises of Kansas City, Kansas, is that conducted under the corporate title of the Missouri Boiler Works Company, and of this corporation Harry Darby. its founder, is president and general manager. The company was in- corporated in 1905 and bases its operations upon ample capital and effective executive control. The well equipped plant has the best of facilities for the manufacturing of boilers, tanks and sheet-iron work, and the enterprise has been built up from a modest nucleus to one of such scope as to make it a valuable contribution to the industrial and commercial activities of Kansas City. At the beginning only seven or eight men were employed and the growth of the business is shown in the fact that at the present time a corps of fully sixty operatives is retained,-the most of the number being skilled mechanies. Mr. Darby has been president and general manager of the company since the time of its incorporation and is virtually the owner of the business, as he holds nearly all of its capital stoek.
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