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 65
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Charles E. and Frank P. Howard, dairymen, Kansas City, Kas. These brothers are substantial, enterprising and progressive young men, and are among the successful business men of the county. They started in their present business in 1887, and are now running two wagons in Kansas City, Kas., and Kansas City, Mo. They are the owners of forty cows, mixed stock, and have some very fine Jersey and Holstein cows, among them. Charles E. Howard has charge of the route, and Frank P.does the feeling and milking. Charles E. was born in Syracuse, N. Y., December 17, 1860, and Frank P. owes his nativ- ity to Fond du Lac, Wis., where his birth occurred September 1, 1864. The parents, Cyrus and Celia (Fitch) Howard, were natives of New York, and both died in Fond du Lac, Wis., the father in 1876, at the age of forty-five years, and the mother in 1880, when forty years of age. The former was a farmer by occupation, and moved from New York to Wisconsin, in 1872. There, in connection with agricultural pursuits, he carried on stock-raising. He was of English descent. Both Charles E. and Frank P. were educated in Wisconsin, and the former began farming for himself after the death of the father. At the age of eighteen years he went to Stutsman County, N. Dak., on the Northern Pacific Railroad, where he entered land, and began tilling the soil. This he continued until 1886, and then came to Kansas City, Kas., and he and his brother embarked in the dairy business. They started without means, but with their energy and push have accomplished much, and now have a prosperous business. They reside at Twelfth and Washington Streets, and their farm,
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which they rent, and which consists of eighty acres, is managed by D. S. Young. In politics the brothers differ, Charles E. affiliating with the Democratic, and Frank P. with the Republican party.
W. J. Huffaker, fruit-grower, Quindaro, Kas. Mr. Huffaker was born near Jacksonville, Morgan County, Ill., on November 11, 1835, to the marriage of Jacob M. and Elizabeth Huffaker. The father was born in Wayne County, Ky., his father was born in Virginia, and his grandfather was among the first settlers of Jamestown, Va. At the early age of eighteen, W. J. Huffaker moved with his father into Texas, in the year 1854. Four years after, he went to the mountains to improve his health and purse; at Pike's Peak he concluded to go to California. Arriving at Salt Lake City, he met with some Mormon relatives, who persuaded him to stay for a season. Remaining in the mountains for nearly four years, he returned with his father, who was coming from Colorado, where he had been to examine the country. While traveling around through Kansas, in order to view the prospects for a home, they stopped a few days at Lawrence (soon after the Quantrell raid), where information came to them that they must not leave the city without the consent of the authorities. After several days the chief of police appeared and asked if some authentic paper could be shown that would indicate that the Huffaker's were not from Missouri. Finally there was found a demit from a Masonic lodge at Sherman, Tex., when they were dismissed without prejudice. The father, Jacob M., after two years, went home to Texas, where he soon after died. W. J., the subject of this sketch, settled in Wyandotte County, in the year 1863, joined the Kansas State Militia, and was commissioned first lieutenant, but on account of the captain being de- tailed for another post, he was compelled to command the company . against old " Pap " Price, as he was usually called in the West. Mr. Huffaker and his company were placed on post of honor to guard the right of the Leavenworth battery. His first business engagement was keeping a boarding-house on the first forty miles of railroad built in Kansas. He then engaged in the manufacture of brick, in the then city of Wyandotte (now Kansas City, Kas.), but the place being too young to support a brick-yard, he afterward bought land in Quindaro, and went into horticultural pursuits, combined with a grocery and dry-goods store, and was also postmaster under Grant's administration. Mr. Huffaker was married in 1868, to Miss Jennie Seales, who bore him five children, two of whom only are now living: Nellie W. and Leroy Harper. Of the other children two died in infancy, and one,
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Frank T., at the age of seventeen years. Mr. Huffaker is a Master Mason and a member of the Christian Church. In politics he is a stanch Republican.
Harvey G. Hughes, horticulturist, Rosedale, Kas. Mr. Hughes, one of the leading fruit men of the West, has been a resident of Wyandotte County since 1875, and was engaged in the nursery busi- ness and the growing of small fruits up to 1889. Mr. Hughes makes a specialty of growing fruit, and had twenty acres devoted to that particular line. From 1875 to 1879 he was in the employ of Anthony Sauer, now deceased, who was the owner of a green-house- one of the largest west of St. Louis-consisting of six houses, with over 5,000 feet of glass. Mr. Hughes was manager of this green house for three years, after which he started out in business for himself, con - tracting with his employer for forty acres of land, with only his hands and a good reputation to pay for it. He kept only twenty acres (the other twenty going back to the former owner), but this he set in fruit, later sold one-half of it, and has now only ten acres, which is all in fruit. Of apples he has planted thirty varieties, but for commercial purposes would only plant a few varieties, selecting the Ben Davis, Jonathan, Willow Twig, Winesap and Missouri Pippin. In peaches he has over thirty varieties, but would not plant so many again. In cherries the Early Richmond, Ostime and English Murillo, are the most profitable. The sweet cherry will not do well in the western country. Pears he does not consider a profitable fruit for Kansas. In raspberries, he has the Gregg, Souhegan, Hopkins and Shafer's Collosial. Snyder is the reliable blackberry with him. In strawberries, out of the many varieties, he has selected, Crescent, Downing, Wilson, Capt. Jack, Jessie and Bubach, as the best all-around berries. Mr. Hughes con- siders Wyandotte County adapted to fruit, especially the grape, and the best county in the State owing to the good market, having a good market in the two Kansas Cities. Mr. Hughes was born in Delphi, Carroll County, Ind., on July 7, 1853, and is the third in a family of eleven children, born to Thomas C. and Harriet (Knight) Hughes. His father, a native of that State, was born in 1812; he was a carpenter by trade and erected some of the important buildings in Delphi. The mother was born in Ohio in 1826, and was reared in Delphi, Ind. Our subject remained in his native State until sixteen years of age, and then came to Independence, Mo., in 1869, and in the following April he went to Lees Summit, where he worked for Blair Bros., nursery- men, doing their first planting. He remained with this firm for five
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years, or until 1874, when he came to this county and worked for Mr. Sauer until 1879, after which he started out for himself. Since the sale of part of his land, he has purchased eighty acres within twenty miles of Kansas City, in Johnson County, and intends making a fruit farm of this. While at Lees Summit he paid particular attention to budding and grafting, making the best record of such ever known in the State. He is a member of the Missouri Valley Horticulture Society, and is an ardent supporter of political reform, but never aspires to office. He is a member of the A. O. U. W.
John A. Hurley was born in Pittsburgh, Penn., in 1861, being the son of Henry and Rosanna Hurley, who were also natives of that State. The father was engaged in the rolling-mills, and possesses quite a con- siderable amount of mechanical genius that the son undoubtedly in- herits. In the year 1884 he married Miss Mary McCarty, whose birth occurred in Pennsylvania, and their union has been blessed with three children, viz .: James, Elizabeth and John. Mr. Hurley takes an active part in politics, voting at the local elections for " the best man," and the one he believes most capable to fill the desired office. He is thoroughly enterprising and industrious, as is clearly proven by his success in mercantile circles and the confidence he has won. At pres- ent he is employed as chief engineer in Engine House No. 3, at Ar- mour's Packing House, in this city. He commenced working for said firm in 1881, as a steam-fitter, and such was his faithfulness and abil- ity that he was advanced to his present responsible position in 1885, having in the meantime studied the construction of engines in the machine shops. He is able to repair any part of the machinery of which he has charge, some of the engines being the largest in the world. and several of them being built at a cost of $25,000. Kansas City has made long strides in progress during the last few years, and is generally conceded to be both a large business center and a most desirable place of residence. The world is so crowded with people ready and waiting to embrace every passing opportunity for money- making that to fill and hold a desirable position is a real compliment to a man, and one of which he may be justly proud. There is no class of men to whom, as a nation, we are more indebted for satis- factory results than to those capable of managing a large department.
James D. Husted. Mention of James D. Husted deserves a conspicu- ous place in this work among the histories of those who have brought Kansas City, Kas., to that commercial position to which it has attained as the metropolis of the State, famous the world over for the energy
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and business activity of its people. Born in Clarksfield, Huron County, Ohio, September 26. 1857, he was educated in the district schools of his native town, and afterward learned practical telegraphy, and as an operator and dispatcher was employed for several years in railroad work. He earned and received successive promotions, and at length was placed in charge of the supply department of the Kansas Pacific division of the Union Pacific Railroad, with headquarters at Arm- strong, now a part of Kansas City, and he has resided continuously in Kansas City since 1878. In 1881 he engaged in the real estate busi- ness. He was personally so popular, and the results of his transactions were so satisfactory to both buyers and sellers, that his business in- creased rapidly and steadily. In 1886-87 he organized a syndicate that erected the First National Bank Building, which, until the com- pletion of the beautiful Husted Building, was the most costly and com- modious business structure in the city. The offices in this building, occupied until the present time by Mr. Husted and his businesses, were convenient and elegant. The offices in the Husted Building, now occupied by the Husted Investment Company, rank with the finest in the West. Besides his connection as president with the Husted Investment Company, which is one of the strongest con- cerns of the kind in the Union, doing an immense business, extending to nearly all parts of the country. Mr. Husted is identified officially with numerous corporations of importance, of many of which he is presi- dent. He is also president of the Fidelity Savings Bank, and vice- president of the First National Bank, all of Kansas City, Kas. The success of Mr. Husted has been remarkable, and would do credit to any man of twice his years and thrice his experience. Beginning ab- solutely without capital and in the humblest way as a real estate con- mission broker, he has developed into one of the leading real estate dealers and investors in the West, the honored head of several corpora- tions, which have done no small work in hastening improvement and general development throughout a wide territory, and one of the most extensive owners of landed property in his city and its vicinity, notably along the lines of the Inter-State Consolidated Rapid Transit (Elevated) Railway, where he owns and controls considerable tracts, which in a few years, as the city expands, as it inevitably must, will be filled with factories, business houses and dwellings. While Mr. Husted has been in charge of commercial and financial transactions of great magnitude, he has not neglected the higher responsibilities of a Christian man- hood, nor lost any opportunity to aid his fellow-men. He is a mem-
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ber of the Presbyterian Church, which he has served as elder and as a member of the board of trustees, and to all the financial and charitable interests of which he is a ready and liberal contributor. In early life he identified himself with the Young Men's Christian Association, to the practical work of which throughout Kansas he has given a marked impetus, and much good has resulted to the organization from his efforts in its behalf as chairman of the State executive committee, in which capacity he serves that body, and is an earnest, personal worker in the dissemination of the truths of Christianity. Mr. Husted is a man of untiring activity, and when he feels the need of recreation and change of scene he does not seek it in a season spent in indolence at some seaside resort, but in the manly pursuit of the noble game and fish found in the fastnesses and streams of the far Northwest. He is an enthusiastic hunter and a successful one withal, and his home and office walls and floors are adorned with numerous trophies of his ex- ploits by forest and stream. Those who know Mr. Husted best speak most enthusiastically of his many good qualities, his business capacity and his conspicuous success in the career he has chosen. He is per- haps more widely known then any other man in his city. No one doubts his integrity and his word is literally as good as his bond, which, on account of his well-known wealth and high-commercial char- acter, would be accepted anywhere in the country. Mr. Husted's par- ents were O. J. and Mary W. (Hurlbutt) Husted. His father was a well-to-do farmer, who possessed the confidence and respect of the community in which he dwelt. His mother was an exemplary Christian woman, the result of whose excellent training is manifest in the bent of Mr. Husted's mind and in admirable personal qualities, which have made him warm friends wherever he is known. Mr. Husted was married to Miss Jennie L. Thorpe, of Kansas City, in September, 1881, and his domestic relations are of the happiest. Though by birth an Ohio man, he is in all else a patriotic be- liever in the destiny of Kansas City and the Middle West, and an earnest advocate of all the interests, commercial and moral, that per- tain thereto; ever liberal and helpful toward any project tending to the greatest good to the greatest number, and alert to promote the advancement of every worthy cause. He belongs to a class of men such as every community needs more of, and who quietly and without ostentation in doing for themselves benefit thousands of others whon chance has thrown within the range of their influence. The com- munity having them, is fortunate indeed.
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Alexander D. Jacks is well known to the people of this region, and is now residing on a good farm in Wyandotte Township, and although born in Platte County, Mo., March 5, 1846, he has been a resident of Wyandotte County, Kas., since the fall of 1861. He was the young- est of a family of thirteen children, the following six of whom are liv- ing: William (a farmer of this county), Richard (who has been a resi- dent of California since 1850, and is engaged in gold mining), Elias (who is following the same business in that State), Warden Thomas (who is a farmer of Wyandotte County), Catherine (widow of J. H. Masterson, who was accidentally killed while hauling grain in 1889; she is now managing the farm of 120 acres on which she is now liv- ing), and Alexander D. (the subject of this sketch). The parents were both Kentuckians, the father's birth having occurred on May 24, 1802. He was a soldier throughout the Mexican War, could remember inci- dents connected with the War of 1812, and throughout life was an agriculturist and stock-raiser, being the owner of 800 acres of fine land at the time of his death. His wife died at the age of sixty-eight and both were worthy members of the Christian Church. Alexander D. Jacks received his early training in the old subscription schools, but as the war came up whilst he was in attendance, it greatly interfered with his education. Notwithstanding this he is possessed of a large fund of useful information, which admirably fits him for the active life which he pursues. He has always been the friend and patron of edu- cation, and, in truth, supports all institutions which tend to develop the rising generation. He commenced life for himself at the age of twenty-five years, and being the youngest member of the family, the sole care of which devolved upon his shoulders, and for a long time his ups and downs in life were many. His marriage, which oc- curred on December 13, 1871, was to Miss Martha A. Chandler, a na- tive of Missouri, her education being received in her native State and in Kansas, but their union took place in Wyandotte County, of the lat- ter State, and has resulted in the birth of the following children: Mary, Minnie (aged fourteen), Jennie (aged nine), Grover (aged five), and Les- ter (who died in infancy). Mr. Jacks has always supported the meas- ures of Democracy, and is a gentleman who has always used his right of franchise intelligently, and has cast his vote for men of honor and integrity. He has never aspired to office, much preferring to till his land, for he finds it much more profitable, and the "glory " of hold- ing public office has no charms for him. He is a member of the Farmers' Alliance, an organization which he thinks will accomplish
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much for the farming element if the members will stand firmly by their principles. He is one of the old and sturdy pioneers of this re- gion, and has seen the county of Wyandotte developed from its prime- val state to the garden spot of Kansas. Kansas City, Kas., contained a population of 1,500 inhabitants, but now boasts a population of 40,- 000 souls, and has the largest pork and beef-packing interests in the Southwest. Upon his arrival in this county land was worth $2.50 to $12 per acre, but now, land surrounding his place has sold for $100 per acre. He has a fine farm of 120 acres, with 100 under cultiva- tion, and he has a handsome farm residence, and commodious and substantial outbuildings. Mrs. Jacks is a worthy member of the Christian Church, and she and her husband have abundant means with which to make their declining years happy and comfortable.
William Jacks is well known to the citizens of Wyandotte County, Kas., and is a native of Missouri, born on April 24, 1824, in which State his early education was obtained, he being an attendant of the old log school-houses of pioneer days, and for some time an attendant of a select school. He relates many amusing anecdotes and reminis- cences of his early school days, and although he has since made a success of his life, he has often felt the need of a better education, and for many years past has been a liberal patron of educational in- stitutions of all kinds. In fact, he gives liberally of his means to all worthy enterprises, and has shown that he has the interest of the county at heart, and is highly public spirited in every respect. He commenced life for himself as a merchant, amongst the whites, and Delaware and Wyandotte Indians, but as he had scarcely any capital to begin with, he relinquished his hold on business in the year of 1850, and went to the Pacific slope to try his fortune in the placer gold diggings, where he remained off and on, for some fifteen years. He well remembers the time when the present site of San Francisco could have been purchased for $300, and was well acquainted with a young man who purchased a lot for $5, for which he was offered, after San Francisco began to build up, the sum of $75,000. He also re- lates the following thrilling incident, which took place in his journey across the plains: When the caravan came near the famous " Sink of the Humboldt River," in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the whole country was a sandy desert, and while there he counted from 500 to 1,000 dead cattle which were famished for want of water, there being also numerons wagons left desolate and abandoned with inscriptions written on them something like the following: "Take all that you see,
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we are done with wagons and all that you see on this desert plain." Men, women and animals were famished and many were dead. His company saved the lives of many emigrants who had endeavored to cross the great plains and see the Golden Gate. These, as well as many other incidents, are related with great accuracy and vividness by Mr. Jacks, and would be of great interest to any one interested in the progress and development of the far West could he hear or read them. He was married to Miss Mary McDaniel on the same day of Grant's first election to the presidency, his wife being, in all prob- ability, a native of Missouri, in which State she was educated. Mr. Jacks was in California from 1850 to 1866, during the Rebellion, and has always been a "Simon pure" Democrat, and has supported and upheld the true principles of Jeffersonianism. He is a gentleman of honor and integrity, and has endeavored to exercise his right of franchise in a proper manner. He is under the impression that he cast his first presidential vote for Franklin Pierce. He has held the office of township trustee for'several terms and the important position of county commissioner also, which shows that the people have re- posed the utmost confidence in Mr. Jacks' ability as a man of sterling business acumen. He is at present justice of the peace in his town- ship, and is a gentleman who will fully support the principles of jus- tice and right and an equalization of rights in the Farmers' Alliance, of which he is a member, prospectively. He is not an arbitrary per- son, who usurps the rights of others, but does all in his power to pro- duce harmony at all times. He is well posted upon the current topics and issues of the day, and his views on all matters of public interest are sound, and show that he keeps fully apace with the times. In 1866 he emigrated from California to Wyandotte County, Kas .. and when he first knew Kansas City, Mo., it was a boat landing, and only eight or ten houses were visible from the river. Old Parkeville, ten miles west of Kansas City, Mo., was the Kansas City of the West or next to St. Joe, which fact goes to show what an early pioneer Mr. Jacks was in this section of the country. Kansas City, Kas., was un- known at that date, and Westport was a stopping place for supplies on the overland route to Santa Fe. When Mr. Jacks came to his present home it was a perfect thicket and wilderness, the Indians being the principal proprietors of the land at that time. He paid at first $14 per acre for forty-nine acres, and shortly after bought sixty acres at $25 per acre, which land now lies within five miles of the city limits of Kansas City, Kas., and is now valued at $300 per acre, which value
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will be greatly enhanced when the great manufacturing plant of the Southwest is erected. He was present at the "Great Corn Feast," the last held by the Wyandotte Indians, two and one-half miles west of Wyandotte, Kas., near the Old Indian Spring, so well known to early settlers, and heard the speeches delivered by the principal chiefs, both in the Indian and English languages. Gov. Walker, who was of the Wyandotte tribe, spoke in both languages and Chief Gray Eye, of the Wyandotte tribe, also orated before the tribes in his native tongue. Mr. Jacks is held in high esteem by his neighbors for his sterling worth and integrity, and he and his wife expect to spend the rest of their days on their present farm, surrounded by everything to make life comfortable and pleasant. In addition to their home farm they own eighty acres of valuable land in Platte County, Mo.
W. F. Jaques is foreman of the shipping department of Armour's Packing House, and has been in the employ of Armour for the past five years. He was born in Illinois in 1855, and acquired his early education in the public schools of Geneseo, and afterward engaged in teaching for four years, after which he emigrated to Ellis, Kas., and began the publication of a newspaper. After editing the Ellis Head- light for three years he sold out, and for three years was employed as a clerk in the Union Pacific Railway offices at Ellis, Kas. At the end of this time he came to Kansas City, Kas., and entered the employ of Armour as a clerk, but at the end of two years was promoted to fore- man of the lard department, and one year later was given control of the shipping department, a position he has filled ever since. He was married at Geneseo, Ill., in 1881, to Miss Jennie L. Paul, a native of Illinois, born in 1858. They have one child, a boy, Ewart Paul, born November 22, 1888. Mr. Jaques is a warm Republican in his views, and being a young man of many sterling principles his future pros- perity is assured. He is the owner of some property in Kansas City, and his home is at No. 746 Sandusky Avenue. His parents, W. C. and Eliza A. (Beers) Jaques, were born in Pennsylvania. The father is now living in Geneseo, but the mother died in 1880. During the time Mr. Jacques was engaged in publishing a newspaper at Ellis, Kas., he also read law in the office of Lawyers David Rathbone and M. M. Fuller, and was admitted to the bar, but has never engaged in the practice.
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