USA > Kansas > Wyandotte County > History of Wyandotte County, Kansas, and its people, Vol. II > Part 64
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
In addition to his work as a contractor he followed farming on a seale of some magnitude, beginning in the early seventies, and dealt extensively in farm land. For his own purposes as a farmer he owned sixty acres in Wyandotte township, this county, and one hundred and sixty acres near Olathe in the adjoining county of Johnson. He died on his farm on October 10, 1901, and his widow after surviving him eight years, passed away at the same place on November 2, 1909. They were the parents of nine children : F. M., who is a resident of Buffalo, New York, and editor of the Searchlight, a newspaper published in that city ; Mary, who died at the age of twenty-six; Anna, the wife of Daniel Moran, of Wyandotte; Mark, who died in infancy; John J., the im- mediate subject of this memoir; Margaret, the wife of William Burnett of Kansas City, Kansas; J. P., who lives in this county ; Mark M., whose home is also in Kansas City, Kansas; and James, who died in infancy. All but one of the living members of this large family are valued con- tributors to the welfare and advancement of the locality in which their parents dignified and adorned good citizenship with useful labor.
John J. Cassidy grew to manhood and obtained his education in the city of his nativity and life long residence. He attended District School No. 4, and St. Mary's, St. Bridget's and Annunciation Catholic parochial schools, completing his scholastic training at the high school corner of Seventh and Ann streets. At the age of twenty-one he ac- cepted employment on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad. A year and a half later he was injured in the work and obliged to give up all connection with the railroad service. He then became an assistant of his brother-in-law, William Burnett, in the meat market belonging to the latter, and during the next seventeen years worked for him.
On September 18, 1904, he was appointed on the city police force, being assigned to duty as the driver of a patrol wagon, a position which he held until June 18, 1909, and which brought him many times into hazardous situations and exacted of him heroie work. On the date last mentioned he became a citizens' policeman on Central avenue over a beat extending from State Line to James and Ohio streets, and in this capacity he is still rendering satisfactory service to the people.
On September 13, 1892, Mr. Cassidy was united in marriage with Miss Josephine Ward, a native of Buffalo, Dallas county, Missouri, whose father died when she was an infant. Her mother was afterward mar- ried to a gentleman with whom she is still living in Emporia, Kansas.
975
HISTORY OF WYANDOTTE COUNTY
Mr. and Mrs. Cassidy have had no children. In politics the head of the house is an independent Democrat, but with considerable loyalty to his party organization, which he has served efficiently as a member of its county central committee in Wyandotte county. In fraternal relations he is connected with the Fraternal Order of Eagles, holding member- ship in Aerie No. 87, of his home city. He and his wife are members of St. Bridget's Catholic church.
HUGH J. SMITH .- The value of concentration of effort has been significantly shown in the career of this honored legist and jurist of Wyandotte county, for he has gained his prestige as able member of the Kansas bar through his own application, while the popular verdict placed upon him as a man and a representative member of his profession is indicated by his incumbency of his present office, that of judge of the court of common pleas of his home county. He resided at Argen- tine, this county, until his election to his present office, when he transferred his home to Kansas City, the judicial center of the county, and prior to his elevation to the bench he had built up a large and im- portant practice, involving association with many prominent litigations in both state and federal courts in this section of the Sunflower common- wealth. The noteworthy achievements of Judge Smith are the more gratifying to contemplate on the score that he has been in the most emphatic sense the artificer of his own fortunes, and, formulating definite plans, he has steadily pressed forward toward the accomplish- ment of desired ends, the while his course has been ever directed along the lines of the most insistent personal integrity and honor.
Hugh Jason Smith was born in the little city of Lincoln, Logan county, Illinois, on the 23d of August, 1865, and is a son of Dennison and Mary Eliza (Collins) Smith, the former of whom was born in James- town, Chautauqua county, New York, and the latter of whom was born in Logan county, Illinois, where her parents settled in the pioneer days and whence they later removed to Iowa, where was solemnized her mar- riage to Dennison Smith. The father of Judge Smith continued to reside in Logan county, Illinois, until 1882, when he removed with his family to Harrison county, Missouri, where he purchased a farmi and where he continued to be identified with the great basic industry of agriculture during the remainder of his active career.
To the public schools of Lincoln, Illinois, is Judge Smith indebted for his early eduational training, and he was seventeen years of age at the time of the family removal to Missouri, where he contributed his quota to the work of the home farm and also continued his studies in the district schools. In the spring of 1887 he proved himself eligible for pedagogic honors, and he was a successful teacher in a district school in his home county during the winter term of 1887-8. In the following spring he came to Kansas and located in the thriving little city of Argentine, Wyandotte county, where he found employment at the car- penter trade and where he taught in the Stanley school during the fall of that year. In the spring of 1889 he secured the contract of the erection of the city hall in Argentine, and after successfully carrying through this work he there engaged in the real-estate, insurance and collecting business. In the meanwhile he has taken a course in the Spalding Commercial College. in Kansas City, Missouri, and he was
976
HISTORY OF WYANDOTTE COUNTY
graduated in this institution as a member of the class of 1888. While engaged in business as noted he also began the reading of law under effective private preceptorship, and he made rapid progress in his assimilation of the seience of jurisprudence, with the result that he secured admission to the bar in 1893. These brief statements bear evidence of the ambition and determination of Judge Smith and also indicate his fertility in expedients. He has never been afraid of hard work, and close application figures as the medium through which he has developed his talents and gained a position of prominence in his chosen profession.
After his admission to the bar Judge Smith engaged in the prae- tiee of his profession at Argentine, and to one who had previously shown such definite energy and determination in the surmounting of obstacles, success was virtually a foregone conclusion. He proved his powers as an advocate and counselor and soon gained a satisfactory practice. In 1897 he was appointed city attorney of Argentine and he continued ineumbent of this office, by appointment and election, the latter in accordance with the new laws governing such preferments, for the long period of eleven years. In the election of November, 1908, there came distinctive popular recognition of the ability and character of Judge Smith in that he was elected to the bench of the court of com- mon pleas of Wyandotte county for a term of four years, beginning January 11, 1909. His administration on the bench has been marked by characteristic industry and serupulous diserimination, the while his decisions have been so carefully based on points of evidence, pre- cedents and the principles of equity and justice that few have met with reversal in the higher tribunals.
Upon his election to his present judicial office Judge Smith removed to Kansas City, the county seat, and here he has exemplified the same eivie loyalty and progressiveness that have previously marked his attitude. In polities he is a stanch and effective exponent of the generie principles and policies for which the Democratic party stands sponsor. In the time-honored Masonic fraternity he has completed the circle of the York Rite, in which he is affiliated with the lodge, chapter and council bodies in his home city, where his maximum membership is in Ivanhoe Commandery, No. 21, Knights Templars. Here also he is identified with the adjunet organization, Ararat Temple, Ancient Arabie Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. and further fraternal rela- tions are maintained with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Order of Moose, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Royal Neighbors, and the Eastern Star chapter of the Masonic order.
In the year 1891 Judge Smith was united in marriage to Miss Minerva Wight, of Ridgeway, Harrison county, Missouri, and they have two daughters,-Bertha and Mary. both of whom remain at the parental home.
JAMES F. MCKEOWN .- Numbered among the respected and highly esteemed residents of Kansas City, Kansas, is James F. MeKeown, who has had a varied experience in life, and during his active career has visited nearly every part of the globe. He was born June 2, 1856, in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, a son of John MeKeown, on both sides of the house being of pure Irish ancestry.
977
HISTORY OF WYANDOTTE COUNTY
John McKeown was born, bred and married in county Armagh, Ireland, the maiden name of his wife having been Elizabeth Ferguson. In 1849 he came with his bride to America, landing in New York city and traveling overland on the Philadelphia pike to Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. He was there engaged in business as a general merchant until 1865, when he entered the office of the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- pany, of which he was a stockholder. He afterwards became interested in the Westinghouse Electric Company, but from 1887 until his death, October 12, 1897, devoted his time to the care of his real estate interests in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. He reared a family of ten children, of whom James F. was the second child in succession of birth.
At the age of thirteen years, having obtained the rudiments of his future education in the public schools of his native county, James F. McKeown began to be self supporting. Going to Cleveland, Ohio, he worked for six months for his board and fifty cents a week. The follow- ing year he received a dollar and a half a month for his labors, and the second year his wages amounted to three dollars a week. Returning to the parental roof tree when sixteen years old, he spent four years in learning the trade of candy maker, at which he subsequently worked in Chicago, Illinois. From there he went back to Pittsburg, and, having formed a partnership with Edward Hagen, embarked in the catering business. Two years later the partnership was dissolved, and Mr. Mc- Keown went to Vera Cruz, Mexico, where, on January 5, 1881, he was united in marriage with Muzzeitte Pockitte, who was born in Vera Cruz, a daughter of Beiona Pockitte, an Indian and a lineal descendant of Pocahontas, the beautiful Indian girl of Jamestown, Virginia, who saved the life of Captain John Smith.
After his marriage Mr. MeKeown took his wife to New York City, sailing in the "City of Cleveland," one of the large steamers of the Ward line, and was there employed as a cracker baker for seven months. Going then with his wife to England, he was for a year employed in the London Biseuit Works, after which he worked in a bakery at Reading, England, several months. From there Mr. and Mrs. McKeown pro- ceeded to Belfast, Ireland, where their family circle was enlarged by the birth of twin daughters, Mary and Frances, neither of whom are now living. Returning from Ireland to the United States, Mr. MeKeown located with his family in New Orleans, Louisana, being there during the epidemic of yellow fever, from November, 1883, until the following March.
Proceeding then to St. Louis, Missouri, Mr. Mckeown was there employed in a bakery for two months, after which he visited his parents in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, for a time. Mr. and Mrs. McKeown came west from that city, traveling for a while, and in April, 1886, made a brief stop in Kansas City, Missouri. Going thence to San Francisco, he and his wife sailed for Australia, arriving in Sidney after a tedious voyage of sixty-three days. Disappointed at not finding the man with whom he expected to form a partnership, Mr. Mckeown sailed with his wife to Cairo, Egypt, from there going to Paris. He subsequently once more returned to his native land, locating in Pittsburg. Pennsyl- vania, where, on October 19, 1888, his wife died.
Mr. Mckeown again came westward, and after spending six months in Jackson county, Kansas, was for two years foreman in the shop of
978
HISTORY OF WYANDOTTE COUNTY
I. F. Peters, in Memphis, Tennessee. Going then to New York city, he worked in a bakery four weeks, but not content with his position re- turned to Memphis, and a little later inade a trip to Jackson county, Kansas.
There, on April 19, 1891, Mr. MeKeown married for his second wife Madeline Lasky, who was born in Pottawattomie county, Kansas, a daughter of John and Mary Ann Lasky, natives of Michigan. The follow- ing winter Mr. McKeown with his wife, visited his parents in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, from there going to Oklahoma, where he conducted a general store for eight months. Selling out, he visited old friends in Jackson county, Kansas, and in the spring of 1893 spent four weeks at the World's Fair in Chicago. Locating then in Kansas City, Missouri, Mr. MeKeown was for a year an engineer on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad. Settling then in Cleveland, Ohio, he was there in the employ of a bakery company for a few months, after which he was similarly employed in Denver, Colorado, for a few weeks. His health becoming impaired, he spent a while recuperating at Manitou Springs, Colorado, after which he returned to Kansas.
On August 5, 1898, at Leavenworth, Kansas, Mr. Mckeown enlisted in Company K, Thirty-second Regiment, United States Volunteers, for serviee in the Philippines. While there he was for eleven months and nineteen days confined in the Second Reserve Hospital, being afflicted with rheumatism of the nervous system. Since his return Mr. Mckeown has been a resident of Kansas, at the present time located in Kansas City. Politieally he supports the principles of the Republican party by voice and vote.
JOHN CARR .- Noteworthy for his intelligence, good citizenship and high moral character, John Carr, who has held the office of jailor at Kansas City, Kansas, for the past two years, is eminently deserving of special mention in a work of this kind. A native of Denmark, he was born May 15, 1857, and was there reared and educated.
Leaving his native country in 1868, John Carr came by way of an English steamer to the United States, landing in Portland, Maine, after a sea voyage of twenty-seven days. He continued his journey to Jeffer- son City, Missouri, where he had friends awaiting him, and soon found employment as water boy on a construction train. While thus working he attended night school, advaneing his education by diligent study. 1Ie afterward became engine wiper in one of the round houses on the Missouri Pacific Railway, and as soon as old enough began firing on that road. At the end of four years as a fireman, Mr. Carr spent four months in Denmark, visiting his many friends and relatives, on his re- turn to this country resuming his former position with the railway com- pany. Four months later, Mr. Carr went to California, locating first in Sacramento, and from there going to Vacaville, where he remained five years, being employed on a ranch four years and working for Mr. Dobbins a year. He was subsequently employed on a fruit farm in the Sacramento valley for a while, from there returning to Kansas City, Kansas.
The following four years Mr. Carr was ear repairer for the Chicago. Burlington & Quincey Railroad Company, after which he had charge of the car department of the Fowler Packing Company for sixteen years.
979
HISTORY OF WYANDOTTE COUNTY
Resigning from that position, he worked as a carpenter for a time, and has since been identified with municipal affairs, having served as city jailor the past two years.
While living in Vacaville, California, Mr. Carr joined the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, but has since been transferred to the lodge in Kansas City, Kansas, in which he has passed all the chairs and which he has represented at the Grand Lodge. He is a charter member of Franklin Lodge, Ancient Order of United Workmen, in which he has held all the offices.
Mr. Carr married, in Kansas City, Kansas, May 4, 1881, Mollie J. Johnson, who was born in Denmark, a daughter of H. Johnson. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Carr, namely : Mary .J., wife of Carl Hansen, of Riverview ; Nels J., living at home ; John M., a switch- man for the Union Pacific Railroad Company ; and a little daughter who lived but fourteen months.
EDWARD BUNYAR .- Flowers seem intended for the solace of ordinary humanity. Children love them. Quiet, tender, contented, ordinary people love them as they grow, and luxurious and disorderly people re- joice in them gathered. They are the cottager's treasure and in the crowded town they mark the windows of the workers in whose heart rests the covenant of peace. To the child and the girl, the lover and the poet they are precious always. Mr. Bunyar was a natural lover of flowers; it was a joy to him to watch them grow, not because of the money they would bring, but even as a mother watches the growth of her babe and sees new developments each day. It is because of his great love for flowers that he made such a great success of his business.
He was born in London, England, March 28, 1849, and attended the board schools in London. From a child he took great pleasure in visiting Battersea Park, Kensington Gardens, and the other parks nearer the city. He spent his money in seeking pleasures of this sort rather than in other more harmful pursuits. After he left school he went to work in a factory where they bottled sodas, and he continued in this work until he came to America in 1875. His brother-in-law, Richard Jarret, had come to the States several years before and had engaged in the florist business. He was very successful and the growing trade re- quired more attention than he could devote to all its branches. Know- ing of Edward's love for floriculture he asked him to come out and join him. The request was complied with and Edward came direct to Kan- sas City and worked for his brother-in-law, who had his greenhouse on Twelfth street at that time. Mr. Jarret took him in as his partner and they carried on the business together for nine years. At the expiration of that time Mr. Bunyar came to Rosedale, bought a lot of one hundred feet front and one hundred and twenty-five feet wide. On this he built two greenhouses, one a hundred by twenty feet and the other a hundred by eighteen feet. IFe raised flowers of all kinds and had a large trade in both potted and out flowers. He made up floral pieces for funerals and other purposes, and he succeeded in building up a most prosperous business. He died June 2, 1905.
Before he came to America he had married and three sons had been born to him, Ted. Robert and Edgar. £ In June. 1886, his wife died, and on November 6, 1889, he married Emily Taylor, daughter of Joseph
980
HISTORY OF WYANDOTTE COUNTY
Taylor, the noted hunter and taxidermist. He came to Kansas City when it was simply a frontier town through which the Indians often came and pillaged. He has seen it grow to its present magnitude. His object in coming to Kansas City was to mount four hundred head of bull buffalo, and since that time he has mounted animals and reptiles of all kinds. IIe has stuffed animals for various public institutions and for many American and foreign notables. He was a very successful hunter and has hunted with William Cody, Kit Carson and many other noted sportsmen. One of the reasons why he was such a sneeessful mounter of animals was because he was so familiar with them in their natural living conditions and he could therefore make them look almost life like. Mr. and Mrs. Bunyar had one son, Frank, born in Rosedale, August 10. 1890. He grew up with the plants and understands the business thoroughly. He and his mother have carried on the business since the death of Mr. Bunyar. People who trade with them feel sure of receiv- ing not only beautiful flowers, but the most courteous of treatment and fair prices. The family is greatly respected in Rosedale.
CHARLES E. McMURRAY-The beautiful residenee of Mr. MeMurray, located at Forty-seventh and Pucket Road, modern in every partieular and made of native grey stone from his Wyandotte quarry, attests to some slight degree his ability as a builder. Seven acres of his land are in fruit, the excellent quality of which has created a demand that the supply can scareely equal. An artificial lake, well stocked with fish adds to the pleasures and attractiveness of this comfortable home.
Mr. MeMurray is the son of John and Sylvia H. (Callens) MeMur- rav (now deceased), who were substantial residents of Appanoose coun- tv, Iowa. His father was of Scotch and German descent, being a direct «lespendant of Commodore MeMurray of Scotland. and his mother was of Irish extraction, these sturdy nationalities combining to make of Mr. McMurray one of those industrious and progressive American citizens that have furthered the advancement of Kansas. He was born near Moravia in Appanoose county, Iowa, October 3, 1856, where he passed the early vears of his life, later attending hoth the grammar and high school at. Booneshoro, Iowa, from which he graduated with high rank. When a young man he learned the carpenters' trade, and was also greatly interested in agriculture.
On April 11, 1878. he was united in marriage to the young daughter of Jeremiah and Adeline (Martin) Stone, both of prominent sonthern families, but who had removed to Missonri previous to the Civil war. Adeline Martin was a daughter of Brigadier General Phillip Martin. The union of Mr. and Mrs. MeMurray has been blessed with two daugh- ters : Ivy Noble, the wife of J. W. MeAdams, of Sedalia. Missouri, and Myrtle Sylvia. wife of A. T. Wirtman, of Kansas City, Missouri, they also have an adopted son, Charles Edward, the son of their daughter. Mrs. Wirtman by a former marriage. Mr. MeMurray engaged in the general merchandise business in Mereer county, Missouri, some few years after his marriage, removing to Kansas to engage in his chosen profession of contracting and building. But learning of the progress and the attendent possibilities of the state capital of Nebraska, he moved there, but his residence in Lincoln was of short duration and he returned to Kansas, his home by adoption, firmly convineed that the rich harvests,
·
981
HISTORY OF WYANDOTTE COUNTY
the commercial spirit and loyal citizenship that exists here can not be equaled, much less excelled elsewhere. He has continually kept abreast of the most up-to-date improvements in the building line, realizing that in no other way can he make a record for himself and add to the im- provements and advancement of his city and state. He is now one of the prominent carpenters and builders of Wyandotte county. Al- though his operations have not been confined within any limits, his principal work has been in erecting factories, flats and residences of Kansas City.
Busy as Mr. McMurray has been contracting and erecting buildings, he has found spare moments to devote to the fraternal orders with which he is affiliated, being a member of Rosedale Blue Lodge, No. 333, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons ; the Order of Eastern Star, Abdiel Chapter, No. 267; and Kansas City Camp, No. 2002, Modern Woodmen of America. The Hydepark Christian church, in which he and his esteem- able wife hold membership, likewise claims and receives a fair share of his time and attention. He is greatly interested in the municipal im- provements of his community, having always given liberally of his time, money and influence to promote the interests of clean government. It is through these wide spread interests that Mr. McMurray has developed into the broad minded Christian gentleman so prominent in Rosedale's commercial and social life.
Louis L. ELY has been engaged in the dairy business all his life and his father before him was a dairyman and himself taught the young man what he knew of the business. Mr. Ely, Jr., is the proprietor of the New Ely Dairy, located at Mill and Turkey avenne, where he conducts a prosperous business. Wyandotte county feels that it has a proprietary interest in Mr. Ely, who has spent practically his entire life in its limits. The people in his community have watched his development and that of his business : they have seen him grow from being his father's son to a man who has made a name for himself, not content to live upon the reputation of his father, however good that might be.
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.