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 63
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who is named Katie N. Mr. Hanson is a Republican, and a member of the Lutheran Church.
S. E. Harness, general manager of the Wyandotte Coal & Lime Company, Kansas City, Kas., was born in Illinois on June 15, 1859, and there remained until twenty-three years of age. He received a good practical education, and took a one year's course in the Commercial College at Valparaiso, Ind., graduating in the class of 1878 and 1879. After this he was engaged in agricultural pursuits for one year, was then in the milling business with his father until 1883 when he sold out and came West. He settled in Kansas City, Kas., in November, and was counected with L. H. Wood in the real estate business until the fol- lowing July when he engaged in the coal business for the firm of Har- ness & Co. This firm was changed to Robinson & Harness and thus continued until September 1, 1885, when it was merged into the Wy- andotte Coal Company, S. E. Harness being treasurer of the same. He held this position until February 1, of the following year, when the title was changed to Wyandotte Coal & Lime Company, and he was elected general manager, which position he holds at the present time. Of this enterprise J. B. Wood is president; J. B. Scroggs, vice-presi- dent; S. E. Harness, general manager; S. C. Garrett, auditor; N. V. Widener, secretary, and W. P. Overton, treasurer. In politics Mr. Harness is closely allied with the Democratic party. He is a member of the K. of P. and the K. of H., Elk Lodge of Kansas City, Mo. He was married to a young lady of Crawford County, Ill., and to them has been born one child -Glen, a girl. The Harness family is of German origin, and the father of our subject was born in Cross County, Ohio. He had been a flatboat man, but followed milling for thirty years. He died in this county. The mother is still living and makes her home with her son, S. E. She is a member of the Christian Church, of which the father was also a member. Mrs. S. E. Harness is a member of that church also. Mr. Harness is a wide-awake business man, and has the confidence and respect of all.
William T. Harris, Pomeroy, Kas. Mr. Harris is one of the sub- stantial and progressive citizens of Pomeroy, and what he has accumu- lated is the result of hard work and economy since eleven years of age. He was born in Spartanburg County, S. C., in 1850, and was second in a family of six children born to William and Martha Harris, natives of South Carolina.' At the early age of eleven years William T. was obliged to start out in life for himself, and as may be imagined, his educational advantages were not of the best. In 1870 he came to
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Wyandotte County, and here he has since resided. He was married in 1875 to Miss Hesentine Turner, daughter of Thomas G. and Mary (Whorton) Turner, both natives of South Carolina. To Mr. and Mrs. Harris were born five children, who were named as follows: Bertha E., Myrtle E., Gracie L., Frank E. and Ross E. When Mr. Harris first came to Kansas he was but a boy, and although his educational advantages were not of the best, he read a great deal, observed more, and is to-day a well-informed man on almost any subject. He is a stanch Democrat in politics, and always exercises his franchise. He is active in all educational matters, and supports all worthy move- ments. He has held responsible positions in the township where he resides, and is at present clerk of the school board of Pomeroy, a genial, hospitable man and one meriting the esteem of all.
Mark Harris, a member of Harris' well-known clothing house, at Kansas City, Kas., is a young man of exceptionally fine business qualifications, and gives every promise of making a brilliant success of his life, He was born in Chicago, Ill., in 1859, but when quite young was taken from that city and was reared principally in North- east Missouri. After reaching manhood he returned to his native city, and after following the occupation of a clothier there for about seven years he came directly to Kansas City, Kas., and here established a clothing house, his establishment being opened to the public in 1885, first in one room. His business increased so rapidly that he soon found that one room was not sufficient to accommodate his business, and he had a wall removed, and now occupies No. 500 and 502 Min- nesota Avenue. He carries the largest stock of clothing in the city, and makes a specialty of gents' furnishing goods, and his house has achieved a wide celebrity as being one among the leaders of gentle- men's fashions in the place. The place is fitted up with neatness, and carefully arranged, and Mr. Harris is regarded as a thorough-going, enterprising business man, and a much esteemed citizen. Employ- ment is given to six men. He was one of the organizers of the Elec- tric Light Company, of Kansas City, and is also a stockholder and vice-president of the same, being a stockholder in the Exchange Bank also. He is doing much for the city in which he lives, and in his business dealings he has been consistently honorable and upright, and he is one of the highly esteemed citizens of the place.
E. Lee Harrison, superintendent of the store department of the Armour Packing Company, Kansas City. Beyond a doubt the warp and woof of life is made up of strands of good and evil fortune,
40
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here light, there dark, yet to him who regards it with Christian faith, it is a gladsome whole. Day after day the same ceaseless round of labor goes on, some giving attention to professional duties, some buy- ing and selling in commercial headquarters, and still others managing large business interests committed to their charge. To this latter class belongs Mr. Harrison, who for many years has held positions of trust, and always given thorough satisfaction. As storekeeper at Armour's, he has charge of a stock valued at over $30,000, and man- ages this large department so satisfactorily, that it has been under his charge for nearly five years. He has been in the employ of this firm since 1884, commencing as a special police, and afterward promoted to his present position. Mr. Harrison's birth occurred near Clarks- ville, Tex., on June 2, 1863, and his parents were Benjamin Berry and Frances P. (Thomas) Harrison, natives of Missouri and Tennes- see, respectively. The father was, in his early life, a merchant in Leb- anon, Mo., where he built the first store and hotel in that city. He called the embryo town Wyota, and afterward Lebanon. Here he ac- cumulated a fine fortune, which he lost during the war. He was born January 20, 1819, and died in his sixty-eighth year. The mother was born May 31, 1827, and at the present writing is still alive; she is a daughter of a prominent lawyer in Tennessee, and descendant of Gen. Proctor. The Harrison family, of which there are several members living in the twin Kansas Cities, is one of the oldest and most dis- tinguished in America. It sprang from some of the best blood in England, and has given to that country and America several of their most celebrated characters. John Benjamin and Thomas Harrison were sons of English nobility, and born in the town of Feuby, York- shire. John was born in 1693, and became a great inventor. Among his inventions were a chronometer and gridiron. He also invented the pendulum for clocks, for which the British crown paid him £20,000. He died in Red Lion Square, London, in 1776. Benjamin Harrison was born in 1694. He had two sons: Benjamin and Robert. The former was the father of Hon. Benjamin Harrison, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, and who was the father of Gen. William Henry Harrison, President of the United States of America, who was grandfather of Hon. Benjamin Harrison, our present Presi- dent of the United States. Robert Harrison was the father of Hon. Robert Harrison, the great jurist. Thomas, the younger brother of John and Benjamin Harrison, was born in 1695. He married Hannah Morrison, of England, by whom he had six sons: John, Benjamin,
-
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Thomas, Jr., Samuel, Daniel and James, all of whom came to America after the death of their parents, and settled in Maryland. When the Revolutionary War began, they all enlisted in the American army, and John and Thomas were soon promoted, the former to the rank of captain, and the latter to that of colonel. The other four brothers were killed, and each left families, of which we have no account. Capt. John Harrison married a Miss Malone, of Maryland, and settled in Botetourt County, Va. He had six sons: Thomas, Samuel, John, Benjamin, Daniel and James. Col. Thomas Harrison never married. He was a shrewd business man, and made a great deal of money while in the army, most of which he invested in lands in the valley of Vir- ginia, and at his death left his property to his nephew, Thomas, son of Capt. John Harrison. This nephew married Miss Billops, of Virginia, they raised a large family and moved to Callaway County, Mo. Their eldest sons, James and John, enlisted in the War of 1812, and John was promoted to the rank of major. He moved with his brother James to Saline County, Mo., in 1817. James removed to Boone County in 1819, where, in 1821, he married Rebecca Crockett. In 1830 he settled in Audrain County, and the following year was appointed presiding judge of the county court, by Gov. Boggs. He was justice of the peace for many years, and elected to the Legislature three times. He died in 1875, at the age of eighty years. John and Daniel, sons of Capt. John Harrison, of the Revolutionary War, married and settled in Alabama, and Samuel and Benjamin married and settled in Missis- sippi; their brother James married Lovisa Duncan, of South Carolina, and settled in Washington County, Mo., in 1819. Their children were John B., Robert B., James Pryor, William D., Pamelia M., Mariah, Benjamin Berry, Jackson, Polly and Thomas J. All were prominent citizens of Missouri, where they lived and died. Polly being the only survivor. She married Dr. J. H. Robertson, who was twice a member of the Legislature, and judge of Laclede County, Mo., where she now lives. John B. was a wealthy merchant at Lebanon. Robert B. was many years clerk of Pulaski County Courts. James P. was an M. D., and left a fortune to his only daughter, Laura. Thomas J. retained the old Harrison homestead and store at Arlington, and left a family and estate at his death; he was twice elected to the Legislature. Benjamin Berry first married Miss Dodson, by whom he had Lucie E., Lycurgus L. and James B. He next married Miss Thomas, by whom he had Robert T., Penelope, John M., Joseph E., E. Lee, Frank P., Ellen M. and Hugh. Lucie was the first child born
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at Lebanon, and taught school many years. Lycurgus is a farmer. James B. is a lawyer and judge at Rolla. Robert S. is an M. D. and dentist at Iberia, and Frank was his partner in dentistry. John M. is a Christian minister. Joseph E. and Nellie are teachers at Iberia, where the mother still lives. All are living except Lucie, Penelope and Frank. Hugh is with Lee in the employ of the Armour Packing Company. Mr. Harrison, the subject of this sketch, reached his man- hood in Lebanon, where he received an academic education, and after completing his studies, engaged in teaching for two years in Saline County, Mo. After attending Commercial College in St. Louis, he commenced his business career as a telegraph operator and agent on the Iron Mountain Railroad. Coming to Kansas City, Mo., he at- tended a course of lectures at the medical college, and continued read- ing medicine, even after accepting his present position. He is a member of the Democratic party, also a member of Kaw Lodge No. 272, A. F. & A. M., of which he is a charter member. Mr. Har- rison married Miss Lizzie F. Vaughan, of Grand Pass, Mo. To their union have been born two children, viz .: William Harper and Lela Grace. Both Mr. and Mrs. Harrison are identified with the Christian Church of this city, and are at all times interested in the affairs of the community in which they reside, and have so many warm personal friends.
Patrick Harte is a native of Londonderry, Ireland, where he was born February 11, 1861, and is now foreman of the sheep department for the packing-house of Swift & Co., of Kansas City, Kas. His par- ents, William and Margaret (Dillon) Harte, were also born in the "Emerald Isle," and were there reared and married. At the age of ten years Patrick accompanied an uncle to America, and for some eight years he made his home with him in the city of St. Louis, Mo., his attention during this time being given to attending a private school and working in a slaughter-house. At the age of eighteen years he came to Kansas City, Kas., and for one year was employed by Austin Davis and the Armour Packing Company, three months with the former and nine months with the latter, and during all this time had charge of the sheep department. In February, 1880, he went to Boston, Mass., where he spent four years in the Brighton Abitour, a large slaughtering concern, and during one of the four years he worked for Austin Davis, named above, whose home is in that city. For two years and a half he was with the Kelley Brothers, and six months in a slaughter-house owned by George Sawyer, of Brighton. The subse-
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quent six months were spent in a slaughter-house at Holden, Me., for Hollis & Co., then spent two months in New York for Eastman, an extensive shipper. At the end of this time he returned to Boston, and entered the employ of Abraham Gunsenheiser, and worked in a slaugh- ter-house with him for six months, after which he re-entered the em- ploy of George Sawyer, with whom he remained three months. He then came west, to East St. Louis, and for one year was foreman of the sheep department for the East St. Louis Dressed Beef Company, after which he went to Chicago, and was with Swift & Co. for one year, returning at that time to New York, but only remained a short time. He next came to Kansas City, Kas., which was in October, 1888, and has since been in the employ of Swift & Co., his services being employed in the sheep and calf department, of which he was made foreman in June, 1889. He is an honorable and upright young man, and being the possessor of many worthy characteristics, he is sure to make a success of his life. His marriage to Miss Agnes C. Butler took place November 29, 1888, she being a native and resident of St. Louis, Mo. They have one child, Marguerite (born October 13, 1889). Mr. and Mrs. Harte are members of the Catholic Church.
Stephen Hayes, one of the early settlers of the city of Argentine, and a prominent worker in the political field, was born on May 1, 1848, in the town and county of Tipperary, Ireland. He was the youngest son born to Martin and Margaret (Mahon) Hayes, natives of the same county and country. The father was in the transfer business, and carried this on in his native country until his death, in 1872, when sixty-four years of age. The mother died the same year, when sixty- three years of age. Stephen was given a good common-school educa- tion in the county of his birth, and when sixteen years of age, he emi- grated to the United States, landing in New York City. From there he went to Chicago, and not having learned a trade, he took the first job offered, and carried a hod for two years. After this he drove a team for W. J. Owen & Co., and remained with them over twelve years. In the spring of 1881 he came to Kansas City, Kas., and in the fall to Argentine, where he has since made his home. He em- barked in the mercantile business, and as a man of business is most favorably quoted in the community. He is energetic and thorough, is highly esteemed, and has been very successful. On September 16, 1881, he was married to Miss Delia Winters in Chicago. She was born in Ireland, and died January 20, 1889. On January 9, 1890, he married Miss Mary Swarfield, native of Chicago, and of Irish parent-
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age. Mr. Hayes is a Democrat in his political views, and is one of the county's strongest supporters of that ticket. He and wife are mem- bers of the Catholic Church.
Herbert M. Herrold, Ph. G., is a prominent druggist and well- known citizen of Kansas City, Kas. He was born in Philadelphia, Penn., receiving the advantages of the public schools of that city. He was married there in 1887, his wife being at that time a student in the Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania, from which she gradu- ated as an M. D. in 1883. Shortly after graduating, she and her husband removed to Leavenworth, Kas., and there she began prac- ticing her profession, and her husband engaged in the drug busi- ness. In 1886 Mr. Herrold entered the Kansas State University at Lawrence, in which he completed a full course in pharmacy, graduat- ing in 1888. In the fall of that year, he and his wife removed to Kansas City, where the latter, who is known as Dr. Maude M. Herrold, has been an active and successful practitioner. She has become well known and popular, her practice, which is confined exclusively to ladies and children, is very large and lucrative. She has met with such em- inent success, that a brilliant career as a physician is before her. She has also been able to give special care to the health and moral culture of their child, Herschel, a bright, healthy, happy boy, eleven years of age. Since removing to Kansas City, Mr. Herrold has given his whole attention to the drug business, and in the spring of 1889 established the Model Pharmacy of James Street, which has since had the dis- tinction of being the finest drug store in that part of the city. He managed this establishment very successfully until the following Sep- tember, when, preferring to locate in another part of the city, he sold out, and the following month, which was October, 1889, he and Mr. George A. Gamble opened a drug store at No. 1901 North Fifth Street, which is known as the Junction Pharmacy, one of the finest and hand- somest places of the kind in the city. Mr. Gamble being a stenogra- pher by profession, the entire care and management of the store has developed on Mr. Herrold, but he has conducted affairs in an admir- able manner, and has proved himself a courteous and accommodating gentleman. He is desirous of pleasing all, and the excellent patron- age he has acquired speaks louder than words can do, as to his success in this respect. He is now completing arrangements to establish an- other store at a point where the "L" road crosses Thirteenth Street, which will be known as the Valley Park Pharmacy, and which is being fitted and stocked in the most modern style. His partner in this latter
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enterprise is Dr. V. L. Todd, a young physician of this city, who has recently graduated with honors from the College of Physicians and Sur- geons of Baltimore, Md. Mr. Herrold is a member of the Kansas State Pharmaceutical Association, also of the American Pharmaceutical Association. The fittings of the Junction Pharmacy are among the most tasteful in the city, and the stock consists of everything that can be found in a well-appointed drug store. Mr. Herrold is a young man of excellent habits, and possesses in an eminent degree those qualities which go to make a successful business man. He and his wife are re- spected and esteemed by all who know them, and among their large circle of friends they are deservedly popular.
H. M. Herr is a native German, his birth occurring October 11, 1851, and he is the eldest son of Michael and Louisa (Puelhart) Herr, the former of whom is an extensive carriage builder of his native land -Germany. H. M. Herr, the immediate subject of this memoir, re- mained in the land of his birth until his seventeenth year, but prior to this devoted his time and attention to acquiring a good common- school education, and learning the carriage-maker's trade of his father. He came to the United States in 1869, landing at New York City, and afterward spent two years in Rochester, N. Y., where he followed his trade with Mainhard & Co., of that city. From this place he went to Stratford, Canada, to visit some relatives, but after a short time re- moved to Berlin, where he began learning the barber's trade, a call- ing he continued with George Debus for eighteen months, then began working at this trade on his own responsibility in Seaforth. Nine months later he went to Port Hope near Lake Ontario, where he re- mained for over four years. Going thence to Oshawa, Ontario, he had a barber shop and tobacco store for eighteen months, then returned to Rochester, N. Y., and the following nine months were spent in work- ing for a man named Miller. In 1881, hearing of the advantages of- fered in the West, he started for Kansas City, Mo., but only remained there a short time, when he went to Rosendale, where he purchased a shop of a Mr. Higgins. Not liking this location, he after a residence there of nine months came to Argentine, Kas., where he has since made his home and has gathered about him a host of friends. In 1884 he was elected police judge on the Citizens' ticket, a position he filled two years, at the end of which time he was elected justice of the peace, and has discharged the duties of this office up to the present date. The case of Brady, who was sent to the penitentiary for two years for assault with intent to kill, also John Stover for killing Ed
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Mullen, and David Uffendell and Pat McTague for highway robbery, came up before him and numerous others, and up to January 1, 1890. he had given judgment for 385 cases, only three of which were taken to the district court. He has proved an exceptionally efficient officer for he is possessed of far more than the average intelligence, and is strictly honorable and conscientious in the discharge of every duty. He was married on November 2, 1874, to Miss Louisa McCarty, a native of Canada, born March 10, 1857, a daughter of James and Margaret (Welsh) McCarty, natives of Cork, Ireland. Mr. and Mrs. Herr have three children: Flossie (died in February, 1890, at the age of fourteen years), Carl Valentine and Frank Theodore. Mr. Herr has been a Democrat ever since coming to this country, and he has ever taken an active part in the county elections, being one of the leading members of his party. He is a member of the K. of L., in which he was master workman for three years, and during the smelters' strike in 1887, which lasted for sixty days, he effected many compromises, which greatly benefited the employes. He was a member of Cincinnati Lodge No. 91, of the K. of P., and the I. O. O. F., holding his membership in Can- ada. He also took one degree in the A. F. & A. M., and in the Ger- man Sick Benefit Association of Argentine. In 1886 and 1887 he was appointed deputy United States marshal under Maj. Jones.
Andrew Hescher, manufacturer of cigars, Kansas City, Kas. Among the enterprising business establishments of this city, whose operations are worthy of record in a work devoted to the interests of Wyandotte County, is that of Mr. Andrew Hescher, manufacturer of fine cigars. He has been established in this city since 1870, and is doing a large busi- ness in local trade. He makes a specialty of five and ten cent cigars, and during the late months he employed three men, making, on an average, 25,000 per month. In consequence of the excellent and standard quality of the cigars here prepared, Mr. Hescher has es- tablished a good trade. He came to Kansas City, Kas., from West Baden, Germany, where his birth occurred on March 8, 1840, and is a son of Henry and Mary (Sack) Hescher, both natives of Germany. The father followed the occupation of a harness-maker, at which he made quite a fortune. He died in 1849, at the age of forty-five. The mother came to this city with her sons, and made her home with Andrew until her death, which occurred in 1880, at the age of seventy-three years. There were ten children in the family, Andrew being seventh in order of birth. He and his brother Philip came here together, and the latter died in 1883. Now only Andrew and his brother Henry are
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residing in this county. The former was reared to manhood in his native country, and was married there in 1865, to Miss Helena Sharp, a native of Germany. They became the parents of nine children, one dying in infancy. Those living are Julius, Helena, Anna, Ateladt, Louise, Henry, Charles and Lotta. The two eldest were born in Ger- many. Mr. Hescher served six months in the German army before he left his country. He received a good German education, and is a man well posted on all the current topics of the day. He is a non-partisan in politics, and supports enterprises that will benefit his city or county. He is a member of the K. of P., Fellowship Lodge No. 41, and is also a member of the German I. O. O. F.
L. P. Hewitt is a successful small-fruit-grower of Wyandotte County, Kas., and also makes a specialty of raising early potatoes, thirty-five acres being annually devoted to their propagation. Seven acres are given to the raising of the Capt. Jack and Crescent Seedling raspberries, three acres to strawberries, and also has 700 apple trees, the most of which are the Ben Davis, although he raises the Early Harvest and Maiden Blush for summer use. He also has one hundred Wild Goose plum trees and fifty trees of Black Murrillo cherries. He was born in Steuben County, N. Y., February 27, 1847, while his mother was on a visit to relatives in that State, otherwise he would have been the first white child born in Wyandotte County, Kas. He is the youngest living of a family of seven children born to Richard and Han- nah (Parker) Hewitt, natives of Ohio and New York, respectively, and in this and Jackson County, Mo., he was reared to manhood. His father was connected with the agency of the Wyandotte Indians, and in 1845 came West, spending the rest of his days in this and Jackson County, dying in 1879. He was a practicing physician throughout life and was very successful. L. P. Hewitt, the subject of this sketch, was married in 1871 to Miss Rebecca J. Hawkins, a daughter of David and Hannah Hawkins, natives of the Blue-Grass State and Virginia, respectively. He and his wife became the parents of seven children: William, Frank, Warren M., May, Ida, Luella and Alma D. Mr. Hewitt is a member and treasurer of the Farmers' Alliance, and in his political views is a Democrat, holding the office of school director in his district. He is an honorable, upright citizen, and has long been an earnest member of the Baptist Church. His brothers and sisters are as follows: Eldridge E., Jane A. (wife of Cyrus Austin, of Califor- nia), Richard, Louisa (wife of Charles Lovelace), Rozie (wife of War- ren Lindsay), and Experience (wife of William Rice).
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