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 62
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Mrs. Annie Marshall Grinter, subject of the present sketch, is the widow of Moses R. Grinter, who departed this life in the year 1878. His remains rest in Grinter's Chapel Cemetery, and his grave is marked by a beautiful and costly monument, which was erected to his memory by his loving and devoted widow. Mr. Grinter was a Democrat in poli- tics, and a strong supporter of Jeffersonianism, casting his first presi- dential vote for Gen. George B. McClelland. Both Mr. and Mrs. Grinter were devout and faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal
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Church, South, and have at all times and in every possible way aided religious causes. They passed about forty years of married life to- gether, and were equally popular and highly respected in the com- munity where they resided. Since death has deprived her of the loved companion, Mrs. Grinter resides in her elegant brick residence, and being in good financial circumstances lives happily and quietly, sur- rounded by a host of admiring friends and her children. She is gen- erally held in high esteem, and loved for her kindly disposition and beautiful character. Her present residence is in Wyandotte Town- ship, Wyandotte County, Kas. She was a member of the Delaware tribe, and was born on January 8, 1820, in Miami County, Ohio. Her father was a trader in Indiana, and to her parents were born eight children-four sons and four daughters-viz .: John M. (deceased), Anna (the subject of this sketch), Jane (deceased), Samuel (deceased), Polly (widow of H. Tiblow, and lives in Indian Territory), Samuel (who died in early infancy), William (who died in early manhood), Rosanna (who makes her home in Perryville, Kas., and is the wife of James C. Grinter, a farmer by vocation. She is the youngest child of the family. The subject of this sketch received her educational train- ing in the Osage Mission, but is exceedingly liberal in all her views, and a ready supporter of all schools, and a willing contributor to pub- lic matters of merit. She was married to Moses R. Grinter in Janu- ary, 1836, and to this union were born ten children-four sons and six daughters-six of whom are dead. Those living at the present writ- ing are Frances C. (wife of John C. Grinter, and resides in Wyandotte Township; they have had seven children, two of whom are dead, and five living), Mary Jane (widow of A. P. Defries, and who makes her home in Wyandotte County), Martha V. (resident of Nebraska City, Neb., and wife of H. C. Kirby, who is a Methodist minister), C. R. Grinter (who married Miss Elizabeth Sherly, of Penn., and is a farmer by occupation, and resides in Wyandotte County), W. H. H. (who is dead; he served in the late war, being at first a private, and belonging to Company E, Fifteenth Volunteer Cavalry; he served his country faithfully and well and was discharged after fighting nobly for Uncle Sam). Mrs. Grinter lives upon a historical spot of ground. Her husband and his brother, J. C. Grinter, were Kentuckians, and kept the ferry that was the place of crossing for the immense amount of travel between Kansas City and the mountains. It was at this point that Gen. Fremont crossed on his forced march across the great plain. They kept here a store and blacksmith shop for the Indians,
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and it was also a voting precinct. At the time when Mr. and Mrs. Grinter settled in Kansas it was nothing more than a wilderness, there being no trace of civilization to be seen. The great bustling scene of enterprise, Kansas City, Mo., was then only a steamboat landing, and Kansas City, Kas., was indeed a dreary spot, without even one log- cabin to indicate the great popularity it was afterward to attain.
C. F. Gilliford is a young gentleman well and favorably known throughout Wyandotte Township, Kas. He is a native of this county, his birth occurring in June, 1863, and is the eldest of the three children born to his parents. The next child, George, died at the age of eighteen, after receiving a good education at the common schools, and Joseph is living at home at the present writing, is twenty-four years old, and a farmer by occupation. Mr. Gilliford's father, Col. Joseph Gilliford, was a native of Pennsylvania, was a farmer, and a grad- uate from the mercantile and business college in Pittsburgh, Penn. The subject of this sketch remained at the paternal home until his marriage to Miss Mollie A. Rearden, of Missouri. She was born in 1868, and received an education in the public schools. Her parents are of Irish descent, and are now residents of this county, the father being a successful agriculturist. In politics Mr. Gilliford's sym- pathies are decidedly with the Democratic party, and he cast his first vote for Cleveland, of whom he is still an enthusiastic admirer. Tak- ing an active part in all elections, he has been a delegate to the county conventions. Though quite a young man, his principles and convic- tions do justice to his judgment, and he is prominent in the affairs of the neighborhood in which he resides. Mrs. Gilliford is a member of the Roman Catholic Church, and both she and her husband are always willing to aid any just cause, and support worthy institutions. Hav- ing resided in this county since his birth, Mr. Gilliford is familiar with the numerous and oftentimes wonderful changes that have been made here during late years, especially the remarkable booms in 1881 and 1887. At one time he attended the graded schools and normal school in Trenton, Penn., where he laid the foundation for an excellent edu- cation, and fitted himself for the practical issues of life. During one year of the time passed in Pennsylvania, where he was engaged in Alleghany City, and after his return home devoted his atten- tion to agriculture, which he intends to make the occupation of his life. Possessing an abundant supply of money he will be enabled to carry out his ideas successfully, and will at an early date build a beautiful home, and locate permanently. Mr. Gilliford is a bright
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young business man, and a has promising future before him, and a sufficient amount of determination to put ideas into effect.
Hon. Sanford Haff needs no introduction to the citizens of Wyan- dotte County, Kas., for he has long resided there and has become well known throughout this as well as the surrounding counties. He is a practical farmer by avocation and is a native of Sandusky County, Ohio, whore he was born on September 15, 1837, being the eldest of nine children, whose names are as follows: Sanford (the eldest, as already stated), Edward (who is a farmer of Michigan and is married), Elisha (who is married and engaged in farming in Sandusky County, Ohio), Reuben (who is also married and engaged in farming in that State), Malinda (who is the wife of A. J. Lewis, a tiller of the soil of Sandusky County, Ohio), Betsey (who is the wife of William Whit- taker, a farmer of the above-named county). Fred (who is married and farming in Ohio), Belle (who is the wife of D. A. Haff- ner, an attorney-at-law of Clyde, Ohio), and Bird (who also re- sides in Ohio, is married and is an agriculturist). The par- ents of these children were born in New York State, the father being an agriculturist by occupation, and he was also a true and tried soldier in the Revolutionary War. He was a very successful man of business, and at his death, which occurred when he was about seven- ty-one years of age, he left an estate valued at about $100,000. He was educated in the old subscription schools of Ohio, his wife receiv- ing a portion of her education in them also, but afterward finished her learning in an academy of Melmore, Ohio. Mr. Haff's early ad- vantages were acquired in the old subscription schools, but he later at- tended a select school in which he received a higher education, which admirably fitted him for the duties of life. He has always been inter- ested in the cause of education, and even now is a constant and persis- tent reader, keeping thoroughly posted on all the current issues of the day. Upon leaving the select school above mentioned, he took a course in Oberlin College, Ohio, after which, at the age of twenty-two years, he commenced life for himself as an agriculturist. His property at this time consisted of eighty acres of land, on which no improvements had been made, but he owed $500, so his prospects for the future were not at all promising. He, however, possessed much courage and en- terprise, and set energetically to work to pay his obligation and improve his farm, and so successful was he in this that he was soon out of debt and has his farm in excellent condition for successful agricultural purposes. He was married in 1860 to Miss Eunice E. Lewis, a native
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of Ohio, her education being received in an academy of that State, and to them three children were born: Millie (who died at the age of four years), Hiram (aged two at the time of his death) and Jay (who resides in Clyde, Ohio, and is making law his profession). Mr. Haff lost his wife and his two children by diphtheria, inside of three weeks, and they now sleep in a cemetery in Ohio, where a beautiful monument is erected to their memory by a loving husband and father. Mr. Haff was married a second time, in 1870, to Mrs. Mary (Garrett) Gilliford, a na- tive of Wyandotte County, Ohio, her education being received in Kenyon Seminary, Ohio, a school for young ladies. Sheis a refined and high- ly educated lady and has proven an excellent wife and a model mother. Of the three children born to herself and husband, only one is now living, Fred, who is fourteen years of age. Willie, died at the age of four years, and Nina at the age of two. In the spring of 1862 Mr. Haff enlisted in Company K, One Hundredth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered into service at Toledo, Ohio, as first Lieutenant, being assigned to the Army of the Cumberland, his regiment afterward being engaged principally in skirmish line work. After being in the service abont eighteen months he resigned his lieutenancy to a com- rade and retired from the service, owing to his failing health. Upon returning home he devoted his time to raising forces for the "100 day" men, after he had regained his normal health and did some ef- fective work in this direction. He has always affiliated with the Democrat party, and has always upheld the true principles of Jeffer- sonianism, and his first presidential vote was cast for Stephen A. Donglas. He has held the position of Representative in the Legisla- ture three terms in succession, which stamps him as a man in whom the people repose the utmost confidence. Some of the successful measures which he fully advocated and pressed to a successful issue are as follows: The compelling of the railroads to pay full value for all stock killed, and the dividing up of the time of paying taxes, which greatly benefited all the tax-payers. He read law with Hon. Charles S. Glick, a brother of Gov. Glick, and was admitted to the bar. He is a Mason, a member of the G. A. R., belonging to Burnside Post No. 28, of Wyandotte, Kas., in the latter organization, which is in a very flourishing condition. Mr. and Mrs. Haff are supporters of all land- able enterprises, and are among the best of the county's numerous worthy citizens. In the spring of 1868 Mr. Haff came to this county, and although the prospect was not very promising to early settlers. his worldly goods have continued to increase, and he was at one time the
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owner of 142 acres of land, but sold 105 acres for $450 per acre, but still owns 37 acres of valuable land. Mrs. Haff was the widow of Col. Joseph Gilliford, of Pennsylvania, by whom she had three sons: For- rest (the eldest, is a farmer, is married), George (died at the age of eighteen years), and Joseph (who is single, resides at home and is fol- lowing farming for a living). Mrs. Nancy Garrett, a relative of Mrs. Haff, came with the Wyandotte Indians from Ohio to Wyandotte County, Kas., in 1843. Her father, William Walker, was born in North Carolina, and was taken prisoner by the Delaware Indians in 1776, at the age of eight years, and was sold by this tribe to the Wyandotte Indians at Detroit, Mich., and with this tribe he continued to reside until his death in 1825, marrying after reaching maturity, one of the tribe. He is the father of all the Walkers that settled in Wyandotte County, Kas.
Henry Hafner, of Kansas City, Kas., was born in Prussia, Ger- many, in 1841, a son of Henry and Hannah (Ismirt) Hafner, the former of whom was a butcher by trade, and is still following that occupation. The mother is deceased. By this wife the father had two children, but after her death he married again and became the father of twelve children. Henry Hafner came to America when he was twenty-eight years old, at which time he could not speak the English language, although he had received an excellent education in German, and had learned the French language, while residing in that country for some time. He was in the war of 1869, against Austria, taking part in the noted battles of Hennerwasser and Keoinggreatz, and served until the close of that war. He had previously served in the regular army of the country, but had gone to France to escape further service, re- maining in that country from 1866 to 1869. Upon reaching the United States, he located near Buffalo, N. Y., and was there married, two months later, to Miss Ametia Ismert, who was born in New York, but her death occurred in 1874, after having borne two children: Julia, and Eugene. Soon after his marriage Mr. Hafner came to Kansas City, Kas., and for fifteen years followed the trade of a butcher in this city, at which he made considerable money. In 1875 he espoused Miss Kate Stewart, and five children have blessed their union: Georgia, Albert, Fred, Elna and Helena. Mr. Hafner purchased considerable property while in business, upon which he built houses at different times and sold them, and this has proved a very profitable enterprise, making him a wealthy man. He is recognized as one of the solid busi- ness men of the city, and his views are shrewd and intelligent. He
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is a Democrat, politically, and is an earnest member of the Roman Catholic Church. He belongs to the Catholic Mutual Benefit Associa- tion, and at all times supports the measures of this order.
O. D. Hall is vice-president of the American Land Trust Company of Kansas City, Kas. He is a man possessing many sterling business principles, and may be said to be making a success of his life. His birth occurred in Rush County, Ind., in 1856, but in 1870 he came with his parents to Kansas, located in Marshall County, and was there reared and educated, and save all but birth, is a purely western man. He received the advantages of a high-school education, although his parents had a hard time to make a living the first few years after their arrival here, but he assisted them in their farming operations in every way that he could until 1878, then moved to Waterville, Kas., and be- came a clerk in a bank, a position he retained six years, after which he was promoted to the position of cashier. Soon after, he assisted in organizing the Commercial Bank of Waterville, and after acting as cashier of the same for some time, he purchased out the other stock- holders, and finally became proprietor of the whole establishment. His salary on first starting out in business was $30 per month, but from time to time he invested his earnings in real estate, and is now one of the wealthy men of the county. He sold his bank in 1888, and until he came to Kansas City, Kas., he was in the loan business. Since then he has been a member of the present firm, having previously been associated with his partners in the land business for many years. The members of this company control all the stock in the Husted Minnesota Avenue Building Company, and have the entire con- trol over 100,000 acres of Texas lands, in the northern and central portions of the State, and sell to actual settlers. Mr. Hall was mar- ried in early manhood to Miss Katie Rodacker, a native of Ohio, and two children have been born to their marriage: Lyman A. and Carl. Mr. Hall's parents were born in Indiana, the mother being a Kelly, and of Irish descent. The father speculated in stock and provisions during the war, which he furnished to the army, but was only in the ninety days' service, being then honorably discharged. Mr. Hall, the subject of this sketch, begau life a poor boy, and by superior business management he has been more than ordinarily successful, and is now a member of one of the leading land and trust companies in the county.
Edward H. Hambee. There is nothing so markedly shows the strength and prosperity of Kansas City's trade as the number of large
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concerns engaged in handling the necessaries of life, and prominent among them is the grocery establishment belonging to Mr. Hambee, located at No. 274 North Seventh Street, and was erected in 1888. Mr. Hambee was born on a sailing vessel upon the North Sea, between Sweden and England, May 31, 1848, his father being Edward Ham- bee, and his mother Charlotte Lofstedt, whose marriage occurred about 1846. To them a family of seven children were born, three of whom are now living: Hulda C., Ida H. and Edward H., the former being a resident of Sweden, Ida H. being the wife of Otto Bank, the English consul at Helsingborg. Edward Hambee followed the calling of a sailor, and for as many as twenty five years was captain of various sail- ing vessels, many of which he owned. He was skipper and part owner of the vessel upon which his son, Edward H., was born, and in early manhood, before his marriage, he had come to America on a prospect- ing tour, and went as far west as California. After spending two years in this country, he returned to Sweden, and throughout his whole life his home was either in or near the city of Kalmer. He held high rank in the Masonic order, and was a member of the Swed- ish Lutheran Church. He died in August, 1860, his widow, who is still living, making her home in Kalmer, Sweden. The subject of this sketch spent his boyhood chiefly upon the sea with his father, but when he had attained his twelfth year his father died, and he com- menced fighting his own way in life as a cabin boy, and thus con- tinued a year and a half. He then returned to his home in Kalmer, and during the winter of 1862-63 went to school. From the spring of the latter year, until the fall of 1865, he sailed on the vessel "Os- car " upon the waters bordering the shores of Europe, serving during this time as an able seaman, but upon his return home at the end of this time, he again entered school, energetically pursuing his studies during the winter of 1865-66. In the spring of the latter year he again went to sea, and from that time until December, 1869, he sailed con- stantly upon British, German and American vessels, and made two trips around the world, the first being in 1866-67, and the last in 1868. He was three times shipwrecked, and upon one occasion only himself and one other of the crew were saved, this being in the Eng- lish Channel in 1866. In December, 1869, he once more returned to his home, and from that time until the following May he took a course in navigation in a school in Kalmer, after which he returned to sea once more, and for two months acted as chief officer on the sailing vessel "Svalan," which sailed upon the Baltic Sea, and of which his
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uncle was captain and owner. The succeeding three months he acted as captain of this vesssel, but in the fall of 1870 he came to America, and the following December put to sea from New York as second offi- cer, but the vessel caught fire and burned after being out at sea two days. Of the twelve who composed the crew six were drowned, the remaining six, among whom was Mr. Hambee, drifted for four days in an open boat. They were finally rescued by a passing vessel, but not until two of the number had frozen to death. Mr. Hambee and his three surviving comrades were taken to New York, where the for- mer soon shipped as second officer upon another wessel, which was used to transport negroes from the United States to Africa, and with it he made two trips to that country. In 1872 he shipped as second officer from New York upon the vessel " Resolute," to the West In- dies, but at San Domingo the vessel was converted into a Cuban man- of-war, and its name was changed to " Pioneer." On June 6, 1872, he was appointed a gunner in the naval service of the Cuban Repub- lic, and during the following months the " Pioneer" was used in the interests of the Cuban independence. Mr. Hambee returned to New York in August, 1872, and for two years was captain of a barge on the Hudson River. Later on he was captain of a canal-boat on Erie canal a few months, and still later he ran a canal-boat of his own for a few months in New Jersey. Selling his boat, he, in the fall of 1874, engaged in the grocery business in Brooklyn, N. Y., but in the spring of 1875 sold out and came west as far as Chicago, and during the fol- lowing summer sailed on the great lakes. The winter of 1875-76 he conducted a saloon in Chicago, but in the summer of the latter year he once more became a sailor on the lakes. For a year following this he was a contractor of painting in Chicago, but this business he abandoned in the fall of 1877 to go to the Black Hills, where he was engaged in mining for three months. He then went to Leadville, Colo., where he followed the same occupation until 1879, in the fall of which year he came to Kansas City, Mo., and in 1881 to Kansas City, Kas., dur- ing which year and the succeeding one, he was in the employ of Deer, Mansuer & Co., carriage and implement dealers. In 1883 he entered the employ of Trumbull, Reynolds & Allen, implement manufacturers and dealers, and remained with them three years, one year acting as foreman, and the two years as contractor of paint work. The year following this he was a contractor of house painting, but this calling he gave up in the fall of 1887 to open a grocery establishment on North Seventh Street, where he now has one of the neatest and hand-
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somest groceries in the city. In connection with this establishment he also acts as agent for several steamboat lines. He was married May 8, 1880, to Miss Mary Peterson, a native of Sweden, who came to America in 1878, and to them three children have been born: Ed- ward Hugo, Ida Lynea and Victor Herald. Mr. Hambee is a member of the I. O. O. F., also a Swedish society called Nordens Venner, of which he was one of the founders, and is now secretary. He is an in- telligent and upright citizen, and although his career has been a some- what varied and checkered one, he is now entirely willing and con- tented to spend the remainder of his days at his present business in Kansas City, where he and his wife have many warm personal freinds.
Hans Hanson is a native of Denmark, born in Skalund June 6, 1836, there receiving a fair education in his youth, and learning the trade of a carpenter. He was very skillful in the use of tools, and after some time began contracting and building, purchasing his lumber by the ship load, and selling the same by wholesale to dealers, this occupation receiving his attention until he came to America in 1879. His first place of residence in the United States was at Racine, Wis., his employment here being that of a fireman in a factory, a position he filled for three years. At the end of this time he went to Kansas City, Mo., and started a wholesale sash, door and blind establishment, and this he successfully conducted for three years, when he was so unfortunate as to be burned out, his loss amounting to about $3,000. He then gave up this business and opened up a grocery at Lathrop, Mo., and here he also shipped grain to Chicago, in which business he did well. He next returned to Kansas City, Mo., and became associated as a contractor and builder with a Mr. Funk, a connection which lasted five years, they in the meantime putting up a wholesale warehouse, but he after- ward gave up this business to engage in real estate, contracting and building, and house building for himself, and has done so remarkably well that he is now the owner of forty-seven houses, among which may be mentioned Hanson's Opera House and the Hanson House, besides other valuable property. Upon coming to this city he purchased so much valuable property, he was supposed to be a syndic from Germany. He is well known for his honorable, straightforward system of doing business, and has secured the confidence of all with whom he has had business transactions. He has been phenomenally successful, and is now worth at least $300,000. He was married in Kansas City, Kas., but his wife only lived about one year, leaving at her death a daughter
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