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 55
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in the sheriff's office, court-house, of that city, until September, 1888, when he resigned both positions, to come to Kansas City, Kas. On arriving here he immediately embarked in the real estate and broker- age business, and has been unusually successful in his business career, controlling considerable town property. Since a boy he has always taken a decided interest in politics, and has attended all the conven- tions. He has ever been a stanch Republican in his political views, but is liberal in local politics. He was elected to the House of Repre- sentatives in 1889, and his term expires in January, 1891. Mr. Coates has taken special interest in the building up of the city so far as his means would allow him, and was about the first man to get the streets improved in Armourdale, besides being foremost in many other public enterprises. He was married in May, 1884, to Miss Alice Chadwick, daughter of Allen Chadwick, the present postmaster of Armourdale.
Alfred H. Cobb, city attorney of Kansas City, Kas., was born in Beloit, Wis., August 8, 1859, being a son of ex-Congressman, Stephen A. Cobb. He accompanied his parents to Wyandotte County, Kas., being two months old at the time, and has ever since been a resident of that city, and since attaining mature years has been one of the public-spirited men of this section, ever ready to support worthy en- terprises. He completed the high school course in Kansas City, after which he spent four years in the Kansas State University, his career there being marked by close application to his books, and by excellent deportment. After reading law for two years in the office of Alden & McGrew, he entered the law department of the University of Michi- gan, at Ann Arbor, graduating with the class of 1883. He at once began practicing his profession in Kansas City, and is now one of its most successful and talented young attorneys. His career as a legal practioner has been one of flattering success, and as his practice is steadily and substantially increasing, his outlook for the future is bright and promising. He was appointed to the position of city attorney in the spring of 1889, and is proving a competent official. He has always taken an active part in local politics, is a stanch Republican, and is one of the rising young politicians of the city. Socially he is a mem- ber of the I. O. O. F., the K. of P. and the R. A. On September 9, 1880, his marriage with Miss Carrie L. Place of Westport, Mo., was celebrated. She is a daughter of Prof. C. W. Place, who was formerly superintendent of schools of that town. Mr. Cobb and his wife have three children: Mary W., Franc and Alfred H.
Horace E. Colvin is a fair representative of that class of American
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business men who win for themselves prominent positions and honor- able reputations. He was born in Detroit, Mich., April 27, 1845, be- ing a son of Matthewson T. and Olive M. (McPherson) Colvin, the former of whom was born in Rutland, Vt., February 6, 1814, and the latter in Syracuse, N. Y., March 23, 1821. The father was a son of Heman and Mary Colvin, who were also natives of Vermont. Mat- thewson T. Colvin, was married in 1842, and he and his wife became the parents of five children: Alice, Horace E., Ellen, Malinda and Linda; Malinda being now deceased, her death occurring at the age of nine months. The mother of these children passed from life Novem- ber 20, 1877. Their father learned the butcher's trade in early life, and for a period of five years, or from 1845 to 1850, he conducted a meat- market in Chicago, beginning business there in a stall in the old State Street Market House, his being the first business of the kind on that street. He subsequently conducted a market for several years on the southeast corner of Randolph aud Clark Streets, but in 1850, he re- moved to La Salle, La Salle County, Ill., where he opened a livery stable. Five years later he returned to Chicago, and in 1880 removed to St. Louis, finally locating in Harlem, Mo., where he now lives. Through- out his entire life he has dealt more or less in fast horses, and this still receives much of his attention. He is now past seventy-six years of age, and is the oldest man on the American turf. He is yet hale and hearty, and would readily pass for a man of fifty years of age. This fact is doubtless due to his regular habits, having taken the best of care of himself, and abstained from the use of liquors in all its forms. In his earlier manhood his love for sport induced him to frequently compete with his companions at foot racing and wrestling, and in the numerous contests in which he took part he was never outrun or thrown upon his back. While a resident of La Salle County, Ill., he held the office of sheriff for two years and made an excellent offi- cial. Horace E. Colvin, his son, was reared to manhood in the city of Chicago, and at the age of seventeen years he entered a commer- cial college of that city, which he attended for about seven months. In July, 1861, he left this institution to take up arms in defense of his country, and became a private in company D, Sixty-seventh Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry, with which he served for four months and seven days. In August, 1863, he became a member of the Chicago Mercantile Battery, serving with it until the close of the war, and participating in the following engagements: Vicksburg, Black River Bridge, Sabine Cross Roads and Pleasant Hill, in all of which he dis-
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charged his duties in a manner becoming a loyal soldier. He was mustered out of service at Chicago, July 10, 1865, after which he took up the printer's trade, but after a few months, finding that it was detrimental to his health, he abandoned it and resumed the butcher's trade, which he had learned in his youth. He subsequently engaged in the meat business in Chicago, and for several years conducted a market in that city. In August, 1881, he came to Kansas City, Kas., and during the first few years of his residence here was in the employ of the Armour Packing Company, being foreman for a year and a half of the supply room. At a later period he clerked in the grocery store of W. T. Brown, remaining with him eighteen months, and September, 1889, opened a similar establishment of his own in part- nership with William D. Bougher, on Stewart Avenue, and has also dealt in meat, both salt and fresh. In January, 1890, they removed to the large and handsome business building at No. 701 Quindaro Boulevard, and there are now engaged in conducting one of the lead- ing groceries in the city. Both gentlemen are anxious to please their customers, and from the large patronage which they command, the inference drawn is that they have undoubtly done so. Mr. Colvin's marriage to Miss Nellie M. Langley, of Chicago, took place on March 22, 1868, her birth occurring on February 14, 1846, and to their union the following children have been born: Ollie Mabel (born December 31, 1869), Emma Blanche (born January 3, 1871), and Eva Gertrude (born January 3, 1876). The two eldest daughters are graduates of the Kansas City High School, and are teachers by profession, both having been employed in the schools of this city for the past three years. The younger, Emma Blanche, when she began, was the youngest teacher that ever taught in the city, being then but sixteen years of age. Both are exceptionally intelligent and accomplished young ladies and make very successful teachers. Mr. Colvin is a member of the R. A. the G. A. R., and commands the respect and esteem of all who know him.
Horace E. Colvin has been engaged in the drug business in Kan- sas City, Kas., since January 1, 1887, at that time becoming the suc- cessor of A. H. Stevens, who had established a new store at No. 451 Minnesota Avenue, only one month before. He remained in business there until the following October, when he removed to No. 436 Min- nesota Avenue, where he has since been successfully engaged in busi- ness. He was born in Zanesville, Ohio, April 1, 1858, and was a son of William D. and Eliza J. (Smith) Colvin, both of whom were also
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born in the Buckeye State, the latter's birth occurring in Zanesville in 1819, and the former's near that town in 1818. Mr. Colvin was a teacher by profession, and died in Kansas City, Mo., in 1882, being still survived by his widow, who is now making her home in Kansas City, Kas. Horace E. Colvin was the ninth of ten children, three sons and three daughters now living, and until five years of age was a resident of his native State, at that time moving with his par- ents to the State of Missouri, and locating on a farm near Carthage. There the family resided for five years; then, in February, 1870, re- moved to Wyandotte, Kas., and a few months later located on a farm just west of that place, which farm is now within the corporate limits of Kansas City, and a portion of which is occupied by Chelsea Park. During the eight years the family resided here, Horace E. labored upon the farm, but in 1878, as his parents moved to Kansas City, Kas., and two years later to Kansas City, Mo., he went with them. In February, 1878, while his people still resided on the farm, he secured a position as clerk in a drug store in Kansas City, Mo., and has been identified with that calling ever since, although in different towns. He was em- ployed as a clerk in different stores in the above-mentioned city until 1882, but at this date again took up his residence in Kansas City, Kas., and here has remained up to the present time. After remaining here in a clerical capacity for about five years he purchased his present store, under the above-mentioned conditions, and now has one of the finest establishments of the kind in the county. He is a thorough master of this business, and is recognized as such throughout this sec- tion. On November 1, 1888, he became associated in business with Ja- cob W. Giesburg, and the firm has since been known as Colvin & Gies- burg. He is one of the popular young business men of this section, and as his reputation for honesty and integrity has been tried and not found wanting, he deserves this popularity. He was married January 10, 1888, to Miss Cora M. Barker, of Wyandotte County.
William F. Combs, dairyman, Kansas City, Kas. If industry, and perseverance can accomplish anything, Mr. Combs is bound to succeed, for although starting in his present business four years ago with seven cows, he is now the owner of fifty-seven good cows that supply him with 300 gallons of milk per day, and is doing a rushing business. He was originally from Ohio, his birth occurring in Clermont County, and is the son of T. V. and Maria Combs, natives also of the Buckeye State. The mother died in 1870, but the father is still living and has been a resident of this county since 1883. He is a farmer by occupa-
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tion and carries on this occupation in this State at the present time. Equipped with a common-school education, William F. came West with his father, and has been with him, and connected with him in business until recently. On April 28, 1887, our subject married Miss Ida McMullen, daughter of Henry McMullen, of Ohio, and they have one child, Maudie. Mr. Combs was first in the retail business, but he commenced the wholesale business in 1888, and is meeting with the great success. He has a pasture near the city limits. He has always supported the Republican party, and tolerates its views as sound and well suited to any man.
John W. Condon is foreman of the killing department of Swift & Co.'s Packing House at Kansas City, Kas., and has been in their employ off and on since about 1882. He was born in Boston, Mass., January 12, 1863, his parents, David and Ellen (Hackett) Condon, being born in Ireland, but were married in the United States. His boyhood was spent in his native city, and there his advantages for acquiring an education were very good, and for a number of years he was a regular attendant of the public schools. In his early youth he was employed as a lighter of street lamps, three years being spent at this occupation, and later spent a year and a half learning the butcher's trade. When he had attained his eighteenth year he came west to Hammond, Ind., where, for twenty months he was employed in the packing house of George H. Hammond & Co. At the end of this time he went to Chicago, and after a short time spent in the pack- ing house of P. D. Armour & Co., he became an employe of Swift & Co., of that city, and remained with them for about one year and a half. He then went to Northern Dakota, and for six months worked for the Western Dressed Beef Company, at the end of which time he re- turned to Chicago. After working for eight months in a packing house, owned by Leopold Pfealtzer he, in 1886, re-entered the em- ploy of Swift & Co., and has been with this company ever since. In the fall of 1887, he was sent to Kansas City, Kas., and has since been foreman of the killing department, a responsible and trustworthy position. He is a sober, industrious and upright young man, and his prospects for a successful future are bright. Miss Frances B. Grady, of Chicago, became his wife on August 28, 1889, and both are earnest members of the Catholic Church, the former being a member of the I. O. F.
John R. Conley, druggist, Armourdale Kas. Among the repre- sentative drug stores of Armourdale is that conducted by Mr. John R.
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Conley, whose efficiency in his profession is the result of long experience and practice. His parents, Robert and Susan (Dillon) Conley, were natives of Ireland and France, respectively. They were married in Canada and emigrated to Michigan at an early day, where the father followed contracting. He lived in Iona City for a number of years and constructed some of the finest buildings in the city. He is now residing in Whitehall, Mich., where he still carries on his trade in contracting and building. They had six children, five of whom are now living: William, George, Nettie and Abbie. John R. Conley was born in Iona City, Mich., on June 17, 1859, and there passed his boy- hood and youth, receiving his education at Grand Rapids, grad- uating at Swineburn's Commercial College in 1879. After this he was employed in various enterprises, and in the meantime studied the drug business, serving an apprenticeship at Montague, Mich., where he embarked in the drug business for himself for some time. In 1884 he emigrated to Kansas City, Kas., opened a drug store, which was the second in the city of Armourdale, and here he has continued the busi- ness ever since. He has a fine stock of drugs, jewelry, etc., and is prosperous and happy. By his marriage, which occurred in 1881, to Miss Mary E. Baker, of Montague, Mich., he became the father of one son, Robert C. Mr. Conley is a member of the K. of P., R. A. and K. of H. He has been captain of Division No. 33 for over three years, and is one of the representative men of Armourdale, ever ready to assist in all laudable enterprises.
Henry S. Cook has been a resident of Armourdale, Kas., since 1884, and since that time has had the management of the drug store belong- ing to J. R. Conley, and by his courteous manners, and desire to please and accommodate his patrons, he has built an extensive and lucrative trade. He was born in Baltimore, Md., September 16, 1854, and is the only child of Charles and Mary E. (Canby) Cook, the former being a native of Virginia, where he was reared to manhood, and followed the calling of a pork packer. From this State he went to Baltimore, Md., where he followed his calling until 1860, at which time he assumed charge of the Washington Division of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, closing out the different interests in railroad stocks and real estate, and after a time purchased a plantation in St. Landry Parish, La., on which he resided for a year. He then sold out, and spent some time in visiting different cities in the East, but finally, in 1879, settled in Kansas City, Mo. Henry S. Cook obtained the principal part of his knowledge of pharmacy in Washington, D. C., with Adams & Dick-
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son, but after remaining with them a short time, he left them to take a position with W. H. Douglas, in New York City. After graduating from an institution of that place, he went to New Orleans, but returned to Baltimore, Md., and in 1875 opened a drug store at that place, and in time built up a fine trade, but was forced to abandon this work on account of ill health. He then emigrated to the West, and for some time resided in Northwestern Iowa, his time being devoted to the re- covery of his health, and while there lived in a comfortable and com- modious residence which he had purchased, and which he still owns. He was married in Le Mars, Iowa, in 1875, to Miss Helena E. Scribner, a daughter of J. S. and M. S. (Sheldon) Scribner, natives of New York. Mrs. Cook was born in Elmira, N. Y., in 1860, and her union with Mr. Cook has resulted in the birth of four children: Mary, Helena and Charles; Harry is deceased. Mr. Cook is a Democrat, and socially belongs to Fearless Lodge No. 97 of the K. of P. He is always found ready to assist any enterprise that will benefit and ad- vance the interests of the community in which he resides, and is always ready and willing to stretch out the right hand of fellowship to the needy and distressed.
Gen. Dudley E. Cornell. a worthy and respected citizen residing in Kansas City, Kas., was born in Saratoga County, N. Y., January 15, 1837, being a son of Merritt I. and Mercy W. (Howard) Cornell, who were born in Washington County, N. Y., and Bennington County, Vt., respectively. One of the early ancestors of Dudley E. was Thomas Cornell, who emigrated from England, and first located in Boston, Mass., moving from there in 1640 to Rhode Island, settling at Portsmouth. He had a son, Thomas, who also had a son of that name. The latter had a son George, who was born October 11, 1707, and he had a son by the name of Matthew, who first saw the light of day in Rhode Island on October 30, 1743. The latter's son, Matthew, was born in Washington County, N. Y., March 22, 1787, and was the grandfather of the subject of this sketch. He was educated for a civil engineer at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at Troy, N. Y., and during the years of 1856-57 he followed civil engineering in the . State of Wisconsin. From that time until 1860 he followed the same occupation in connection with mining in California, but in the last named year he returned to New York, and in October, 1861, entered the service of the Union army, and served until the close of the war. In 1866 he came to Kansas and located in Wyandotte County, where he has chiefly resided ever since. He entered the employ of the old
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Kansas Pacific Railroad, as clerk in the general passenger and ticket office, was subsequently made chief clerk, and in 1876 was made general passenger and ticket agent of the road, a position he held until the consolidation of that road with the Union Pacific Railroad, when he became general agent of the passenger and ticket departments of the consolidated lines at Kansas City, and filled this position with the best success until the fall of 1887. He has served one term as mayor of Kansas City, Kas., and two terms as a member of the city council. His marriage, which took place on October, 13, 1868, was to Miss Annie M., the daughter of Dr. Frederick Speck, and by her has had a family of six children-four sons and two daughters: Fred D., Howard M., Adelaide M., Dudley E., Grace A. and George S. Mr. Cornell is a member of the A. F. & A. M., the K. of P. and the A. O. U. W., and in his political views has always been a Republican.
Thomas Cowie, foreman of the foundry of the Keystone Iron Works, which institution is among the most important of its kind in the Southwest, is one of the skilled mechanics of Kansas City, where he is well known and thoroughly respected. Mr. Cowie was born in Scotland, in the village of Glenn Davis, near Ardrie, April 15, 1835, and is the eldest of nine children-six sons and three daughters. The father was a Scotchman, and was a mill-stone builder by trade. He died at the age of forty-eight years. The mother is also of Scotch origin and resides at the present time in Canada. Thomas Cowie re- ceived his early education in his native country and started out for himself at the age of fourteen as a molder, serving four years as an apprentice in Dundas, Canada, as a molder in his uncle's plant, one of the most important in Canada, established in 1833, and conducted under the name of John Gartshare. He then went to West Point, learned the profession or trade under instruction for one year, and be- came thoroughly familiar with all the different branches as a molder. His superintendent was Rumph, and his foreman, John Carmichael, who was a noted man among mechanics and molders. Mr. Cowie re- mained there six years, and then returned to Dundas, Canada, to take charge of his uncle's large foundry, remaining there from 1858 to 1870, which shows that he is a thorough and experienced workman in detail. Next he and his cousin commenced work on their own respon- sibility and located in Hamilton, Ontario, but business being dull he removed to Kansas City, Mo., where Mr. Cowie located with A. J. Kelley, and remained there two years. He then united with the Key- stone Iron Works, and now holds the important position of foreman of
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the foundry. Mr. Cowie's apprentices, who have learned the trade un- der him, are now holding important positions throughout the country. He took charge of foundry work, when twenty-three years of age, and has quite a historical record. He, with two other molders, cast several parts of the engine for the famous frigate "Merrimac," viz. : Cylinder head, piston head and condenser and bed plate, the weight being seven- teen tons, and those they cast themselves. Mr. Cowie has seventy-six men under him in this large plant, and is one of the trusted men of this establishment. He was married to Miss Lucinda McDonnell, a native of Ireland, on December 16, 1858, and to them have been born eight children. Mr. Cowie has ever been a Democrat in his political views, and casts his vote for men of honor and principle. He and wife are ardent supporters of the educational system, which is the bulwark of the nation. Mr. Cowie is a member of the Scottish Clan, a flourishing organization, and is a Royal Arch Mason. He and Mrs. Cowie are members of the Presbyterian Church in Kansas City, Mo. They are comfortably located in Kansas City, Mo., where they have a fine and valuable property, and where they will make their home. There his talent and skill are in constant demand. During President Bu- chanan's administration Mr. Cowie was the factor in manufacturing shells, and for four years worked four months each year in making these missiles of death. He helped manufacture many thousands, and was in the ranks at West Point Foundry when the famous "Parrott" gun was made, the same being well known by all war veterans as the death-dealing messenger. Mr. Cowie's career as a molder has been one of the most unique of any completed by the historian as yet.
John S. Cox. It will be seen by a perusal of this sketch of the life of one of the most respected citizens of Wyandotte County, Kas., that his early educational advantages were good, and that since his contact with the world his vigorous mind has so grasped and embraced the opportunities which have presented themselves that he is accounted among the most intelligent and learned men of this sec- tion of the country. He was born in Lewis County, W. Va., in 1825, and was from the very first taught everything connected with farming, but much of his time was also devoted to school work, he being for some time an attendant of the Northwest Virginia Academy, where, besides acquiring a literary education, he also read law. In 1852 he determined to seek a fresh field for his labors, and accordingly first settled in Adams County, Ill., and after a period of two years spent in farming, he turned his attention to mercantile pursuits, teaching school
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also, a calling he had followed in the State of Virginia. In 1862, with the knowledge of the fact that his country needed his services, he en- listed in Company B, One Hundred and Nineteenth Illinois Infantry, and after doing gallant service, he was discharged in July, 1865. Im- mediately on entering the army he was placed in the hospital service, having prior to the war acquired some knowledge of the drug business, and until 1864 was in the Regimental Hospital, being at that time capt- ured. He was taken to Camp Ford, Tex., but while there managed to make his escape, August 18, 1864, but was shortly after captured by bloodhounds, seven of which had hold of him when he surrendered. He remained in captivity until February 6, 1865; then made his way to the gunboat " La Fayette," at the mouth of Red River, and there se- cured a furlough home for thirty days, after which he returned to his regiment at Montgomery, Ala. On May 22, 1865, he was again placed in the division hospital service, and there continued until it was disbanded, being shortly afterward taken sick with rheumatism, and went to Marine Hospital, at Mobile, Ala. After being in the Marine Hospital until July 28, 1865, he was discharged, and went to Zanes- ville, Ohio, where he found his family at the same place he had left them on entering the service. He was only in one battle, but the doc- tors would not permit him to again take the field, as he was a skillful nurse, and his services were needed among the wounded. After the war he became a clerk for the Ohio Iron Company for two years, after which he sold goods two years; then came to Kansas City, Kas., and engaged in the real estate and the insurance business, and has given special attention to Government claims. He once filled the position of justice of the peace, a position to which he was elected without his knowledge, and in political matters is distinctly liberal, being equally so in church matters. He was married in Clarksburg, Harrison County, Va., by the Rev. J. W. Snodgrass, to Miss Mary A. Hamrick, a native of Rappahannock County, Va. The children (living) born to them are as follows: William W. (who was born in Virginia December 4, 1849, is proprietor of a job-printing house in this city), and Ella L. (who is the wife of J. P. Connelly, of Denver, Colo). Mr. Cox is a son of Phillippi, and Susannah (Kinsley) Cox, both native Virginians, the former of whom died in 1876. This family is descended from Dr. Daniel Cox, of London, England. The grandfather was born in New Jersey, and died in Ritchie County, Va., at the age of ninety-nine years. The great grandfather lived to be one hundred and ten years of age, and died in Harrison County, Va.
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