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 50
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the "Tom Morgan;" in 1867, the "Frank Nutts." In 1866 he be- gan dealing extensively in wood, selling to the Government and sup- plying the city of Leavenworth and steamboats. In 1867 he com- menced dealing in railroad ties, which proved very lucrative, buying large tracts of timbered land, making the timber pay for the land, much of which he has since sold at a remunerative price, the remain- ing he still holds, which has become quite valuable. In late years he has dealt extensively in real estate, including farm lands and town property, and is considered a safe and prudent financier, and one who has been upright in his dealings and avoided litigation. ' In politics he has always been a Democrat, but during the war he was a strong Union man and Douglas Democrat. He was appointed by Gov. Madera, Wyandotte County's first clerk, but never qualified; was elected to the House of Representatives from a Republican district in 1866, and again in 1880. He is a member of the Masonic order, was reared in the faith of the Baptist Church, his parents being strict members of that organization, but he is quite liberal in his religious views and in- clined to be skeptical. He was married in 1865, in Wyandotte, to Miss Mary E. Hall, a native of Maine, born in 1846, to whom have been born three children: Thomas J., Jr. (a farmer), James E. (a law student), and Clara E. (who was born June 28, 1876, and died Au- gust 19, 1883). "Uncle Tom" Barker, as he is familiarly called by his many friends, has a good residence on Quindaro Boulevard. His business is in good shape and he is enjoying life.
F. H. Barker is one of the wide-awake insurance and loan and real estate agents of Kansas City, Kas. He was born in Connecticut, in 1835, but grew to manhood in Illinois, his home for many years being near Jacksonville. At the opening of the Rebellion he joined the One Hundred and Sixth Illinois Infantry, being mustered into the service August 7, 1862, and mustered out July 15, 1865. After being in the Army of the Tennessee for some time, and stationed at Jackson, Tren- ton and Bolivar, Tenn., he was transferred to the Trans-Mississippi Army, after which he participated in the siege of Vicksburg, Helena, Little Rock, Red River and Pine Bluff. After the war he settled in Springfield, Ill., but in April, 1868, left that place to come to Atchi- son, Kas., where he remained for about seven years, being engaged in the D. C. Newcomb dry goods house. He then moved his family to Kansas City, Kas., and traveled for the wholesale dry goods house of Homer, Rhoades & Hubbs for five years, and for the past six years has been engaged in the insurance and loan business, and has been
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more than ordinarily successful, being now the owner of some good property in Kansas City. He belongs to the Board of Trade, the I. O. O. F., and in his political views is a stanch Republican. He was married in Illinois, to Miss Julia H. Thomas, by whom he had four children, but he lost his wife and three children, and only Fred- erick E. is now living. His second marriage took place in Atchison, Kas., to Miss Sardenia Andrews, by whom he has a daughter, Madora. Mr. Barker is a pleasant and agreeable gentleman, thorough and scrupulously honorable in his business dealings, and is putting to a good use the talents with which Nature has endowed him. He is an excellent member of society, is a stanch supporter of the public school system, for some time has been a member of the board of education in Kan- sas City, Kas., and is an earnest Christian. His parents, G. W. and Sarah A. (Phelps) Barker, were born in Connecticut, and the mother belongs to the same stock as Gov. Phelps, of Missouri. Mr. Barker had two brothers; one survives, and is a resident of Kansas, but George H. was killed at the battle of Shiloh, while serving in the Fourteenth Illinois Infantry. He also has two sisters, Mary P. Cooper and Charlotte L. Barker, both residents of Kansas.
James K. Polk Barker, farmer, Kansas City, Kas. Mr. Barker came to Wyandotte County, in 1865, directly from Boone County, West Va., and engaged in the carpenter's trade, which he continued for about two years, assisting in building two steamboats at Barker's Tank, on the Missouri River. After this he bought a stock of goods, general merchandise, sold goods for about two years, and then was mate on the "Fanny Barker," plying between Lexington and Atchi- son, and then lying off for several months. He returned to Wyan- dotte County and was there married in 1873, to Miss Sarah Frances Duncan, daughter of Thomas Duncan, a farmer of this township. Five children have been born to this union-three sons and two daugh- ters: Edgar R., Polk, Clara M., Neva P. and Knox. After his mar- riage Mr. Barker began farming on 55 acres that he had previously bought, and soon afterward he added 55 acres more, then 60, after- ward 50 more, and soon had 220 acres of excellent land. He lived on this and improved it for a number of years, when, in 1882, he sold out. He then bought 183 acres, but has sold some of this, and is at the pres- ent time engaged in fruit-growing instead of stock-raising, as formerly. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Mr. Barker was born on October 22, 1844, in Mercer County, W. Va., and is a son of James B. and Mary Barker. The father was born in
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Franklin County, Va., and was a farmer and carpenter by trade. He died in 1854, being then but in the prime of life, and left his family on their own resources. There were six children in the family-three sons and three daughters-one son, Isaac, died in West Virginia, about the year 1870 (he had been a Union soldier and served under Gen. Grant); Samuel S. is living in this county, and was a Confeder- ate soldier, serving through the entire war; Mary died in West Vir- ginia about the year 1880; Sarah E. is the widow of Cumberland Harliss, and resides in West Virginia; and Isabelle F., wife of John Lawrence, resides in Kanawha Valley, W. Va. James K. P. Barker, when but fourteen years of age, started out to fight life's battles for himself, and engaged, as a day laborer, building flatboats. He con- tinued at this business until the breaking out of the war, when he en- listed in Company B, Thirty-sixth Virginia Regiment, and served in all the West Virginia campaigns. In 1862 he was captured, confined at Camp Chase from April until August, and then exchanged, joining his command. He was under Early in the Valley of Virginia campaign, and was at Fort Donelson. He was in the battles of Piedmont, Floyd Mountain, Strawsburg, Winchester, Cedar Creek, and in March, 1865, he was again captured, being confined in Fort Delaware, until June 25, of that year. He then went to work and succeeded in getting sufficient money to bring him West, and since then what he has accu- mulated has been the result of industry and perseverance, together with good management. He has secured a handsome competency, and is prosperous and happy. He has in his home place forty-seven acres in orchard and small fruit, 160 acres in Kaw bottom land, all under cultivation, and besides is the owner of considerable property in Kan- sas City, Kas. He contributes liberally to the support of schools, churches, etc.
Dr. B. M. Barnett, physician, Rosedale, Kas. Mr. Barnett, who has acquired a flattering reputation as a physician, was born in Stark . County, Ohio, on December 12, 1854, and is the son of Jacob F. and Hannah (Myers) Barnett. The father is a retired farmer, residing at Canton, Ohio. Dr. Barnett received a good practical education in the common schools, then took a select course at Hiram College, and there remained until twenty-two years of age. He then began teaching, his first school being in Stark County, and continued thus employed for five years. The last two years of teaching he read medicine under B. A. Whiteleather, and in the spring of 1880 he attended lectures at Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York City. During the win-
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ter of 1881-82 he attended lectures at Jefferson Medical College, of Philadelphia, Penn., where he subsequently graduated. He then prac- ticed for one year at Waynesburg, Ohio, and in 1883 came to Argen- tine, Kas. He did not remain in the last-named place very long, but came to Rosedale, where he has built up a very extensive and lucra- tive practice. The Doctor is cut out for his chosen profession, which has been amply shown by his flattering success since residing in this county. He was councilman one term, and in 1889 was elected mayor of Rosedale, which position he filled in a very satisfactory manner. He selected as his companion in life Miss Mollie Hellmreich, of Rose- dale, and their nuptials were celebrated on February 24, 1886. They have one child, a son, Harry W. Dr. Barnett is a member of the A. F. & A. M., K. of P., A. O. U. W. and Foresters and the D. of H. of the A. O. U. W. He is physician and medical examiner for the four last-named organizations. In politics he affiliates with the Repub- lican party.
Edward E. Beach, agent for the Missouri Pacific Railroad at Pom- eroy, Kas., is a native of Hartford, Conn., born in 1838, and was the son of Elnathan and Mary A. (Bullard) Beach, also natives of Connecti- cut. Of the five children born to this union Edward E. is fourth in order of birth. They are named as follows: Elizabeth (wife of Ches- ter Stelle, Milwaukee, Wis.), Henry B. (married and is a resident of Pana, Ill.), Mary C. (widow of J. W. Cary, who, during his life was general ticket agent of the Michigan Southern & Lake Shore Rail- road; he died in 1886), Cornelia (became the wife of George Russell, of Los Angeles, Cal.). Edward E. Beach left his native State at the age of thirteen years, locating in New York City, and remained there two years. After this he located in Cleveland, Ohio, where he re- mained about four years, and then the family located in Chelsea, Mich., where Mr. Beach enlisted in Company D, Fourth Michigan Volun- teer Infantry. He served one year, and then, on account of disability, was discharged. He took part in the first battle of Bull Run, York- town, and many skirmishes. During his service he contracted disease of the heart, from which he has been a constant sufferer since. He was married, in 1868, to Mrs. Julia A. Pincin, a daughter of Mr. Dunn, who is a native of Augusta, Me. Mr. and Mrs. Beach located in Wyandotte County in 1871, opened a general store in Pomeroy, and carried this on successfully for two years. He then engaged in farming, and followed this until 1885, when he accepted his present position. In politics he is a stanch Republican. He is a member of
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Burnside Post No. 28, of Kansas City, Kas., and is also a member of the Veterans' Union, of Kansas City, Kas.
Samuel Beattie, farmer, Quivera, Kas. In mentioning those of foreign birth who have become closely associated with the farming in- terests of Wyandotte County, Kas., we should not fail to present an outline of the career of Mr. Beattie, for it is one which has fully borne out the reputation of that class of industrious, energetic men of Irish nativity who have risen to prominence in different portions of this country. He was born in Ireland, October 13, 1833, and was the son of William Beattie, who was born in the Emerald Isle, and was of Irish and Scotch descent. The father died in 1843, and the widow with the family emigrated to America in 1849, and settled in Stephen- son County, Ill. There the mother died in 1852. Samuel Beattie attained his growth in Stephenson County, Ill., and in 1856 went to New Orleans, where he remained two years. He then went to Kansas, remained in Johnson County, and sold goods to the Indians at Shaw- nee, until the town was burned by Quantrel in 1862. In the fall of 1863 he went to Colorada, but only remained there long enough to dispose of some goods, and then came to Kansas City, in June, 1864, where he put up hay for the Government. In the spring of 1865 he took a train of freight to Santa Fe, N. M., and in the fall he and Capt. Keeler took the contract for opening Twelfth Street in Kansas City, Mo., which operation took them a year. Mr. Beattie purchased his present farm of 600 acres, but sold nearly 100 acres, and has an excellent farm in good tillable shape. He was one of the most extensive farmers in the county, but of late years he has rented the most of his land. He finds that potato growing and gardening is more profitable than general farming. He improved his land, built a good comfortable house, and other buildings necessary for his stock, and a glance over his place indicates to the beholder the quality of farmer that he is. He was married in 1875, to Miss Florence C. Hoffman, a native of Wyandotte County, Ohio, born in 1855, and the daughter of Henry Hoffman. To this union five children were born, three now living: Margaret D., William A. and Evaline. Those deceased were named Mary Dell and Bertha May. Mr. Beattie is a Democrat in politics, was elected county commissioner in 1871, and served four years. Of late years he has been connected with the school board. He is a member of Shawnee Lodge No. 54, A F. & A. M. He was brought up in the Presbyterian Church, and is a liberal contrib- utor to all worthy movements. While filling the position of county
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commissioner, the iron bridge in Kansas City, Kas., was completed across the Kaw River.
George E. Bell is the proprietor of the Ryus House, one of the best conducted and most complete establishments of the kind in Kan- sas City, Kas. He was born in Toronto in 1854, and although a native Canadian, he has been a resident of the United States nearly all his life, and is at present a faithful subject of "Uncle Sam." His youth and early manhood were spent in the cities of Delaware and Columbus, Ohio, and being an intelligent and wide awake young man, he was given the position of traveling salesman for a dry goods and grocery establishment, a calling which continued to receive his atten- tion for seventeen years. He became interested in the hotel business while on the road, and the many experiences, thrilling and otherwise, which he passed through, tended to make him thoroughly acquainted with the wants of the traveling public, and no better man for his present position could be found. He kept a first-class hotel in Lan- caster and Columbus, Ohio, and Kansas City, Mo., for a number of years, after which he took charge of the Ryus House, his connection with the same commencing on May 15, 1889. By his cordiality, accommodating spirit and undoubted efforts to please his guests he has built up a large trade, and his patrons thoroughly appreciate his efforts for their comfort. In addition to his management of his hotel he is a most genial companion, and generous to a fault, nothing being too good for his friends. In politics he supports the measures of the Democratic party and socially belongs to the K. of P. of Delaware, Ohio. He possesses a fine physique, is somewhat interested in sport- ing matters, and is one of the wide-awake business men of Kansas City. He was married in Delaware, Ohio, to Miss Martha E. Waters, by whom he has one child, named Grace. His parents, Robert and Jane (Jackson) Bell, were born in England and are at present living in Indianapolis, Ind.
Louis Benson. Among the best-known houses engaged in the grocery business in Kansas City, Kas., is that belonging to Mr. Ben- son, who embarked in business in August, 1889, and has from the commencement annually increased his trade. He was born near the city of Falkenborg, Sweden, July 15, 1859, being a son of Ben Lar- son and Nellie Benson, who reared a family of six children, of whom he was the fifth: Anna, Nels, Charles, Andrew, Louis and John. Three of the sons came to America, as follows: Andrew, in 1879, and is now employed as engineer on the Chicago & Alton Railroad, his
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home being in Slater, Mo .; Louis, came in 1880, and John in 1884, the latter being now a resident of Kansas City, Mo., and is employed in the shops of the Fort Scott & Gulf Railway. The other two sons, together with Anna and their parents, still reside in their native land. Ben Larson, the father, is a tiller of the soil, being the owner of a good farm, and he and his wife are spending their declining years in comfort and happiness. Louis Benson was reared to manhood in his native land, and between the ages of eight and fourteen years he se- cured a fair education, and from the latter age until he was twenty-one he labored upon his father's farm. In 1880 he bade adieu to home and friends to seek his fortune in America, and embarked at Gothen- burg for Hull, England, from which place he went to London by rail, embarking at that city for the United States, and after a stormy voy- age of fifteen days landed at the port of New York. Two days later he went to Wilkesburg, Penn., where for eight months he worked in a coal mine. He then came westward, and after a stay of two weeks in Chicago, he went to Clayton, Wis., where, for nearly a year he was employed in a lumber yard. In the spring of 1882 he went to He- lena, Montana Territory, in the vicinity of which place he remained about two years, the first three months being engaged in killing buf- faloes in the employ of a man named Johnson. The balance of the time he was employed as a contractor upon the Northern Pacific Rail- way, then being built. In the fall of 1884 he came to Kansas City, Mo., and during the winter which followed he was employed in the shops of the Missouri Pacific Railway, but in the spring of 1885 he went to San Francisco, Cal., and a week later to Portland, Oreg., going the following week to Tacoma, Washington Ter., where, during the summer he worked in a saw-mill. In the fall of 1885 he went to Idaho Territory, and after spending two months in Moscow he re turned to Helena, Mont., where he continued to make his home until the following spring. He then returned to Kansas City, Mo., and was employed in the shops of the Chicago & Alton Railway, and during the spring and summer of 1889 he and his brother, Andrew Benson, of Slater, Mo., erected a large and handsome two-story brick block at No. 55 South Seventeenth Street, Kansas City, Kas., which is 40x55 feet and comprises two good business rooms 20x55 feet, the cost of the building being about $6,000. It is one of the best business blocks in the south part of the city. In one of these rooms, in August, 1889, Mr. Benson and Oscar Ridder opened a first-class grocery store, and the firm under the name of Benson & Ridder has continued up to
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the present time, and is one of the first-class establishments of the place. Both are courteous and accommodating young men, and have built up a good patronage. As their store is desirably located, and is stocked with a fine lot of goods, they have built up a large patronage, and are doing a thriving business. Mr. Benson is a young man of good habits, and he possesses every qualification necessary to make him a successful business man. He has a large circle of friends by whom he is highly respected.
A. L. Berger, deputy county attorney of Wyandotte County, Kas., owes his nativity to St. Clair County, Ill., his birth occurring in 1865, and is a leading citizen of Kansas City, Kas., in its professional, business and social life. He graduated in the classical course in Mc- Kendree College, Lebanon, Ill., in 1882, and immediately after finish- ing entered the law department of the Washington University, St. Louis, Mo., where he graduated in law in the class of 1884. From there he came direct to Kansas City, began practicing his profession, and this has continued to follow. He is the present deputy county attorney, and is a member of the law firm of Moore & Berger.
Henry J. Bigger. The name of Bigger is identified with the mer- cantile standing, the welfare and material and social happiness of Wyandotte County, Kas. He was born in Belfast, North of Ireland, February 17, 1851, to Joseph and Jane (Ardrie) Bigger, the former of whom was a son of David Bigger, and the latter a daughter of Will- iam Ardrie. They were married in March, 1850, and became the par- ents of nine children: Henry J., Jane G., Samuel F., William C., Frederick C., Caroline E., Edward C., Francis J. and Margaret, all of whom are living: Henry J. and his brother, William C., are the only ones of the family who came to America. Samuel F., another brother, is a sergeant-major of the Sixteenth Bengal Artillery, sta- tioned in the British Indies, having held that position in the British army for the past thirteen years. William C. is engaged in the milling business, in Lawrence, Kas. Frederick C. is in the internal revenue service of the British Government. Edward C. is a physician and surgeon of Belfast, Ireland, and Francis J. is a barrister of the same city. The father of these children one time owned and operated a large pork-packing establishment in Belfast, and as a business man was very successful, acquiring a large amount of property. He after- ward sold his business interests, and for thirty years prior to his death he led a retired life, passing quietly away February 14, 1890, at the age of sixty-four years. His widow still survives him, her home being
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at the Ardrie villa, two miles from Belfast, where she has a large and handsome residence, and is surrounded by everything necessary to make life easy and pleasant. Henry J. Bigger remained in Ireland until he attained manhood, and between the ages of seven and twelve years he attended school. He then entered the employ of William Crozier, a grocer of Liverpool, England, remaining with him for seven years, then, in 1871, emigrated to the United States, and on reaching this country, came direct to Kansas City, Kas., and here for four years followed different occupations. In 1875 he went to Leavenworth County, Kas., where he purchased a farm, on which he resided for six years, but in the fall of 1881 returned to Kansas City, and soon after opened a grocery store, at the corner of James and Third Streets. In 1883 he bought two lots, Nos. 207 and 209 James Street, and the same year erected upon them a beautiful building, comprising two store rooms, in one of which he began selling groceries, and in the other flour and feed, conducting the two together very successfully until June 5, 1887, when he sold the stock and fixtures to John Nelson, for $3,350. In November, 1887, he engaged in the commission busi- ness, at No. 227 James Street, following this calling a year and a half, during which time, June 5, 1888, his building at Nos. 207 and 209 James Street, which he had rented, caught fire, and burned to the ground. A month later he began the erection of a new building, 48x80 feet, which was completed the following fall, at a cost of $4,100. In one room of this building, in October, 1889, he opened a first- class grocery, which he is now conducting. He is an agreeable man with whom to do business, and in all his business transactions is un- deniably honest. His other store room is rented out, and is used as a bakery. Besides his business property he owns a good residence at No. 814 East Twenty-fourth Street, Kansas City, Mo., which he pur- chased in June, 1887, at a cost of $4,200. He was married October 15, 1875, to Miss Elvira Howe, a native of Illinois, and their marriage has resulted in the birth of eight children: Edna, Joseph, Edward, Jennie, Lillian and Alfred, who are living, and two daughters who died in infancy. Mr. Bigger is a member of the Second Advent Church, and is a worthy and honorable citizen. Since coming to America he has made three visits to his old home in Ireland, the first being made in 1875, the second in 1881, and the third in 1887.
Francis C. Bishop, Bethel, Kas. Mr. Bishop, originally from the Old Dominion, was born December 11, 1831. and is a son of John and Judith (Walker) Bishop, natives also of Virginia. They reared a family
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of five children, of whom Francis C. is the eldest, and two besides him now living. When the latter was eight or nine years of age the father moved to Tennessee, where he bought land and followed farming until his death in 1886, at the age of eighty-one years. His wife died many years previous. Francis C. was reared on the farm until eighteen years of age, and his educational advantages were limited. Later he learned the blacksmith's trade in Polk County, Tenn., worked there two years and then worked in Bradley County until the war. During that struggle Mr. Bishop was a member of both the Confederate and Federal forces, serving in all four years. Three years were passed in the former army, during which time he was in several engagements of note. At Fort Donelson he was captured and taken to Camp Mor- ton, Indianapolis, subsequently being exchanged at Vicksburg. He was also at Chickamauga and Lookout Mountain, and at Calhoun, Ga., was again taken prisoner, on May 17, 1864, and removed to Rock Island, Ill., when he joined the Union army. Mr. Bishop came to Wyandotte County, in 1866, and went to cutting cord wood. In 1867 he returned to his trade, west of Quindaro and remained there until 1871, when he went to Cowley County, Kas. There he pre-empted 160 acres of land, and resided on that until 1875, improving it, but at the same time carried on his trade. He then traded that for forty acres in Quindaro Township, and worked at his trade here for some time. Later he sold his forty acres, and in connection with his trade subsequently carried on farming for three years. Returning then to Quindaro, he worked in the shop there until July, 1889, when he pur- chased two acres in Bethel, built a house and shop and is now at work at his old trade in that town. He has been twice married, first in Leavenworth in 1866, to Miss Mary Patterson, who lived about two years. In about a year after her death he married Mrs. Mary J. Powell. Politically, Mr. Bishop is a Democrat, but in local elections he votes for the best man.
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