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 57
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Edward J. Davis, foreman of the machine shop of the Keystone Iron Works of Kansas City, Kas., is a skilled machinist and a gentle- man, who has the full confidence of his superiors as well as the gen- eral and united good will of his men. He first saw the light of day in the Empire State, his birth occurring in Fulton, on July 15, and he was third in a family of six children-four daughters and two sons. The father is a native of the Emerald Isle, is a machinist, and is now engaged in that capacity in the Keystone Iron Works. The mother died on June 15, 1885. Edward J. Davis secured his primary educa- tion in the common public schools, and finished at Cooper Institute, New York City, mostly in the mathematical department and in chem- istry. At the age of nineteen years he started out for himself, with nothing to assist him in making his way in life, except his practical education and his trade as a machinist. He first located in Chicago, with Frazer, Chalmers & Co., but from there went to Peoria, Ill., and was in the employment of Nichol, Burns & Co., in the machine shops for ten months. Later he went to Kansas City, Mo., engaged with the State Line Machine Works at that place, as a machinist (1868), and in 1873 he was promoted to the position of foreman, in which capacity he remained for three years. After this he was with W. A. M. Vaughn & Co., for about six years, and then entered the Keystone Iron Works, as foreman of the machine shops, where he has remained since. He has a force of about forty experienced machinists, who are able assist- ants of the foreman. Mr. Davis was married to Miss Helen Shrews- bury, a native of Missouri, born at St. Joe, on November 20, 1860, and who received her education in Santa Fe, N. M., at the convent. Unto this union one child has been born, who is now deceased. In his political views Mr. Davis is a Democrat, and his first presidential vote was for Gen. U. S. Grant, during his second administration. Mr. Davis is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He was chairman of the board of engineers in Kansas City, Mo., filling this important position for six years, and is a man who has the unbounded respect of all with whom he comes in contact. He and wife expect to make Kansas City, Mo., their future residing place. They also own prop- erty in Wyandotte, Kas.
Samuel W. Day, president Central Bank of Kansas, and manufact- urer of barrels, wooden tanks, tubs, etc., owes his nativity to Ohio, his birth occurring in Athens County on March 11, 1841. He was reared in Iowa, received a limited education in that State, in fact not attending school over six months altogether, and is a self-made man.
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He learned the cooper's trade of his father, and followed it until the spring of 1860, when he left and took a trip overland to Colorado, when but nineteen years of age. He crossed the plains with a party of five, and was about thirty days in making the trip, having some very excit- ing and interesting experiences during that time. Their team was stampeded one night, and they were left in a bad predicament, but were fortunate in finding them the next morning about five miles from their camp. Mr. Day was with Kit Carson at Fort Craig in Mexico, and he was wounded at Val Verdo, Mex., by a gun-shot through the left thigh in February, 1862. He enlisted at Fairplay, Rocky Mountains, and was mustered in at Fort Garland, Mex., serving three years and two months in the war. When he was wounded he fell in the hands of rebels but was carried off under a flag of truce after lying on the battle- field for some time. He had charge of a ward at a hospital in Mexico, and was sent with an ambulance from Fort Craig to Santa Fe. He went to Fort Union, where he assisted in building the new fort, and this was all done on foot, having no horses. From there he went to Fort Larned, thence to Fort Riley, Fort Scott, and Fort Gibson, where he had charge of the prisoners and was stationed as guard. From there they went to Fort Smith, Springfield, (Mo.), thence to Fort Rolla, being all this time on foot, and here they took the train to St. Louis where they were mounted. They then started to Kansas City and he was on provost duty for about one year. He was there during Gen. Price's last raid and followed him as far as Fort Scott. After being discharged Mr. Day worked at his trade for a short time and then went to Rulo, Neb., where he took contract for getting out hay hoops. From there he went to Corning, Iowa, thence to Western, Mo., from there to Kansas City and then to Arkansas. Later he returned to Kansas City, which place has been his permanent home since 1867, He is one of the early settlers of that city, is a prominent and success- ful business man, and is manufacturing about 125 barrels per day. He was married in 1866 to Miss Anna H. Hate, and to them were born three children, one now living-Nora. His second marriage occurred in September, 1873, to Miss Clarissa D. Copfield, by whom he has six children: Myrtle, Samuel, Lena, James, Caddie and Thomas. Mr. Day's first wife died in May, 1872. He was one of twelve children born to Samuel and Sophiah J. (Ketchum) Day, natives of Pennsyl- vania. The parents emigrated to Ohio at an early day, and in 1844 moved to Van Buren County, Iowa. In 1851 they moved to Burling- ton of that State, and there the mother died in 1854. The father died
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in Adams County, Iowa, in 1872. He was a cooper by trade and car- ried it on the principal part of his life. In this connection it is but proper to state that Mr. Day thinks Kit Carson was one of the best men that ever lived. He tells of one incident, showing the noble traits of his character. Mr. Carson was a daily visitor to the hospital, and on a certain occasion while making his usual calls and inquiring after the wants of the sick and wounded, he was told by one of the wounded ones that he thought he would be all right if he had some tobacco. Mr. Carson inquired if there was none in the sutler's store, when answered in the negative, he said there should be some, and promised to see about it. Upon investigation he found that the officers of his regiment had purchased the entire supply. He at once called them together and gave them a good lecturing, and made them get it all, and bring to him. He then took it and put it in the dispensary, and instructed the hospital stewart to issue so much every day to each man who used tobacco. Such unimportant deeds as this made Kit Car- son a great favorite with all who knew him, especially the pioneers of the West.
W. C. Deardorff, foreman of the galvanized iron department of Ar- mour's Packing House, and a man eminently qualified for this posi- tion, has been in the employment of this company for eight years, which in itself speaks well as to his ability. Mr. Deardorff was born in Ohio, Tuscarawas County, in 1856, and is the son of George and Elizabeth (Banock) Deardorff, the father a native of the Keystone State, and the mother of Baltimore, Md. The parents moved to Ohio at an early date, and there the father carried on merchandising in connec- tion with farming. They reside at Canal Dover, Ohio, at the present time. Both are of German descent. Their family consisted of six chil- dren, and our subject is second in order of birth. The paternal grand- father was born in Pennsylvania, and was one of the pioneer settlers of Canal Dover, Ohio, where he spent the principal part of his life. He was a merchant by occupation. W. C. Deardorff remained and as- sisted his father on the farm until fifteen years of age, when he learned the tinner's trade in his father's store. He worked there all but two years before he came here, and those two years he was engaged in the stock business at Abilene, Kas. He then engaged in his trade for about the same length of time, and then in 1881 came to Kansas City Kas. He entered the employ of Armour as a tinner workman, and six months afterward was promoted to his present position, which he has held continuously ever since. He was married in St. Louis, Mo., in
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1883, to Miss Celia Donzlott, a native of St. Louis, Mo., born in 1862, and this union has been blessed by the birth of two children-Ella and Harrison. Mr. Deardorff resides at 1212 North Third Street, where he owns a snug property.
Charles E. De Graw, foreman of the paint department in the Ar- mour Packing Company, whose sketch now invites the attention of the reader, is a "self-made " man in the most comprehensive meaning of that term, one who by dint of natural ability and perseverance has raised himself to a high round on the "ladder" of success. His early opportunities were not very good, but it is daily proven that everything is possible to him who possesses strength of character and "push," and these characteristics certainly belong to Mr. De Graw. His birth occurred in Louisville, Ky., in 1857, but his family moved to Arkansas, where they remained three years, moving from there to Kansas, and finally settling in Kansas City, in 1867. Here the sub- ject of the sketch attained manhood's estate, learning the trade of house- painting, and so diligently has he worked and given such per- fect satisfaction, that at the present writing he holds a position of trust with one of the largest and best-known houses in the West. He has charge of the wagon and buggy work, refrigerator cars and house work, controlling fifteen men, and accumulating a comfortable fortune as the years pass by. Mr. De Graw was married, in the year 1876, to Miss Annie Peterson, native of Sweden, but who came to the United States at the early date of 1870. This union has been blessed with five children, viz. : Ella, Edward, Henry, May and Irene E. In politics Mr. De Graw is a member of the Republican party, and he is also a member of Summunduwott Lodge No. 3, I. O. O. F., and Wide Awake Lodge No. 153, K. of P. He is a thoroughly enter- prising and public-spirited man, and is held in the highest esteem by the citizens of this community. He has been in the employ of Armour since 1875, and this fact alone is proof of his ability to successfully fill responsible positions.
George Whitefield Dement is one of the leading horticulturists of Wyandotte Township, and by his birth is a Southern gentleman, for he was born in Maysville, Ky., October 8, 1825, being the second of seven children, their names being as follows: Margaret (wife of George Wormald, who is a contractor and builder by trade in Covington, Ky.), George W. (the subject of this sketch), Isaac (who has been a planter of Mississippi since 1849), Mary (wife of Davied Worstell, of Irington, Ohio), Julia (wife of E. Rickets, of Bloomington, Ill.), Sarah (wife of
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WYANDOTTE COUNTY.
David Rickets, a plasterer, of Omaha, Neb.), and Thomas Clinton (who died in infancy). Mr. Dement's father was born and reared in the city of Alexandria, Va., and was a potter by trade. He died at the age of thirty-five years, and his widow, who was a native of Accomack County, Va., afterward married a Mr. Eackles, by whom she became the mother of one child, Amanda S., who is a resident of Kentucky. She was first married to a Mr. Lee, but after his death became the wife of a Mr. Bright. Mr. and Mrs. Dement were married at the dedication of the first Methodist Church of Maysville, Ky., and in that town spent most of their married life. The early education of the subject was obtained in the early subscription schools of Kentucky, and since he reached manhood, Mr. Dement has been a stanch supporter and warm advocate of free schools. He commenced life for himself as an apprentice to the trade of a plasterer, when not quite sixteen years of age, and after finishing his apprenticeship, pursued his avo- cation for about a quarter of a century. Upon starting out in life for himself he had not a dollar in his pocket, but he possessed much pluck and energy, and has made a success of his life, for he not only has many warm friends but commands the respect of all, and is now a well-to-do citizen. In the winter of 1866 he moved to Kansas City, Mo., the place at that time consisting of about 3,000 souls. He be- came one of the largest contractors of the city, and in 1881 located in his present beautiful, commodious and comfortable home, for which he paid the sum of $5.000. His residence is situated on one of the finest pieces of land in the vicinity of Kansas City, Kas., and com- mands a magnificent and very extended view. He has been offered at different times $20,000 for the property, but refuses to sell. His acre- age comprises ten, and is within one mile of the city limits, and three blocks from the Kensington Elevated Railroad. He is pronounced to be the most successful horticulturist in the township, and is an exten- sive grower of the following varieties of fruits: Apples, peaches, cher- ries, grapes and strawberries, of the following-named kinds: Crescent Seedling, Charles Downing, the Boghboro and the Grand Prize. Black- berries and raspberries are also raised in abundance, also asparagus and all kinds of vegetables. Mr. Dement is a well-posted gentleman, and, in fact, is what is called a level-headed man in business circles, and is recognized as such. Mr. Dement was married to Miss Eliza- beth Martin, who was born in Germany, in 1827, but was reared in Pennsylvania and Kentucky. She was educated in the latter State, and their marriage took place July 2, 1846, in Aberdeen, Ohio, and
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has resulted in the birth of five children: Thomas Richard (who was an exceptionally bright little boy, died at the age of four years), George Whitefield (died at the age of five, and was also very promis- ing), Julia Ann (who was born February 29, 1852, was first educated in the common schools, but afterward graduated from the Sister's Seminary, in Kansas City, Mo. ; she is a finely educated lady, and is re- siding in Fleming County, Ky., where her husband has a valuable plan- tation of 600 acres), and Elizabeth (who resides with her husband on a farm in Ohio; she received a fine education, and graduated from the high school of Kansas City, Mo.) Mr. Dement was formerly an "Old Line Whig" in politics, but ever since the founding of the Republican party he has given it his support, and his first presidential vote was cast for Gen. Scott. He has been a member of the boards of di- rectors and education for some eighteen years, and this stamps him as a man in whom the public have reposed much confidence. For about twelve years he was a member of the Board of Education in Eastern Bolton city schools, of Kansas City, Mo., and he and his wife have long been members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Kan- sas City, Kas. They expect to make their present home their future abiding place, where they are surrounded by everything to make life happy, their friends being very numerous. This brief sketch of a worthy man is an admirable example to all young men who begin to stem the current in life with no stock in trade except a pair of willing hands, for persistent, honest and consistent endeavor, will, in time, conquer all things.
John Devlin is foreman for the loading gang of the Kansas City Packing Company, and was born in Belfast, Ireland, November 9, 1837, his parents being James and Mary Ann (Brown) Devlin, also natives of the Emerald Isle. He came with his parents to America in 1848, and with them settled at St. Louis, Mo., in which city both parents died, the former passing from life in 1865 and the latter in 1857. To them seven children were born, of whom the subject of this sketch was the second, two sons and one daughter only being now alive. After the death of his first wife the father married Miss Alice McGrath, who bore him three sons, only one now living. During the greater part of his life he was employed in packing-houses, and for about two years was a member of Company D, First Missouri Artillery. John Devlin received his early education in Ireland, and in St. Louis, Mo., and when only a small lad he became employed in a packing house in St. Louis, and has been connected with like establishments up to the
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present time. After working for ten years for Charles Peper, of St. Louis, and two winters for the Boonville Packing Company, of Boonville, Mo., one winter for Hawke & Maxon, of East Nebraska, Iowa, he, in 1878, became an employe of the firm of Morris, Butt & Co., then at St. Louis, and has been in their employ ever since, the firm name having been changed to the Kansas City Packing Company. He came to Kansas City in 1886, and has since been foreman of the loading and packing gang, a position he is filling very creditably. At the age of twenty years he was married in St. Louis, Mo., to Miss Mary Ann McGarry, a native of Ireland, who came to America in 1855. Mr. Devlin and his wife are the parents of the following children: William John, Francis, Alexander John, James, George, Theresa Catherine and Isa- belle, only the two latter being alive. Mrs. Devlin is a member of the Episcopal Church, a true Christian and an intelligent woman, and Mr. Devlin is a member of the Catholic Church, and in his political views a Democrat.
William H. Dickard, the subject of the present sketch, requires no special introduction to the inhabitants of Wyandotte County, Kas., being both well known and liked by all in his vicinity. He is a native of Indiana, his birth occurring in that State, October 13, 1853, he being the only child born to his father's first marriage. The father was a soldier and sacrificed his life upon the battle-field at Resaca, Ga. He enlisted in the Twenty-seventh Indiana Infantry, was as- sigued to the Army of the Potomac, so far as the information pos- sessed by his son goes, and returned home no more. Both of Mr. Dickard's parents were natives of the State of Indiana, the father being a blacksmith by trade. Though Mr. Dickard received only a common-school education, he embraced every possible opportunity to gain knowledge and fit himself for a successful business career. De- prived of his father's protection, he commenced life for himself at the very early age of ten years, learning the trade of carriage painting in Washington, Davis County, Ind. Thus the money that he has ac- cumulated is due entirely to his own industry and perseverance, and his life forms a good model for young people commencing life without any other assistance than their own ability. Mr. Dickard married Miss Lola Ann Watkins, of Tennessee, who was born there in 1860, and educated in Wyandotte County. They were united in marriage on December 25, 1878, and unto them have been born four children-two sons and two daughters-viz .: Earl, George Etta (a bright little girl of ten years), William Thomas (aged seven years), Claude (who is five
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years old), and Alice (the baby of three years). Mr. Dickard is a man of firm principles and strict integrity, and one who weighs matters carefully before deciding upon public issues. His interest in public schools has been great, and he has devoted much time to their ad- vancement and improvement. 'He came to Kansas upon a tour of in- spection in 1865, but did not locate here until the year 1869. When he first settled in Wyoming County it was far from attractive as a lo- cation, there having been no real improvements made at that time. Land sold for from $10 to $50 per acre that now brings $300 per acre. Mr. Dickard's estate is especially valuable from the fact that it lies within the manufacturing part of the county, and on the banks of a river. When he first saw Kansas City, Kas., it comprised only about 500 inhabitants, while at the present date it is a thriving city of 43,000 population, and growing all the time with wonderful rapidity.
Joseph Doleshal, of Kansas City, Kas., is an Austrian by birth, being born in that country on June 9, 1861, to Vinzens and Anna (Habranek) Doleshal, with whom he came to America, at the age of fifteen years, leaving Hamburg on October 8, 1875, on the steamer " Willand," and reaching New York City after a voyage of fifteen days. They proceeded immediately to Columbus, Ohio, and two months later the father, mother and their children, with the excep- tion of the subject of this sketch, came to Kansas and located near Wyandotte, and for two years farmed a portion of the land now oc. cupied by Kansas City, Kas. In February, 1878, they moved near Hays City, Kas., but after farming there nearly two years, they, in July, 1879, returned to Wyandotte, in which place they are now residing, being earnest members of the Catholic Church at that place. Joseph was the tenth of their eleven children, the names of the family being as follows: William, John, Mary, Antonia, Katie, Anna, Joseph, Katie, Vinzens, Joseph and Charles. Those deceased are Mary, the two Katies, the elder Joseph, Anna and Vinzens. John, Antonia, Joseph and Charles live in Kansas City, and William lives near Hays City on a farm. All have been married, but Antonia is now a widow. Joseph Doleshal, the subject of this sketch, remained in Columbus, Ohio, for over a year after his parents removed to Kansas, and while there, im- proved his time by learning the tinners' trade. In March, 1877, he too came to Wyandotte, Kas., and after working at his trade a short time, he spent a few months in the employ of the Armour Packing Company, after which he accompanied his parents to Hays City, and during the following summer assisted his father at farming. In the
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WYANDOTTE COUNTY.
fall of 1878 he went to Kansas City, Mo., where for eighteen months he worked in a meat-market, but returned at the end of that time and re-entered the employ of the Armour Packing Company, with which he remained until 1881, holding the position of foreman during the last six months. From November 1, 1881, until the middle of April, 1882, he worked in the packing-house of Jacob Dold & Son, and for nearly a year following this was a foreman in the packing-house of George Fowler & Son. On June 2, 1883, with the money which he had labored so hard to win, he and his brother Charles, opened a meat market on the corner of Fifth Street and Emerson Avenue, they suc- cessfully conducting this establishment until May 8, 1885, when they purchased the meat market at No. 503 Minnesota Avenue, after which they conducted both markets until December 24, 1887, when the market on Minnesota Avenue was sold, at which time Joseph Doleshal sold his interest in the establishment at the corner of Fifth Street and Emerson Avenue to his brother. On June 15, 1888, he purchased two vacant lots at Nos. 657 and 659 Garfield Avenue, and upon one of them about March 1, 1888, he began the erection of a two-story busi- ness building, 20x60, which was completed by June 1, following. In it on the 18th of the same month, he opened a meat market and grocery, and on December 12, 1889, he took as a partner Edward J. Menninger, and the firm of Doleshal & Menninger has existed ever since, their establishment being one of the leading ones of the kind in the city. Immediately after this partnership was formed, Mr. Dole- shal began to erect upon his other lot a business house of the same dimensions as the first, and the lower part of it was soon ready for occupancy, and into it they moved their stock of meats. Soon after this a fire broke out, and before it could be extinguished, the entire upper story of both rooms, together with their stock was destroyed, entailing the loss of about $4,000, a portion of which was covered by insurance. Mr. Doleshal immediately set about rebuilding, and by May 10, was again ready for business. His business block is one of the best in the north part of the city, and both his grocery and meat market are admirably conducted. He was married on October 4, 1887, to Miss Minnie Menninger, a daughter of Joseph and Mary Menninger, of this city, and a sister of his business partner. She was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, September 18, 1861, and has borne Mr. Doleshal a son, Joseph F., who was born on November 19, 1888. He and his wife are consistent members of the Catholic Church, and he belongs to the C. M. B. A., and in his political views is a Democrat. He is a
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wide awake business man, and he and his wife have a large circle of friends.
David J. Doody is foreman of the label department of Armour's Packing House, and although he has resided here for a number of years, he is a native New Yorker, his birth occurring in 1854. He re- ceived his education in the Seventh Ward School in New York City, and after reaching a proper age was a rubber cutter for a gutta-percha company, and was at times, in later years, in the employ of the Gov- ernment during different administrations. He is a born leader of men, and since a boy has been interested in the political affairs of the country, and for many years has never acted in any other capacity than that of foreman, in any business in which he has been engaged. In 1878 he came west, and took up some land in Pottawatomie County, Kas., but subsequently came to Kansas City, and for some time acted as foreman in a railroad business. He soon became known as a polit- ical leader in this section, called a meeting of his party, and was the means of electing a certain mayor, and as a consequence, was made deputy superintendent of the workhouse of Kansas City, and held the position three years. He then entered Armour's packing estab- lishment as a laborer, but was soon made foreman of the label depart- ment, and efficiently has he discharged his every duty. He is mild yet determined in his dealings with men, and is something of a philan- thropist, being very liberal in his contributions to all worthy enter- prises, and generous and kind to all. He is possessed of far more than average ability, and his good judgment and intellect have been thor- oughly appreciated by his Republican friends, and although he is not an aspirant for office, yet he has been a member of State conventions and State senatorial and county central committees. His brother, J. W. Doody, is at present at work under him, but was formerly a sailor on the high seas for twelve years, and visited all parts of the world. He was with the expedition in the interests of the New York Geograph- ical Society, that discovered the spoons among the Esquimaux, that resulted in the final discovery of the fate of Franklin and his 150 men, who were lost in 1844. While he was on an expedition to Costa Rica, at the town of Port Lemonde, several people had died of " Yellow Jack," and their bodies were thrown into some box cars, and were carried out of the town and buried. The cars then returned, infested as they were, filled with bananas for the United States, hence one of the greatest yellow fever scourges of the country.
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