USA > Kansas > Wyandotte County > History of Wyandotte County, Kansas, and its people, Vol. II > Part 7
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At Adel, Iowa, on the 20th of August, 1857. Mr. Seward was united in marriage to Miss Nancy Luddington, whose birth occurred at Wil- liamsport, Indiana, on the 14th of January, 1840, and who is a daughter of Henry and Julia (Tarpning) Enddington, both of whom passed the closing years of their lives in Nebraska, whither they had removed in 1862. This union was prolific of the following children. concerning whom the following brief record is here inserted: Ella, who became the wife of Leander Hosp, is deceased ; Linnie is the wife of E. P. Hollo- way and resides at 933 Sandusky avenue; Ida died at the age of three years; Irene passed away when eight months of age; Charles died aged six years ; Ethel died at the age of eight months ; and Myrtle is now the wife of John C. Taylor, a sketch of whose career appears on other pages of this work. Mrs. Seward is a woman of most gracious personality and she is deeply beloved by all who have come within the sphere of her gentle influence.
Mr. Seward was always greatly interested in community affairs and his every effort was exerted to advance the general welfare of the city in which he so long resided. llis genial, kindly manner won him the high regard of all with whom he came in contact and thus his death was uniformly mourned throughout Kansas City and the surrounding district. lle retained a deep and abiding interest in his comrades in arms and signified the same by membership in the Grand Army of the Republic. His religious faith was in harmony with the tenets of the Protestant Episcopal church, of which he and his wife were devont communicants.
JAMES PHILIP MURRAY .- This sketch is dedicated to a man who is not only in himself well known, but to one who, through untiring efforts and much experience, has perfected the baking art, and has been able to turn out a bread which is not only deliciously palatable but especial- ly wholesome as well. He was born in County Tyrone in the north of Ireland, a son of Philip and Margaret (Irwin) Murray, the latter being
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a native of the south of Ireland. Mr. Murray was a successful farmer, and it meant much more in that country of large estates and penurions landlords, to be a successful farmer than it does in America, where any man can be "lord of his own domain." He died in his native country in 1871, and his wife in 1896.
James Philip Murray came to this country when he was nineteen years old and located at Johnstown, Pennsylvania. There he first engaged in the bakery business, and when he had learned the rudi- ments of the business. the mechanical part, he decided that he wished to learn other things through more practical experience. So he ac- cepted employment at his trade in different states, being engaged in Kansas City first in 1888. In 1891 he went to Durango. Colorado. where he went into business for himself, remaining there until 1897, when he sold ont and returned to Kansas City. In the meantime he continued traveling, gaining new experiences and perceiving new and better methods which he stored away in his mind for later develop- ment. In 1902 he started a bakery in Kansas City, Missouri. which he called the Murray Bread Bakery. lle did a flourishing and success. ful business there until he decided to come back to Kansas City, Kan. sas, and in 1905, located at Eleventh street, at the corner of Minne- sota avenue. In 1910 he built a modern, up-to-date bakery at 904-908, North Seventeenth street, and the next year put up a substantial and beautiful residence in close proximity to his business, located. at 902 Seventeenth street, where he now resides.
In 1902, while living in Kansas City, Missouri, James Philip Murray was married to Mrs. Catherine (Barry) Hoffman, who had formerly been married to Albert Hoffman. by whom she had one dangh- ter. Alberta, who still lives with her mother. and assists Mr. Murray very materially in the management of his baking business. Mrs. Murray's maiden name was Catherine Barry, a daughter of John and Adeline (Kelly) Barry, the former a native of Kentucky. while the mother was born in Waterford, Ireland, a daughter of Michael Kelly. and came to the United States in 1866, where she married Mr. Barry two years later, April 10, 1868. Mr. Barry was a native of Kentucky, as above stated, and was a soldier in the Civil war, receiving his honor- able discharge at Nashville, Tennessee, at the close of hostilities. To Mr. and Mrs. Barry were born four children, as follows: John. an only son. who died in infancy; Mary, now employed in the Kansas City, Missouri, post office; Ella, an employe of the Kansas City, Kansas, post office ; and Mrs. Murray, the wife of our subject. Mr. Barry passed on to eternal life on Jannary 21, 1888.
Mr. Murray is a member of the Hibernian Society of Kansas City, and also belongs to the order of the Knights of Columbus. He is a member of St. Peter's Parish Catholic church. IIe has reason to con- gratulate himself on the success he has achieved during the years he has been in America, inasmuch as it has all been accomplished through his own efforts and ability.
ALBERT SOUTHWICK .- The patent of nobility that rested its honors and distinctions in the person of Albert Southwick came from high authority since it was based upon exalted character and distinguished ability. Looking into the clear perspective of his career there may be
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seen definite courage, persistent determination and self-confidence, which, as coupled with integrity of purpose, are the factors that con- serve success and make it consistent. Mr. Southwick was a resident of Kansas for a period of twenty-one years and during that period gained recognition as a citizen whose loyalty and public spirit were of the most insistent order. For three years prior to his demise, which occurred on the 20th of January, 1891, he maintained his home in Kansas City, were his widow, who still survives him, resides at the present time.
Albert Southwick was born in Vermont on the 8th of April, 1838, and he was a son of Abram and Maria (Smith) Southwick, both of whom were natives of Collins Center, New York, where was solemnized their marriage and whence they removed to Vermont. Later, however, in 1840, the family home was established near the city of Detroit, Mich- igan, where Mrs. Southwick died two years later. After that sad event Mr. Southwick returned east, settling in Erie county, New York, where his death occurred abont 1890. After his mother's death the young Albert went to live with his maternal grandparents at Collins Center, New York, in the public schools of which place he received his preliminary educational training. At the age of eighteen years, in 1856, he came to Kansas, where he subsequently enlisted as a soldier in the Seventh Kansas Volunteer Infantry, which regiment was later con- solidated with the Third to form the Tenth Kansas regiment. During the early portion of his service he was with John Brown in Kansas and he was the only survivor of four men whom Quantrell, in 1860, in- veigled from Kansas to Missouri with the apparent purpose of enticing some slaves to escape. This was near Hickman's Mills, in Jackson connty, Missouri, and the four men were betrayed by Quantrell and all were killed except Mr. Sonthwick, who, through some miracle, managed to escape. The men killed were Lipsey, Ball and Morrison. Mr. Southwick's picture hangs in Historical Hall at the State House, Topeka, Kansas, in memory of the historical incident connected with Quantrell. He enlisted for service in the Union army in June, 1861, and during the three years of his gallant service he participated in a number of important battles marking the progress of the war. He received his honorable discharge and was mustered out of service on the 30th of August, 1864, at which time he went to Champaign, Illinois, where he worked at his trade of carpenter for the ensuing six years. In 1870 he established the family home at Salina in Saline connty, Kansas, where he was employed at the work of his trade for the following eight- een years. In September, 1888, removal was made to Kansas City, Kansas, where he was engaged in carpenter work for the Union Pacific Railroad Company for the remainder of his life. In politics he ac- corded a stalwart allegiance to the principles and policies promulgated by the Republican party and while he was never ambitious for political preferment of any description he was ever on the alert and enthusiasti- cally in sympathy with all measures and enterprises advanced for the good of the general welfare. In a fraternal way he was affiliated with the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and he signi- fied his deep and sincere interest in his old comrades in arms by member- ship in the Grand Army of the Republic. His religious faith was in harmony with the tenets of the Methodist Episcopal church, to whose Vol. II-4
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philanthropical work he was always a most liberal contributor. At the time of his death, on the 20th of January, 1891, his loss was uniformly mourned throughout Kansas City, where the list of his personal friends was coincident with that of his acquaintances. Ilis remains were in- terred in Washington cemetery, at Kansas City, Missouri.
On the 27th of May, 1861, Mr. Southwick was united in marriage to Miss Susan P. Matthews, whose birth occurred in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and who is a daughter of John and Rebecca (White) Matthews, both of whom were likewise natives of Westmore- land county, Pennsylvania. In 1856 the Matthews family removed to Ogle county, Illinois, and three years later the home was established in Champaign county, that state. John Matthews passed to the life eternal in September, 1865, and his cherished and devoted wife died in 1882. Mrs. Southwick is a woman of most gracious personality and she is held in high esteem by all with whom she has come in contaet. Concerning the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Southwick the following brief data is here incorporated: Frank is general foreman in the machine shop of the Union Pacific Railroad Company. at Kansas City. Kansas, his home being at 1258 Central avenne: Clarence resides at home with his widowed mother: he is head hog-buyer for Swift & Com- pany, having been with that concern since 1897; and Albert died in infancy.
HERMANN BELTER .- No foreign country has given more to our land in the way of persistent industry and valuable staying qualities than the German empire. Its people are distinguished wherever they locate for the endurance with which they labor toward any desired end, and the skill and energy with which they prosecute their efforts. If they build their house in a barren waste it soon blooms around them like a garden. In whatever calling or business they engage they make steady progress and benefit the locality around them.
These characteristics have been prominent in their history in this country, which they always find in need of constructive work, and which they always improve. A member of this race resident in Kansas City, Kansas, who is worthy of commendatory mention in this work because of what he is and what he has accomplished is Hermann Belter, at one time one of the enterprising and progressive business men of the eity. hut for some years now retired from all active pursuits. He has been a resident of Kansas City sinee 1869, and during the period of his active life here was a potent influence in helping to build up. improve and beautify the municipality.
Mr. Belter was born in Prussia, Germany. on September 6, 1833. He is a scion of families long resident in that country, whose members have been known and esteemed for many generations as thrifty and most estimable persons, ever faithful to duty and giving worthy ex- amples of usefulness and good citizenship to all around them. His parents were William and Lonisa (Sehildermann) Belter, natives of Prussia and lifelong dwellers in their native land. The father died there in 1847 and the mother in 1866, having reached the advanced age of eighty years.
ITerman Belter remained in the land of his birth until he reached the age of twenty-four years. then, in 1847, came to the United States,
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landing at New Orleans on his arrival in this country. He had secured a fair common school education and learned his trade as a shoemaker in Germany, and so was well prepared to make his way in a new country overflowing with opportunities for advancement where industry. fru- gality and perseverance governed the efforts made to secure it.
During the first six years of his residence in America he remained in New Orleans working at his trade. He then engaged in the grocery trade for two years, and in 1865 came up to St. Louis to pass his sum- mers, always returning to New Orleans for the winter. He conducted a thriving grocery business in St. Louis until 1869, when he started a long continuance of zealous attention to a prosperous and profitable saloon business in Kansas City. Kansas, which he conducted on Minne- sota avenne until 1881. TIe then retired from business of every kind, and from that time to the present (1911) has been living at his ease and in the peaceful enjoyment of the fruits of his successful labors of former years.
He owns a large brick business block, twenty-eight feet wide and eighty feet deep on Minnesota avenue, and other valuable property in different parts of the city. The business block is two stories high and always occupied with profitable tenants. It is one of the most valuable
pieces of city property in its locality. He has helped in many other ways to build up and improve the city and county of his residence, always giving his active support to all worthy projects for the purpose. In polities he is independent and in fraternal life a member of the Order of Odd Fellows. He takes great interest in the work of his lodge and has passed through all the chairs in its government. Twice he has made trips to Germany, remaining several months each time. He has never married.
AUSTIN T. MCKAY, court reporter of District No. 5, Division No. 1, in Kansas City, Kansas, is an altruistic and public-spirited citizen, who has the best interests of the community at heart and whose contribution to progress and development in this section of the fine old Sunflower state has ever been of the most insistent order.
At Marseilles, Illinois, on the 5th of November, 1872, occurred the birth of Austin T. MeKay, his parents being Hiram and Elizabeth (Etherton) MeKay, the former of whom was born in the state of Virgin- ia, in 1822, and the latter of whom was born in Indiana, in 1829. The father was seven years of age at the time of his parents' removal from the Old Dominion commonwealth to Evansville, Indiana, where the paternal grandparent of him whose name introduces this article was long a resident. In 1879 ITiram MeKay came to Kansas, locating at Inde- pendence, where he engaged in the great basic industry of agriculture and where he passed the residue of his life, his death having occurred in the spring of 1897. He was a stanch Democrat in his political pro- clivities and his religions faith was in accordance with the teachings of the Baptist church. His cherished and devoted wife survives him and now maintains her home in Oklahoma, where she resides on a farm with her children, George W. and Miss Sophia. Concerning the other chil- dren of Mr. and Mrs. McKay the following brief data is here recorded : Mrs. Mattie Hopper is a resident of the city of Chicago, Illinois; Mrs. Myra Mountain is deceased; Francis Marion is engaged as a prin-
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cipal in Chicago: Benjamin F. resides at Independence, Kansas; Archie S. operates a large farm near Enid, Oklahoma; Mrs. Emma Miles and Mrs. Josie Miles reside at Garden City, Kansas; Charles died in infancy ; and Austin T. is the immediate subject of this review.
Austin T. MeKay accompanied his parents to Independence, Kansas, when a lad of but six years of age and thenee removal was later made to Anthony, this state. to the public schools of which place he is indebted for his early educational training. In 1889 he was matriculated in the Valparaiso University, in Indiana, in which excellent institution he was graduated as a member of the class of 1893. Thereafter he secured a position as conrt stenographer at Anthony, Kansas, and subsequently at Enid, Oklahoma. In 1904 he came to Kansas City, where he has since been court stenographer of District No. 5. Division No. 1. He and his wife are devout members of the Baptist church, in whose faith he was reared and they are both highly respected citizens in the community in which they reside.
On the 11th of July, 1894, Mr. MeKay was united in marriage to Miss Della Simpson, of Medicine Lodge, Kansas. To this union has been born one child. Hazel, whose birth occurred on August 18, 1895, and who is now attending the public schools in this city.
GUS F. WIENIE .- Pursuing the even tenor of his way as a farmer and briekmaker during the sixteen years of his residence in this state, living prudently, working diligently and exemplifying from day to day the attributes of elevated and worthy citizenship in all the relations of life. Gus F. Wiehe of Kansas City. Kansas, has rendered his day and generation good service so far. both in what he has accomplished himself and in the forces he has set in motion in others by the influence of his excellent example.
Although not a native of Kansas, Mr. Wiehe is as true and loyal to every interest of the state as if he had been born in it and had drawn his stature and his strength from its fruitful soil. His life began at Farley, Platte county, Missouri, on April 15, 1873, and he is a son of William and Caroline (Stagemiller) Wiehe, natives of Germany. The father came to the United States in 1831 and Joeated in Cincinnati, Ohio. From there he moved a short time afterward to Indiana, where he married and remained three years. His tendeney was still west- ward, however, and at the end of the period mentioned he came on to the border of Kansas, taking up his residence on a farm in Platte county, Missouri, on which he passed the remainder of his days, dying there in 1901. ITis widow still makes her home on the farm, and is now (1911) seventy-six years of age.
They were the parents of seven children, all of whom are living: Frank, a resident of Wallula, Kansas; Florence, the widow of Fred Khronee, whose home is in Leavenworth ; Elizabeth, the wife of Charles Meyer. a prosperous citizen of Fairmount, Kansas; Henry and John, who still live at Farley, Missouri; Gus F., the subject of this brief ro- view, and Lena, who is her mother's companion and helper on the old homestead. All are doing well in their several localities and occupa- tions, and are highly respected wherever they are known for their sterling worth.
Mr. Wiehe remained with his parents until he reached the age of ..
1.
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twenty-one, receiving his education in the district schools of his native county, and acquiring habits of useful industry in the work of his father's farm. In 1894 he moved to Leavenworth county, this state, determined to thenceforth make his own way in the world solely by his own energy and ability, without any aid from family connections or influence. He rented a farm in Leavenworth county for five years and prospered in the use of it, doing his work intelligently and with steady diligence, and managing his affairs with close attention and good judgment.
Tiring of farming and seeing an opening in industrial life better suited to his desires, he quit tilling the soil and accepted employment in vard No. 3 of the Kaw Brick Company of Kansas City, Kansas. He worked in this yard four years with such capacity and fidelity that at the end of that time he was made superintendent of the company's clay fields at Fairdale. After five years of highly acceptable service to the company in this position it made him superintendent of its plant No. 3 in Kansas City, and he is still one of its reliable aids and supports in that position. In this plant the company employs regularly thirty men all the year round in the manufacture of the widely and favorably known Trip Hammer brick. Mr. Wiehe was married on January 29, 1894, to Miss Mary Myrick, who was born in Woleott, Kansas, and is a daughter of George and Emma Myrick, the parents both natives of Pennsylvania.
Mr. and Mrs. Wiehe have two children, Clyde, sixteen years old and Leota, ten years old. The parents are zealous members of the Christian church, though the children are attendants of the German Lutheran church. The father adheres to the Democratic party in poli- tical allegiance, being a firm believer in the principles of his party, but he is not an active partisan in campaign work and has no ambition for public office, whether it come to him by election or appointment. He finds plenty to keep him occupied and satisfy all his desires for pro- ductive activity in his work, without seeking additional cares in public life. But he takes an earnest and helpful interest in the affairs of his city and county, and does his share of what is necessary to promote the best interests of the region in which he lives. He is widely known and everywhere esteemed as a good man and excellent citizen.
THE WYANDOTTE WAGON & CARRIAGE WORKS has been run as an in- corporated company for many years, but in June, 1911, it was hought by James Gerlecz, so that now his interests and that of the company are identical. The Wyandotte Wagon & Carriage Works is doing a large business, principally in the nature of repairing wagons and car- riages. As Mr. Gerleez has been in Kansas City such a short time, a few words in regard to his past history may be of interest to his patrons and acquaintances.
James Gerlecz is a native of Hungary, where he was born April 6, 1882. He spent his childhood and youth in his home town, where he attended the excellent public schools that have recently been installed for the Magyar race, and he there learned the machinist trade. He was industrious and skilful, but the rate of wages in Hungary is less than one-fifth that which is paid for the same work in America, and he decided to try his fortunes in the United States. In 1902, in the
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spring of the year, he bade farewell to his beloved IIungary, with its ever blue Danube, and came across the continent of Europe, where he took passage for America. Ile first located at Newark, Ohio, where he gained employment with a very large concern, but it was not his inten- tion to work for others very long, and as soon as an opportunity arose, he came to Kansas City-in the fall of the year in which he had landed in America, and in Kansas City he secured a position with the Union Pacific Railroad Company. IIe worked in the shops of this company until the month of June, 1911, at which time he bought the Wyandotte Carriage & Wagon Works, as above indicated. Mr. Gerleez is a per- fect master of his business, and he has so readily entered into the Ameri- can ways of doing things that his success in the new venture is assured. He not only knows how to turn out good work, but he seems instinctively to understand how to handle customers and keep them in good humor. He, like most of his countrymen, is a born linguist, and has readily gained a command of the American tongue, so that he is not handi- capped in that regard.
In 1905 Mr. Gerlecz was united in marriage to Miss Anna Nemeth, the daughter of John Nemeth, a resident of Kansas City, where the wedding occurred. To this union two children have been born, Irene and Goldie, but little Goldie was not destined to battle with the world, as in the month of July, 1909, the little, frail, eight months' old baby, died and was buried in St. John's cemetery, mourned by her parents and the small sister who was too young to realize the extent of her loss.
Mr. Gerlecz's father, Frank Gerlecz, is still living in Hungary, where he buried his wife, Katie (Rengal) Gerleez, in 1897, at the age of forty-two. Mr. James Gerlecz has that spirit of determination which is bound to have its effect, and although the wagon works has been a prosperous coneern, it is evident from the manner in which its present proprietor has commeneed his active connection with these works, that they will be the gainers by the changed managers.
JOHN LOUIS SCHAIBLE .- After a man has been working at the same trade for two decades, it is to be supposed that he has attained a certain amount of proficiency. Mr. Schaible is one of the most prominent horse shoers in Kansas City, where he has been identified with the trade for a period of twenty-one years, during which time he has been wonderfully successful, and sinee he first opened his own shop he has branched out in different directions. His work is never done on a haphazard basis, but is most earefully planned and executed.
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