USA > Kansas > Wyandotte County > History of Wyandotte County, Kansas, and its people, Vol. II > Part 71
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After he became located in Kansas City Mr. Schleifer started a brick yard in company with his brother Louis at the corner of Seventh and Ohio streets. The brick factory continued to turn out large quan- tities of fine brick for the use of the people until 1880, when Louis
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Schleifer died, and then his brother disposed of it, turning his attention to other business. In 1878 he went to Silverton, Colorado, and began prospecting in the mining industry in that state. He remained two years and became possessed of two silver mines, which he has never worked or developed. But throughout his absenee he retained his resi- dence in Kansas City, and he has lived here ever since, with only tem- porary absences on trips to other parts of the country on business or pleasure.
The untimely death of his brother changed his base of eperations, as has been stated above. Giving up the making of brick, he purchased a very eligible tract of land at the corner of Sixth street and Armstrong avenue and erected five modern houses on it. He has always been somewhat interested in real estate transactions, and has shown excellent judgment in all his ventures in this department of business. But he has won his competeney of this world's goods and has nothing now to do but enjoy it and render to others the service it enables him to give them.
In August, 1881, Mr. Schleifer was married to the widow of his brother Louis, who was Miss Louisa Voss prior to her first marriage. She was born in Franklin county, Missouri, but passed a large part of her life to the time of her death, on August 7, 1907, in this state. By her first marriage she became the mother of one child, her daughter Louisa M., who is now the wife of Herman Voigt, a highly respected resident of Kansas City, Kansas. Two children were born of her second marriage : Arthur, who is a member of Company No. 1, Kansas City, Kansas, fire department ; and Alma, now the wife of George M. Harmon, who is proprietor of an establishment making and selling tinware of all kinds. Mrs. Harmon has always made her home with her father, and since her mother's death has looked carefully after the affairs of the household in his home.
Mr. Schleifer is essentially a self-made man. He attended school in his native land until he was fourteen years of age, and since then he has been obliged to shift for himself. His career is the fruit of his own business capacity, persevering industry and quickness and clearness of vision to see opportunities for advancement, coupled with the ability to make the most of them in use. He has been unaided by the favors of fortune, and circumstances have never been especially propitious for his purposes. He has relied on himself and taken conditions as he has found them, but in his strength of will and constancy of purpose he has overcome all obstacles and even made many minister to his welfare. In religious connection he is allied with the German Methodist Episcopal church, and in politics is a Republican except in reference to local affairs. When dealing with them he disregards all partisan claims and acts wholly for the public good as he sees it in the contest. Ile has never been an aspirant for public office, but at one time served very acceptably as commissioner of the poor in his home city for a period of four years. All who know his record respect him highly for the good he has done and the elevated standard of his citizenship, and all who know him ad- mire and esteem him as one of the best and most representative men in Wyandotte county. Both in private character and public spirit he richly deserves the good opinion all have of him.
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THOMAS JEFFERSON MISENHELTER, vice president of the Switchmen's Union of North America, has been connected with various kinds of work since he was thrown on his own resources to fight the battle of life. IIe has changed localities and associates many times, as it was his principle that if his surroundings eramped him he would change his surroundings ; if his shoe pinched he would get a new footing. Every now and then a man is bound to strike the wrong track, but he is not bound to follow it ; indeed ambition frequently provides an inaccurate map, and Mr. Misen- helter is only one of thousands of men who have found it necessary to alter their plans. A little thing will often eanse a young man just entering active work to select a certain line, and something just as small may cause him to change his career. The wise man will make the change as soon as he realizes that he has not made the best choice, while the foolish one will continue in the course in which he started from sheer obstinacy. Mr. Misenhelter belongs to the former class, and he no sooner realized that the work for which he was fitted is the adjustment of labor difficulties than he switched into such work and has thrown him- self into it with heart and soul. It is one of the laws of nature that men. as well as water, find their level ; if a man is qualified he cannot be kept down and if deficient he cannot by hook or crook be boosted up. Mr. Misenhelter is fitted to be a leader among men and neither hard Inek, opposition or adversity would be able to keep him in a small place.
Thomas Jefferson Misenhelter is a native of Caldwell county. Missouri, born there in 1873. He is a son of John Henry Misenhelter, who was born in 1842. at Decatur. Illinois, and there he was educated and followed the occupation of a farmer. Soon after attaining his majority. John Henry Misenhelter married Miss Mary Burdett, a young woman who was born in Gainesville. Kentucky, in 1842, and came to Decatur. Illinois, when she was a child. Not long after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. John Henry Misenhelter removed to Caldwell county, Missouri, where they settled on a farm, and where their ten children were all horn : there too the little mother died at the age of forty-six, and her husband survived her by fifteen years ; he was summoned to life eternal in 1903. Three of the children born to this couple died in in- fancy. and the names of the seven who are living now are as follows: William H., Jennie, Thomas Jefferson, Eunice, Susie, Catherine, James A.
Thomas Jefferson Misenhelter passed the first few years of his life on his father's farm, where he was born, and there he learned those habits of industry and responsibility which have stood him in such good stead throughout his varied career. He received his preliminary edu- rational discipline at the distriet school in his neighborhood, but when he had reached the age of thirteen he left home to launch upon the sea of life in the great world. He gained employment in the mines and worked successively in the mining districts of Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, lowa. Kansas and Oklahoma. While he was putting in his days in the fulfilment of his mining duties, his evenings were spent in study. both in the privacy of his room and at the night school which he at- tended. He realized very early in life that if a man is to succeed it is necessary for him to obtain an education, and with his spirit of deter- mination he set about the acquisition of learning. He is possessed of an unusually active mind, which readily grasps the important features
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of a question so that today, as the result of his private study and his wide experiences, Mr. Misenhelter is a remarkably well informed man. In 1896 he decided that he would abandon the mining life and he ac- cepted an engagement with the government to serve on a survey boat, which touched at many important ports of the world. In this manner Mr. Misenhelter visited Australia, New Zealand, Japan and many other foreign countries. After five years of this nomadic life, he returned to the United States and took up his residence at Rosedale, Kansas, where he became foreman of a crew of five switchmen in the service of the M. K. & T. Railroad. Ever since he first began to work in the mines, Mr. Misenhelter has been studying the labor question ; his sympathies are naturally with the workmen, but his mind is capable of such fairness that he can act and think in an unbiased manner. In recognition of his unusual abilities, his fellow citizens elected him to the office of city councilman in Rosedale, in which capacity he is now serving. As a matter of course, he joined the Switchmen's Union, and was one of the prominent members of this organization. On the 1st of January, 1811, Mr. Misenhelter engaged as switchman with the Rock Island Railroad Company in Kansas City, Kansas, but six months later he resigned this position to respond to the elamorous request that he should become the vice president of the Switchmen's Union of North America. At the present time he is bnsily occupied in helping to adjust labor troubles and grievances, and his attitude is so fair and just that switchmen and employers alike appreciate his sound judgment.
On June 23, 1903, Mr. Misenhelter married Emma Pickell, a school- mate of his and a native of Rockville, Indiana. She was a widow, who had been unfortunate in her first marriage. When she was little more than a school girl she had been united in matrimony, and two children were born to her, Felix Adam and Harry Glenn, and everything went smoothly in their married life until the year 1888, when she came to Kansas to visit friends. On her return home such conditions confronted her as made it impossible for her to continue her life with her husband. and a separation took place, which ultimately terminated in a divorce. Mr. Misenhelter had always felt attracted towards the young woman, in their previous acquaintance. and now that she was free he won her as his wife. Both of her sons are living with her and they are receiving the best of educational training and the kindest of treatment at the hands of Mr. Misenhelter, who is a real father to them.
Mr. Misenhelter is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity. having been initiated into the order in Rosedale and he has received Scottish Rites at Kansas City. ITe is connected with the Deep Water Seamen, and organized a lodge of this order. He is a strong supporter of Socialist principles and he works hard for the ultimate triumph of the canse which he believes to be just and right. Although not a member of any church, Mr. Misenhelter is of Protestant faith and is a strong believer in the value of church work, and whenever he can assist in any worthy enterprise he is glad to do it, no matter what ehureh is its originator. ITe has not had the opportunity to show just what he can do in connection with the labor organization with which he is connected, but from the manner in which he has started out there is small doubt that he will prove to be indispensible in the work of the Union.
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ERNEST D. WILLIAMS, M. D .- During the years which mark the period of Dr. Williams' professional career he has met with gratifying suceess and during the period of his residence in Kansas City, Kansas, he has won the good will and patronage of many of the best citizens here. He is a thorough student and endeavors to keep abreast of the times in everything relating to the discoveries in medical science. Progressive in his ideas and favoring modern methods as a whole, he does not dis- pense with the time tried systems whose value has stood the test of years. There is in his record much that is worthy of the highest commendation, for limited privileges and financial resources made it necessary that he personally meet the expenses of a college course. In doing this he dis- played the elemental strength of his character, which has been the foun- dation of his success. He now stands very high in the medical profes- sion of the state and is in the fullest sense of the term a self-made man.
Dr. Williams was born in Riley eounty, Kansas, on the 28th of August, 1870, and he is a son of Johnson S. and Ruth (White) Wil- liams. the former of whom was born and reared in Henry county, Ken- tucky. Johnson S. Williams came to Kansas in the year 1854, locating as a pioneer settler in Riley county, where he immediately turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. He is still identified with farming in Riley county and his splendid estate is recognized as one of the most modern farms in that section of the state. Concerning the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Johnson S. Williams the following brief data are here incorporated : Ernest D., is the immediate subjeet of this review : Edith, is the wife of Charles Bailey ; Emmett, remains at home with his father on the old farmstead in Riley county; Charles and Walter are twins, the former residing in Riley county and the latter at Douglas, Kansas; and Katherine, is living at Council Grove, Kansas.
After completing the curriculum of the common sehools of Riley county. Dr. Williams attended Baker's University for a period of two years, at the expiration of which he was a student for a short time in the Kansas State Agricultural College. He then engaged in teaching school continuing to be identified with the pedagogie profession for a period of five years, during which time he earned enough money with whieh to de- fray his expenses as a medical student. In 1896 he was matrienlated in the medical department of the University of Kansas, at Rosedale, in which he was graduated as a member of the elass of 1899, duly receiv- ing his degree of Doctor of Medieine. He initiated the active practice of his profession at Kansas City, Kansas, in May, 1899, and since that time has controlled a large and Incrative patronage in this city. In connection with his life work he is a valued and appreciative member of the Wyandotte County Medical Society and the Kansas State Medical Society. He is medical examiner for a number of fraternal organiza- tions in this state and holds prestige as one of the best and most skilled physicians and surgeons in this county.
In the year 1901 was solemnized the marriage of Dr. Williams to Miss Lillian St. John, who was born and reared in Riley county, Kansas, and who is a daughter of Ephraim and Alice (Mallory) St. John, of Manhattan, Riley county, Kansas. Mr. St. John is now living virtually retired, enjoying to the full the fruits of his former years of earnest toil and endeavor. Dr. and Mrs. Williams have one daughter, Esther.
In politics Dr. Williams accords an uncompromising allegiance to the cause of the Republican party, believing that the principles of that
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organization stand for the best standard of government. While he is decidedly loyal and public spirited in his civie attitude the only office for which he has ever had time or desire is that of member of the Kan- sas City, Kansas, school board, to which he was first elected in 1905 and to which he was re-elected in 1908. In their religions faith he and his wife are consistent members of the Presbyterian church, to whose chari- ties and benevolences he is a liberal contributor. In a fraternal way he is affiliated with the local lodges of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Ancient Order of United Workmen, in each of which he is a most prominent and zealous factor.
GEORGE H. WHITE .- There are many points of definite interest in the career of this venerable citizen of Kansas City, Kansas, and in the perspective of many years there are many palpable evidences of worthy accomplishment on his part. He went forth as a gallant soldier of the Union in the Civil war; he was one of the pioneers in the exploiting of the oil industry in the southwest, where his enterprise anticipated that of others by many years ; he has made and lost and again won fortunes; he has been a potent factor in the development and upbuilding of Kan- sas City and Wyandotte county ; and, over all and above all, his character has been the positive expression of a strong, noble and honorable nature, so that he has not been denied the most generous measure of popular approbation and esteem during the long years of his earnest endeavors as one of the world's workers. Though now an octogenarian Mr. White, in vitality and mental activities, puts involuntary denial to the passage of the years, and still is found concerned with business affairs, the while he keeps in closest touch with the questions and issues of the hour. Sneh are the men who seem to have enduring claim on much that is usually represented in youth, and he is honored alike for his sterling worth and for the good he has accomplished in a practical way.
George II. White was born in the city of Syraense, New York, on the 6th of Jannary, 1828, and is the son of Elisha E. and Sallie (Hin- man) White, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of Connecti- ent and both representatives of families of English lineage, that were founded in New England in the Colonial epoch of our national history. The parents continued to reside in the state of New York until their death. and the vocation of the father during the major part of his active career was that of a shoemaker and tanner. He was a man of strong mentality and sterling character and was influential as a citizen; both he and his wife were zealous members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They became the parents of six sons and two daughters, and of the nunn- ber three are now living : Charles M., who is a lawyer by profession and who now resides at Pocatello, Idaho; George H., who is the immediate subject of this sketch ; and Louise, who is the widow of Warren Mitchell and who resides in Des Moines, Iowa.
George II. White gained his carly educational discipline in the schools of his native city and he continued his residence in the old Em- pire state until he had attained to his legal majority, when, in 1851. he turned his face to the west and established his home in Coldwater. the indirial center of Branch county, Michigan. There he was engaged in the mercantile business until 1862. as one of the early merchants and influential citizens of the town, but when the dark cloud of the Civil
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war cast its pall over the national horizon he soon subordinated all other interests to go forth in defense of the Union. In the year 1862, he raised a full company of volunteers in a period of fourteen days and made the notable record of securing the enlistment of forty-seven men in a single day. In July of that year he himself enlisted in Company H, Nineteenth Michigan Volunteer Infantry, with which he was mustered into the United States service at Dowagiac, Michigan. He proceeded with his command to the front and joined General Rosecrans' forees at Louisville, Kentucky. He continued with his gallant regiment in active service for about two years, but was finally incapacitated by ill health. He returned to Coldwater, Michigan, where he passed one year in the reenperation of his health, and he then. in February, 1864, set forth on the long and perilous overland trip to Nevada. There he remained five or six months, within which time he took up a claim. He had pre- viously been identified with the oil industry in Virginia, and in Nevada he discerned opportunities in this line as well as in mining. He re- turned to Michigan and New York and effected the organization of a stock company with a capital of one hundred thousand dollars, all paid in. He then vigorously superintended the work of preparing for his company's active operations in Nevada and finally the company set forth with a train of twenty-three wagons, an equipment of mining machinery and several hundred head of oxen. When they arrived at Fort Bridger they encountered a severe blizzard in which they lost as many as three hundred and twelve head of cattle. What few of the animals were left were later stolen by the Indians and frontier soldiers, together with many of their other possessions, and with all these mis- fortunes the projected enterprise appeared most discouraging, as the men in the party were unable to proceed to their destination and to take up their work. Mr. White's faith and confidence, however, remained unshaken, and later he added thirty-three hundred dollars to his invest- ment to carry forward the enterprise and this exhausted his financial resources. Later his interest in the mining business was sold to E. Kelly, though at a loss.
His previous success in connection with oil operations finally led Mr. White to operate in Wirt county, West Virginia, where he held three thousand acres of land, in partnership with two other men, Prentiss and Clarke. The land was equally divided as to value among the three and on his portion Mr. White sunk three oil wells, as he had discovered traces of oil in the bed of a creek in the sand rock-collars. ITis previous experience encouraged him and he continued to sink wells on his property until he had a total of thirteen. He found his financial resources taxed severely in these preliminary operations, as he had to pay six dollars a thousand feet for eutting the necessary lumber and also to pay the wages of a large corps of men, who were provided for in a large camp established by him. His work eaused much derision and he was laughed at as having lost his mind, but the langh was eventually "on the other fellow," as he finally sold a three-fourths interest in mere- ly one of his wells for seventy-five thousand dollars.
After remaining for a time in Coldwater, Michigan, Mr. White went to the city of Chicago in the spring of 1871 and entered into a contract with the firm of Snell & Taylor, who were at that time con- structing the line of the present Lake Erie & Western Railroad. By
Vol. II-34
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this finan Mr. White was given charge of laying out the streets of the new town of lloopeston in the northern part of Vermilion county, Illi- nois, on the line of the new road. He laid out the streets due north and sonth, eighty-five feet in width, and planted on the same shade trees. twenty-five feet apart. ten feet in height, besides which he had charge of the erection of a depot and a substantial bloek of business buildings and a hotel. This place is now a thriving little city of several thousand population, and many of the trees planted by Mr. White are still in exis- tenee, of large size and greatly ornamental after the lapse of years. In connection with his work at Hoopeston. Mr. White, as a stanch Prohibi- tionist. takes great pride in the fact that through his efforts he kept the liquor traffic out of the town, which with the exception of one year has never had a saloon within its borders. He bought and sold twenty thousand acres in Green county, Illinois, and brought about great benefits by instituting the first drainage and levee system.
Mr. White continued his residence at Hoopeston until 1885, when he came to Kansas City. Kansas, or Wyandotte, as the original city was known. Ile was looking for profitable investments and business oppor- tunities and upon his arrival in Wyandotte he found that the larger portion of the real estate in the present Kansas City was held under tax titles. He began to make judicious investments in lots and to straighten out titles to the property and he eventually effected the organization of the Land Claim & Investment Company. which exercised most benefi- rent functions in the establishing of titles and the improving of proper- ties. Ile cleared the titles to the larger number of the properties held by the old Wyandotte City Company, and through his personal efforts. as well as his work in connection with the corporation organized by him. he has done more than ean he claimed for many other citizens in bringing about the development and upbuilding of the fine metropolis of Wyandotte county. He has established proper street grades, both by excavation and filling in, as demanded, and in manifold other ways. has shown his progressiveness and publie spirit. He is proud of being the father of the park and boulevard movement of Kansas City. Kansas. his own home being in the center of the city and of this system, on Waterway Park, midway between Washington and Grand View boule- vards. Mr. White was one of the organizers of the Kansas City Board of Trade and he has continued to be one of its valued members for some years until that organization was succeeded by the State Grain Inspec- tion Law. To the earnest and unselfish efforts of Mr. White and Rev. B. (). Denman is dne the establishing of the Good Will Home, one of the noble and beneficent institutions of Kansas City and Wyandotte county. Dr. Bell helped by allowing the use of his building at a low rate of payment and Mr. White personally contributed the greater part of the money required for the erection and equipment of the home. for which they paid out fully twenty-eight hundred dollars. The home had one hundred beds. the first of which was put in by Rev. Father Anthony R. Kuhls, a venerated member of the priesthood of the Catholic church. although the institution itself was undenominational. Finally the Home was turned over to the Salvation Army people. In polities Mr. White gave his allegiance to the Republican party until his earnest con- victions led him to esponse the cause of the Prohibition party and to exercise his franchise in support of the same. He has thus been found
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