USA > Kansas > Wyandotte County > Kansas City > Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas. Historical and biographical. Comprising a condensed history of the state, a careful history of Wyandotte County, and a comprehensive history of the growth of the cities, towns and villages > Part 48
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The earliest boats that navigated the waters of the Kaw, aside from the primitive canoes used by the Indians, were the "keel boats " in- troduced by the Chouteaus. One of the brothers, Fred, established a trading-house in 1830 among the Kaws at Mission Creek. He ob- tained his goods from his brother's establishments at the mouth of the Kaw, and brought them up the river in these keel boats in August, returning the next spring loaded with peltries, which he shipped from Kansas City to St. Louis by steamboat. The boats were rib-made, shaped like the hull of a steamboat and decked over. The width across the deck was usually eight or ten feet and the depth below five or six. They were rigged with one mast, a rudder and four row-locks on each side. Mr. Chouteau states that in going up the river they av- eraged about fifteen miles a day, pulling all the time, and that on their return trips, the water being generally low, they were sometimes a month from Mission Creek to the mouth of the river, but in favorable times had gone down in a day. The boats were manufactured in St. Louis and used on the Kaw only by the Chouteaus. The pioneers of steam- boat navigation on the Kansas River were Capt. Baker and C. A. Perry, owners, and the former was captain of the little steamer Excel, which made several trips to Fort Riley in the spring and summer of 1854 to deliver Government freight. The June trips of the steamer extended some forty miles up the Smoky Hill. The Excel was a stern-wheel steamer and rather too long for river navigation. The return June trip from Fort Riley to the mouth of the river was made in twenty- four hours. The first steamer that made a landing at Lawrence and Topeka was the Emma Harmon, Capt. J. M. Wing. This boat, which was a stern-wheel steamer, with two engines of 180-horse power, left Lawrence on May 21 for Fort Riley, but only ventured as far up as Topeka, which place was reached six days after leaving Lawrence. Capt. Wing, after this experiment, decided to extend his trips no farther up the river than Lawrence. The financier left Lawrence for Fort Riley about the same time with the Emma Harmon. She was detained by sand bars between Douglas and Tecumseh, but finally passed up to Topeka, where she received some of the freight of the Emma Harmon and continued up the river towart the fort. Capt.
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Morrison, of the Financier, also became discouraged in consequence of the extreme difficulty of navigating the Kansas. The Hartford ar- rived from Cincinnati the same month (May, 1855,) with passengers and freight for Junction City. The boat grounded at Manhattan, and after remaining there a week for a rise in the river, sold out freight to the Manhattanites and started down the river. When opposite St. Mary's the boat took fire from prairie fires and was destroyed. The Hartford advertised rates between Kansas City and Lawrence at 75 cents per hundred for freight and $4 for passengers up, and $3 for passengers down the river. A part of the machinery of the Hartford was recovered in 1869, and buried on the shore, it being impracticable in the low stage of water to take it down the river. The Minnie Bell, of Pittsburg, made several trips up and down the river in 1858. In 1859 the steamer Silver Lake, Capt. Willoughby, made several trips, once going as far up as Junction City. The Calona, Otis Webb and the Col. Gus Linn, Capt. Beasly, also made trips to the same point, the two latter unloading and taking on freight at Topeka. In the fall of the same year, Capt. Nelson, of Wyandotte, made a trial trip in his new steamer Star of the West, but unfortunately got aground at Le- compton and was obliged to remain there all winter. In June, 1860, the Kansas Valley, Capt. Nelson, landed freight at the levee at Te- cumseh. The boat drew only nine inches of water and could navigate the Kaw if any steamboat could. In the spring of 1861 the Kansas Valley entered the "relief service," She started from Atchison on her last trip of this nature with a forty-ton cargo, part of which was landed at Topeka, March, 1861, at the foot of Kansas Avenue. This cargo was stored in the storehouse at the corner of Sixth Avenue and Jackson Street, known to Topekans of that period as the "Bean House." The last steamboat on the river was run by Capt. E. Hens- ley, of Leavenworth, for a short time between Lawrence and Topeka.
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*** BIOGRAPHICAL.4 :*
John R. Adams is foreman of the pickle cellar for the Kansas City Packing Company, and although born in Belfast, Ireland, March 25, 1826, he has been a resident of the United States, and a subject of "Uncle Sam" since 1848. His parents, Henry and Elizabeth (Rich- ardson) Adams, were also born in Ireland, and there the mother died, when the subject of this sketch was a lad about fourteen years of age. His early life was spent in a packing-house in his native land, and since his ninth year he has been familiar with this business, having worked at it every year since that time, with the exception of the year that he was fifteen years of age, when he followed the sea. At the age of twenty-one years he came to America, to seek his fortune, and during the winter of 1848-49 was employed in a packing-house at Cincinnati, Ohio, but in the latter year he removed to St. Louis, which place con- tinued to be his home until 1884, working during this time for the pack- ing firm of Henry Ames & Co., of St. Louis, thirteen years, and later for Robert McAllister, Francis Whittaker, John J. Roe, Thomas Stanton and Bassett & Lincoln, a goodly portion of this time acting as foreman. He finally, in 1881, entered the employ of Morris, Butt & Co., and has remained with them ever since, the firm name being changed to the Kansas City Packing Company. In 1884 he was transferred from St. Louis to Kansas City, since which time he has been foreman of the pickle cellar at this place. Mr. Adams is honorable and strictly up- right in all his dealings, and has always proved himself a valuable man to his employers and an acquisition to the cities in which he has resided. His marriage to Miss Ann Ingram took place in 1844, but she died in 1857, after having borne three children: Eliza Jane, James and William H. In 1859 Mr. Adams married Miss Elizabeth Robison, who died in 1875, leaving one child, Margaret, and in 1880 was married to his present wife, Bridget Cunniss. Mr. Adams is a stanch Democrat in his political views.
H. L. Alden, the senior member of the law firm of Alden, McCrew & Watson, is closely identified with the growth and prosperity of the county, and particularly of Kansas City, Kas. He is a native of
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Massachusetts, having come to this State in the fall of 1867, when but twenty years of age, and settled in Wyandotte (now Kansas City, Kas.), where he has resided since that time. His literary education was received at Monson Academy, Monson, Mass., and at Kimball Union Academy, Meriden, N. H. He was engaged in teaching for two years before coming to Kansas, as principal of an academy in Pennyslvania, and during the first year of his residence here he had charge as teacher of the city schools, after which he entered the law office of Hon. Stephen A. Cobb, and actively commenced the study of law. He was admitted to practice in the courts of the State, in April, 1870, since which time he has been actively engaged in the practice of his chosen profession, and by his energy, close application and devotion to the interests of his clients, has gained the confidence of the public, and for years has stood in the front rank of the pro- fession in the State. Soon after his admission to the bar, he formed a partnership with his former preceptor, which association continned until Mr. Cobb's death in 1878. In 1879 Mr. Alden formed a partner- ship with Henry McCrew, which has continued up to the present time. George B. Watson, the other partner, joining said partnership Janu- ary 1, 1887. In the management of his cases, Mr. Alden has achieved unusual success. He is a profound student and a fluent speaker, and his intelligent, broad views on all matters of public interest has made him one of the county's most highly respected and esteemed citizens. He is a lineal descendant of John Alden, of the " Mayflower," the first to land on Plymouth Rock and immortalized by Longfellow in his poem of "The Courtship of Miles Standish." Mr. Alden is a Re- publican, and has always taken quite an interest in politics, and has held several positions of honor and trust. He was city clerk of the city of Wyandotte during the year 1869. In 1872 he was elected to the office of county attorney for Wyandotte County, and re-elected in 1874, holding such position for two consecutive terms of two years each. In 1876 he was elected a member of the State Legislature, and served for two years as a member of the House of Representatives. In 1882 he was again elected to the position of county attorney, this time serving one term. He served on the Republican State Central Committee, when George T. Anthony was nominated for and elected governor, and was a member of the National Republican Convention in 1888, which nominated Harrison for President.
Hon. Harvey Allen, real estate, loan and insurance agent, Armour- dale, Kas. The principal necessity to the success of the real estate
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business, the safest and surest form of investment, is to have reliable agents, who are thoroughly posted on their city and locality. Such an one has Armourdale in Hon. Harvey Allen. This gentleman was origin- ally from the Buckeye State, his birth occurring in Hamilton County on April 16, 1824, on Gen. Harrison's farm. His parents, Stephen and Ann (Clendenning) Allen, were natives of New York and Ohio, re- spectively. The father was a prominent tiller of the soil, and removed from Ohio to Shelby County, Ind., where he received his final sum- mons. His family consisted of three children, two now living, of whom Harvey Allen is the elder. He was early trained to the duties of the farm in Shelby County, Ind., whither he had moved with his parents in 1829, when only five years of age, and here he received his education in the common schools. In 1846 he enlisted in the Mexican War, in the Third Indiana Regiment, in Gen. Taylor's department, and served one year. He learned the cabinet-maker's trade, and this followed un- til coming West. In 1856 he emigrated to Leavenworth, Kas., and was one among the first settlers. He took up a claim, farmed a short time, and then returned to Leavenworth, where he embarked in the furniture business, carrying it on for about eight years. During his residence here he was a member of the Board of Education for eight years, and also, at the same time, was a member of the City Council for six years. In 1867 and 1868 he was a member of the Legislature, and was very prominent, politically. In 1870 he embarked in contract- ing and building iron bridges, which he carried on until 1888, or a period of eighteen years. He was connected with the Kansas City Bridge & Iron Company for eight years. In 1883 he removed to ·Armourdale, Kas., and bought the property where he now lives, which was then in a big corn-field. He had but little capital on coming here, but invested safely and made a lucky hit. For the last two years he has turned his attention strictly to the real estate business. He is prominently identified with the building interests of Armourdale, and in 1890 was elected to the city council. In 1857, at the organization of the Leavenworth, Lawrence & Galveston Railroad, now the South- ern Kansas Railroad, he was elected one of the directors, which po- sition he filled for seven years, being secretary of the company for two years. He assisted in making the first survey of that line from Leavenworth via Lawrence, through Indian Territory to Fort Gib- son. He was married, first in 1845, in Indiana, to Miss Martha J. Russell, who bore him one son, James M. (of Leavenworth). His sec- ond marriage occurred on March 23, 1858, to Miss Katie Helfenstein.
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Mr. Allen is a Mason, and treasurer of Armourdale Lodge No. 271.
Robert Allison, dairyman, Kansas City, Kas. Prominent among the successful and enterprising citizens of Kansas City, Kas., stands the name of Mr. Allison, who engaged in the dairy business at this place in 1881, and who is one of the pioneers in that industry. He was born in Renfrewshire, Scotland, in 1828, and followed farming in that country until 1871, when he and family came to America, locating in Wyandotte County, Kas. There Mr. Allison entered a paint shop, Union Pacific Work Shops, and was thus engaged for eight years. He was married in Scotland to Miss Grace Ewing, who died there, and who bore him four children, three living: Elizabeth, Jeanette and James. The son is in Washington, engaged in the mercantile busi- ness, and the two daughters are in Scotland. Mr. Allison's second marriage was to Miss Agnes Elder, and four children were born to this union: Jean, Agnes, Matthew and Walter. Mr. and Mrs. Allison are worthy members of the Presbyterian Church, and he was one of the first elders. They were formerly members of the Congregational Church. Politically he is a stanch Republican. He is the owner of thirty-two lots joining Chelsea Park, and has it all well improved. He has been actively engaged in the dairy business, of which he has made a success.
Maj. Eli W. Anderson, dealer in real estate and insurance agent, Ar- mourdale, Kas. This prominent citizen located in this place in 1881, when there were but seven houses erected, and not a plank down in the town for a sidewalk. He was born in Xenia, Greene County, Ohio, and in 1854 emigrated to Galveston, Tex., thence in August, 1860, to Indiana. Two years later he enlisted in Company I, Seventy-second Indiana Regimeut, and served until September 19, 1863, when he was wounded at the battle of Chickamauga, lying on the battle-field for twelve days. His wound was through the left thigh, and he was subsequently mustered out on account of disability. He enlisted as a private, was commissioned a major, and was mustered out as a lieutenant. He was captured on September 19, 1863, but was paroled. His army expe- rience was not pleasant, and to this day he suffers very severely from his wound. After service he settled in Champaign County, Ill., moved from there to Danville, Ill., thence to Indianapolis, Ind., and followed merchandising for about eight years. In 1878 he came to Kansas City, Mo., and there resided for four years, being in the employ of the Fort Scott Railroad Company. In 1881 he moved to Armourdale, and was the first postmaster at that place, having started the office in
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1882. He served one term. During this time he was also in the real estate business, and the same year he incorporated the little town of Armourdale. He drew all the ordinances for Armourdale for the first year, some of which are yet on the docket. In 1882 he was appointed as school director, and he drew all the plans and specifications for their present fine school building, superintending its construction. Since that time he has turned his attention almost exclusively to the real-estate and loan business, dealing altogether with city property, and is doing a thriving business. He drew the ordinance for the grade on Kansas Avenue, and is a prominent citizen. The name of the firm is now E. W. Anderson & Son. The Major is the father of Armourdale, and has witnessed the growth from seven houses to its now population of 8,000, a thriving little city. Much credit is due Maj. Anderson for his enterprise and integrity in building this city. He is of Scotch origin, and his parents, James and Nancy (Kendall) Anderson, are both natives of Scotland. The grandfather emigrated to Ohio in 1804, settled on a piece of military land near Xenia, and there his death occurred. Socially the Major is a Mason, and a mem- ber of the Grand Army; politically, a stanch Republican. He was married on November 5, 1865, to Miss Alice Earl, a native of Indiana, who bore him two children- Frank and Harry.
Greene B. Anderson (colored) is the efficient constable of Kansas Township, Wyandotte County, Kas., but is a native of Georgia, where he was born December 25, 1851. He was reared in his native State, but at the close of the war was in Chattanooga, Tenn., and was there employed in a grocery store for six years. During the war, although but a lad, he took a deep interest in the stirring events of the times, and witnessed many battles, although too young to take an active part in them. He was on several battle-fields after the battle was over, where the wounded and dead thickly covered the ground, and wit- nessed many heart-rending sights. His father, a mulatto, was an engineer by trade, and by his own energy purchased his freedom, and by 1856, the freedom of his son. It was his intention to purchase the freedom of his entire family, but the war rendered this unnecessary. The father went with his former master into the Confederate army, to care for him, and after the war was over, settled in Chattanooga, where he is still living. From 1873 until 1879 Greene B. Anderson was a member of the fire department, and at the end of that time, came to Kansas City, Kas., to work for Houston, Murray & Co., and remained with them until 1885, when he was appointed by Mayor Hannan as
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patrolman, and made such an efficient officer that he was afterward appointed a member of the police force by the Metropolitan Board, after which he was appointed deputy constable of Kansas Township, and was elected constable in 1889 and 1890. Mr. Anderson killed one man while serving as policeman. The desperado had fired at him twice, but missed him both times, whereupon Mr. Anderson returned the fire, with fatal results. He does a great deal of collecting, and is prompt in making all attachments and levies. He received some schooling in his youth, for which he paid himself, $1 per month, and is an intelli- gent man. He was married here June 13, 1882, to Miss Frances Bus- ter, a native of Kentucky. He is a warm Republican, and is a Knight Templar in the Masonic fraternity, and also belongs to the I. O. O. F.
Armourdale Foundry Company, Kansas City, Kas. Charles H. Jones, general superintendent of this large and enterprising plant, holds a prominent position among the business men of Kansas City, Kas. The Armourdale Foundry Company was incorporated in the year 1883, with a capital of $100,000, and with a working capital of $50, 000. This important factor in the commercial status of Kansas City, Kas., is located on the electric line at the corner of Kansas Avenue and Adams Street. The foundry possesses a full and ample steam-power sys- tem, with all modern appliances and conveniences for the efficient and prompt discharge of the comprehensive work here executed. The trade of the house is widely extended, its products having a national reputation for excellence and durability. The complete list of officers of this foundry are: Robert Gillhon, president; Gus Marty, vice-presi- dent; John Gillhon, secretary; Charles H. Jones, general superin- tendent, and E. E. Benge, book-keeper. The foundry has a yearly production of $800,000, and they ship to the following States and Ter- ritories: Texas, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, California, Utah, Ne- braska, Louisiana, Tennessee, Wyoming, Dakota, Mexico and Indian Territory. Their yearly pay-roll amounts to about $109,272 as labor, and the outlay in material amounts to 232,292 pounds per week. This plant, which is such an important factor in the Southwest, employs 124 skilled workmen and 41 laborers. The plant covers an area of two acres. The following are the divisions of the building: Foundry "A," 380x62 feet, and Foundry "B," 190x60 feet. The power for the former com- prises a seventy-five horse-power engine, and a 100 horse-power boiler, and for the latter a twenty-five horse-power engine and a thirty horse- power boiler. Foundry "A" has a cupola of thirty-ton capacity and a seven- pound Sturtevant fan. Foundry "A" has four large cranes and
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"B" has overhead runways. The machine shop is 90x47 feet, has one traveling crane, one rotary-column lathe, two round-column lathes, two drill presses, two emery lathes, one power lathe and one No. 4 blacksmith fan. The pattern shop, two stories and 90x47 feet, contains circular saws, "band saws," wood lathe, eight pattern benches, one draught room in pattern shop and a complete set of pattern tools. The stable, 20x40, two stories high, consists of eight head of horses, one four- horse wagon, two two-horse wagons and two light spring wagons. The blacksmith shop, 47x90 feet, comprises forges and all necessary black- smith tools. The pattern wareroom, 24x80 feet, has a complete set of railroad and house patterns and cable railroad patterns. The flask- room is 20x40 feet, and has a full stock of iron and wooden flasks. The clipping-room, 50x20 feet, has four large mills. The bumper-room is 80x25 feet, and is two stories high. The sand-shed-rooms are 18x20 feet, and 20x40 feet, in dimensions. The core-room, 30x20 feet, has two large ovens, the first 19x9 feet, and the second 29x15 feet. The large trestlework connecting Foundry "A" with "B," is 170 feet long, sixteen feet high and ten feet wide. The Armourdale Foundry is one of the enterprises which Kansas City, Kas., may well be proud. It is run with a full force of able workmen the whole year, and its products are shipped in every direction.
Rev. R. W. Arnold, hardware merchant and Baptist minister, Ar- mourdale, Kas. Rev. R. W. Arnold, one of the most highly re- spected citizens of Wyandotte County, and a man who has been closely identified with the growth of Christianity in this community since his residence here as a minister of the gospel, was born in Clinton County, N. Y., August 23, 1836. His parents, Ashley and Sarah (Walker) Arnold, were natives of New York and New Hampshire, re- spectively. The father was a farmer by vocation, and was a soldier in the War of 1812. He died in Clinton County, N. Y., as did also the mother. He was quite prominent in county politics, and was the incumbent of some county office the principal part of his time. He was a cousin of Stephen A. Douglas. The great-grandfather was in the Revolutionary War, was an officer in the same, and was in the battle of Bunker Hill. Of the five children born to his parents, Rev. R. W: Arnold is the elder of two now living; Mrs. Anna Herron, of Plattsburg, N. Y. A brother, Myron, was lieutenant of a colored regiment, and was killed at the battle of Fort Darling. R. W. Ar- nold was reared in and about Boston, and attended both Madison and Chicago Seminaries, graduating at the latter institution in 1873. In
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1861 he enlisted in Company A, Seventy-seventh New York Volun- teers, which company he raised and went out as its captain, and was assigned special pioneer work. He served until nearly the close of the war, and then returned to New York State, where he followed agricultural pursuits for some time. While in Boston he was em- ployed in the collection agency and later graduated at Chicago, as above stated. He was ordained at Ripon, Wis., in June, 1873, and here he had his first pastorate, remaining about four years. From there he went to Rochester, Minn., then St. Paul, and in September, 1887, he came to Armourdale, where he has charge of the Second Baptist Congregation. He is just completing a new church edifice, and has done much to build up his congregation. He embarked in the hardware business in the latter part of 1888, as a change for his health, and has been very successful in this venture. He was mar- ried first, in 1857, to Miss Marion C. Barber, and was married again, in 1873, to Miss Carrie Taylor. He married his present wife, who was formerly Miss Ella E. Mapes, in 1877, and they have two chil- dren, Ruth and Hope. Mr. Arnold is a member of the G. A. R.
John Arthur, M. D., is one of the oldest physicians of this section of the county, and in a professional capacity is well known, not only in Wyandotte, but in the surrounding counties. He first saw the light of day in Clay County, Mo., October114, 1826, he being the third and the only son in a family of six children born to Michael and Amanda M. F. (Martin) Arthur, who were born in Lexington, Ky., May 19, 1800, and Jessamine County, Ky., January 5, 1805, respectively, their marriage being celebrated in 1822. The father passed from life Au- gust 8, 1884, and the mother April 24, 1889. The paternal grand- father, Rev. John Arthur, was born in Scotland, but came to America in 1790, and the maternal grandfather, James Martin, was born in England, came to America about 1770, and was a major-general in the Revolutionary War. Dr. John Arthur, the immediate subject of this memoir, was reared in his native county, and at the age of twenty, or in 1847, he graduated from the Missouri State University at Colum- bia, and in 1853 graduated from the medical department of the St. Louis University. Immediately after completing his medical course he went to California, where he remained until August, 1854, then re- turned to Clay County, Mo., and the following year entered upon the practice of medicine. For a great many years he followed his calling in that county and at the same time he attended to the management of an 1,800-acre farm which he owned. dealing also extensively in live
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