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 68
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to Chicago, and went to work for the packing firm of Culbertson & Blair, three months later becoming an employe of Philip Armour. He worked in his packing house until 1877, but in the fall of that year returned to Kansas City, and was in the employ of Plankinton & Armour, for seven months. He next went to Hannibal, Mo., and after working for two months for the Hannibal Dressed Beef Com- pany, he, in May, 1878, went to St. Louis, and during the harvest season, following, he harvested in Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota. In the fall he returned to Chicago, and again secured employment with the Armour Packing Company. a year later entering Higgin's Packing House, with which he remained for five months. In the spring of 1880 he sailed on the Great Lakes, chiefly in the capacity of a fireman, but in the fall of that year he secured employment with the Chicago Packing & Provision Company, with which he worked for four months. During the summer of 1881 he was an along-shores man on the Chicago River, but in the fall he re-entered the employ of Armour, and this time remained with him one year. In the fall of 1882 he went to Sabula, Iowa, and for four months labored in the packing-house of Jones & Stiles, after which he once more returned to Chicago, and for a few weeks was employed by Hagan & Co. In the spring of the same year, the same firm sent him to Omaha, being three months in the Boyd Packing House, and the following nine months were spent in Sioux City, Iowa, being in a similar establishment, owned by James. E. Booge. The three months succeeding March, 1884, he was in the employ of Armour, at Kansas City, but in July, 1884, returned to his former employer, Mr. Booge, at Sioux City, this time remaining with him six months. He next went'to Omaha, and soon after to Cedar Rapids, and finally back to Chicago once more. From the fall of 1884, for a year and a half, he worked for Armour, in Kansas City, two months in the spring of 1886, residing in Chicago, working for Moran, Healy & Co. Ottumwa, Iowa, was next the scene of his opera- tions, six weeks being spent in the employ of Morrell & Co., his former Chicago employers. From that time until February, 1887, he was in Armour's Packing House of Kansas City. The following six months he was in Kansas City, a member of the fire department, thereafter spending nine months with the Allcutt Packing Company, the three subsequent months being with Armour, Cudahy Packing Company, of Omaha, Neb. After a short time spent in Chicago, Sioux City and St. Paul, he returned to the former place, going from there in October, 1888, to Duluth, Minn., then to St. Paul, and in the
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fall to Kansas City, working five months with Swift & Co. He next spent a month in Sioux City, a week in Chicago, a week in New York City, where he took passage on a steamer, the "Hindoo," and went to London, England, from there to Havre, France, and from that place returned to New York, thence to Sioux City, two months later to Chicago, where he spent four months in the employ of T. J. Tipton & Co., packers. In November, 1889, he returned to Kansas City, since which time he has been foreman of the hog-killing department of Swift & Co. He is thoroughly familiar with every feature of the packing-house business, having devoted twenty-one years to it, and he is discharging his present duties in a very satisfactory manner. He was married in November, 1886, to Miss Maggie Joyce, a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1866. He is a stanch Republican in his polit- ical views, being a member of the Republican County Central Com- mittee, and is a first-class citizen and has numerous friends.
Calvin E. Klein, blacksmith, Quindaro, Kas. Identified with the blacksmithing business of Wyandotte County, Kas., is Calvin E. Klein, who was born in Luzerne County, Penn., December 9, 1851, and who is the son of Leonard and Mary A. (Labour) Klein, the mother of English and the father of Holland-Dutch descent. The parents reared a family of eleven children-eight sons and three daugh- ters-six of whom are now living. The three elder sons served in the late war: W. C., Capt. J. H. and Lieut. G. W., and three besides our subject are engaged in blacksmithing: W. C. and M. L. in Wyandotte, and J. W. in Omaha. In 1877 Mr. Klein came to Kansas, from Penn- sylvania, and was living in Wyandotte at the time of his death, which occurred in 1880. Calvin E. Klein remained with his parents until seventeen years of age (assisting his father in the shop and working for different farmers), at which time he left home, and soon after en- tered the employ of the Snyder Bros.' contract shops of Williamsport, Penn., where he remained three years. At the expiration of that time he returned home, learned general blacksmithing, and worked with his father two years. At that time he started in business for himself, and shortly afterward was united in marriage with Miss Laura L. Preston, daughter of Rev. James L. and Caroline (Lukens) Preston. He then left the shop and engaged in agricultural pursuits for two years more. He then moved to Hughesville, opened his shop again, and some time later moved to the old home place, his father having moved West. One year later, or in 1879, our subject moved to Wyandotte County and entered the railroad shops at Armstrong, where he remained only
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a short time. After this he purchased an old shop at Quindaro, tore this down, and built his present quarters, where he has carried on his trade ever since. He has built up a good business, generally running about five men. He has a nice brick cottage of five rooms, and is the owner of an acre of ground. He is the father of eight children: Emma L., Mary E., J. Wilbur, Myra E., Calvin E., Elsie May, Boyd L. and Laura Mabel. Mrs. Klein is a member of the Congregational Church, and Mr. Klein is a Master Mason. Both are highly esteemed citizens.
Phillip H. Knoblock. No foreign country has contributed more liberally to the population of the United States than has Germany, and the citizens she sends over are as a whole enterprising and indus- trious in a marked degree, a statement that is fully verified by the life of Phillip H. Knoblock, a prosperous and highly esteemed resi- dent of Kansas City, Kas. His birth occurred in Germany, near the Rhine, July 20, 1835, being the son of Peter and Mary Knoblock. The first eighteen years of his life were passed in the old country, where he received a good common-school education, and learned the habits of industry and peserverance that have contributed so largely to his success in business. At the expiration of that time, Mr. Knoblock came to the United States, settling in Quindaro, and numbering among the pioneers in this section of the country. He resided in Topeka at the time the war commenced, but came to Kansas City, to assist in organizing what is known as the Thrasher Artillery, in which he was ensign, to serve three months. However, upon offering for service at Topeka, they were refused admittance for a shorter period than three years. Mr. Knoblock then organized Company B, that was placed in the First Kansas Regiment, and was appointed orderly sergeant. They marched under Capt. Roberts, who was succeeded by Capt. Alden, under Col. Dutcher, and serving in the Missouri depart- ment of Gen. Logan's force. They engaged in the battle of Duck Spring, Mo., Angust 1, and fought at Wilson Creek, on the 10th of that month after which they returned to St. Louis, and finally settled in Lexington. After remaining there two months, they went to Leaven- worth, where they were given ten days' leave of absence, going to Lawrence to organize the Mexican Brigade. They marched to Fort Riley, Kas., and from that point went first to Pittsburg Landing, and later to Corinth, Miss. From there they went to Columbus, Ky., then to Trenton, Tenn., where they remained until ordered to Corinth. After participating in the second battle at Corinth, they followed the
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enemy to Ripley. Shortly after this, Gen. Grant took command, and they started with him on his famous march through the South, being selected to join the 5,000, who were to meet Gen. Forrest's eight squad force. The enemy not appearing, they marched to Memphis, Tenn., and in February, of 1865, went to Mulligan Bend. They took part in all the principal battles under Gen. Grant, and were mustered out of service at Leavenworth, Kas., June 10, 1864. The subject of this sketch, after his return, was elected captain of the Kansas Militia, Twenty-third Regiment, Company F, Cavalry. They took part in Gen. Price's raid, and during that time he had charge of twenty-eight companies. They were once more mustered out of service in Leaven- worth. After peace was again fully restored throughout the land, Mr. Knoblock came to Kansas City, Kas., engaging in contracting and building, an occupation that has continued to occupy his attention until a recent date, when he commenced the furnace business. Mr. Knoblock married Miss Margaret Moore in the month of November, 1864. Miss Moore's birth occurred in Ohio, March 22, 1841. To this union were born seven children-five of whom are living at the present time, viz. : Mary A., Nellie N., Birdie, Frank H. and Edna. The subject of this sketch is a member of the Republican party. In 1867 he was elected to the council, serving six years, and was also chosen school trustee for six years, and has served as superintendent of con- struction, and as city assessor. Mr. Knoblock is a member of Burn- side Post, No. 28, G. A. R., also of Summenduwott Lodge No. 3, I. O. O. F., in which he has reached the past grade. And he belongs to Wyandotte Encampment No. 9, in which he is past chief. He is a worthy, enterprising citizen, laboring to advance both his own interests and those of the community in which he resides.
Hermann Krueger. The family grocery trade of Kansas City, Kas., is well represented by honorable business men who are full of enter- prise, and Mr. Krueger is one of those who holds a leading position in this line of business. He was born in Prussia, Germany, November 11, 1839, to Christian and Eferseen (Hinze) Krueger, to whom were born a family of twelve children: Augusta, Christian, William, Carl, Wilhelmina; Hermann and Bertha reaching maturity, but Augusta and Bertha have since died. Hermann is the only member of the family that came to America. The mother died in the early part of Novem- ber, 1876, and the father June 13, 1884. During his earlier years the latter acted as overseer of a large farm, but subsequently purchased a farm of his own, which he cultivated a great many years, becoming one
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of the wealthy men of his community. For fifteen years prior to his death he led a retired life, and his last days were spent in peace and prosperity. The subject of this sketch attended school until he was fourteen years of age then began laboring on his father's farm, and at the age of eighteen years began serving an apprenticeship at the miller's trade. After he had become thoroughly familiar with this calling he followed it in the old country until 1867, then emigrated to America, embarking at Hamburg, April 20, and landing at Quebec, June 22. Upon reaching the New World he came directly to Kansas, and for a year and a half he made his headquarters at Lawrence, being en- gaged during this time as a railway bridge carpenter. In 1869 he came to Kansas City, Kas., and after following the ice business for one season, he spent the following year as a clerk. He next engaged in car building in the shops of the Union Pacific Railway, and con- tinued in that capacity for four years, removing, in 1874, to Topeka, where for six months he acted as car inspector for the above mentioned road. Returning to Kansas City he again became employed as a car builder, and in 1876 he removed to Fort Scott, where his home con- tinued to be for three and a half years, being employed as car inspector for the Fort Scott & Gulf Railway. In 1880 he returned to Kansas City, and after working here as a house carpenter until the fall of 1882, he removed to Ottawa County, Kas., and made his home on a farm for about nine months. At the end of this time he once more returned to this place, and after carpentering until 1884, he engaged in the grocery business at the corner of Eighth Street and Minnesota Avenue, and to the successful management of this business he has since given his time and attention. He is now one of the leading retail grocers of the city, and from the month of May, 1885, to 1888, he has been located at the cor- ner of Fifth Street and Armstrong Avenue. In 1888 he erected a two- story brick business block at No. 259 North Tenth Street, and in No- vember of that year he here opened a large grocery and meat-market, which he has conducted with excellent results up to the present time. His building comprises two good store rooms, one of which is occupied by his groceries and the other by both fresh and salt meats. His pat- ronage is large and he bids fair to become one of the wealthy men of the city. He was married June 21, 1870, to Miss Minnie Treptow, a native of Germany, who came to America on the same vessel as himself, but he was called upon to mourn her death November 19, 1873, and after remaining a widower until August 5, 1874, he was married to Miss Louisa Funk, who was born in Prussia, June 10, 1852, being a
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daughter of John and Susan (Hagemann) Funk, to whom a family of six children were born, the following of whom are living: Carl, Fred- erick L. and Louisa. Frederick came to America in 1869, Louisa in 1872, and Carl in 1881, all being residents of Kansas City, Kas. The mother of Mrs. Krueger died April 9, 1865, and the father, who was a weaver by trade, May 12, 1866. Mr. and Mrs. Krueger's marriage resulted in the birth of the following children: Lena Louisa (born July 30, 1875, and died November 19, 1877), Otto (born February 17, 1877), Huldah Augusta (born October 26, 1878, and died January 3, 1882), Olga Hermina (born November 4, 1880), Imil (born June 10, 1882, and lived only a few hours), Julius Hermann (born July 13, 1884), Emma Wilhelmina (born July 9, 1886), and Frederick Hermann (born May 13, 1888). Mr. and Mrs. Krueger are worthy members of the German Methodist Church, and in his political views he is a Repub- lican. They are among the city's very best citizens and have a large circle of warm friends.
Ambrose Key is one of the most extensive growers of small fruit, and is also one of the pioneers of this section. He has forty acres of land which he devotes to the raising of small fruits with the exception of three acres, and his profits on his berries, etc., nets him a handsome annual income. He came to this county in 1872 and commenced his present enterprise upon a limited scale, setting out about 1,200 orchard trees, but in 1878 he branched into the small-fruit business, setting out seven acres of blackberries, ten of raspberries, two of strawberries, three of grapes, 750 bushes of gooseberries and cur- rants, 350 cherry trees, 200 plum trees and 600 peach trees, all of which are in good condition. In experimenting with raspberries and peach trees he found that planting the two together he made a suc- cess, for both have done well. He has found the Ben Davis apple to be the most profitable, the tree being hardy, prolific, and the apple a good keeper, but he also raises the Winesap and Winter Pippin for winter use, and the Early Harvest, Red Astrachan and Red June for summer use. He has almost all kinds, but thinks the above mentioned to be the most profitable for Kansas. He is not well pleased with Kansas as a peach-growing State, but is otherwise satisfied with the country. He is, without doubt, one of the most successful fruit- growers in the State, and he has recently become an honored mem- ber of the Missouri Valley Horticultural Society. He was born in Montgomery County, Ind., November 27, 1829, and was the eldest of sixteen children born to George and Rebecca (Mintor) Key, natives of
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Virginia and New Jersey, respectively. At the age of ten years Am- brose was taken to Iowa, before the first land sale, and there his father entered about 2,000 acres of land sitnated in the north bend of Louisa County, in what was known as Virginia Grove, where Ambrose was reared to manhood, following farming and stock-raising until 1855, when he embarked in the mercantile business in Wapello, con- tinning until 1858, when he went to the Lone Star State, opening a lumber-yard, where he built up an extensive and paying trade. He manufactured lumber on the San Jacinto River, twelve miles above where Gen. Sam Houston whipped Santa Anna, and there he remained until 1868, when, owing to the ill feeling left in the South, and his poor health, he came to the North and made a visit to Kansas City, going afterward to St. Louis, being engaged in traveling for a grain firm. After remaining here one year, he made up a train and went to the southwest Indian country, where he stayed three years, regaining his health and making a good start in money matters. In 1872 he came to Wyandotte County, purchased his present farm of forty acres, and, as above stated, started his present fruit farm, which has brought him in good returns. He was married in 1858 to Miss Mary J. Gar- rett, a daughter of Col. Elisha Garrett, the founder of Garrettsville, Ohio, a manufacturing center. Mr. Garrett was a general manufact- urer of tools and wooden goods. To Mr. and Mrs. Key a family of four children were born: Sidney, Joseph, Nellie (a shorthand re- porter in Denver, Colo.), and Gertrude (a clerk in a loan office in Kansas City, Mo. Mr. Key is liberal in his political views, and, al- though not a member of any church, is a believer in religion, and is a strong supporter of enterprises that will prove of benefit to the county. He is charitable to the poor and distressed, and has always been found ready to extend the right hand of fellowship to the deserving.
The Keystone Iron Works, an important plant or enterprise of Kansas City, Kas., is an institution which in push and enterprise of its most excellent management, and for its capacity to execute large orders, the location and financial push and resources, stands at the top of such enterprises in the Southwest. This plant was inaugurated on a small scale, but upon solid basis, in 1870, by Mr. James Smith, the present able and efficient president. The business was incorporated in 1881, on a capital of $200,000, and the following year T. B. Bul- lene, the head of the renowned and well-known dry-goods firm of Bul- lene, Moore, Emery & Co., became a large shareholder and vice- president. The Keystone Iron Works carried on business on West
HUDSON KIMBERLY GO KČ MD.
THE KEYSTONE IRON WORKS, KANSAS CITY, KANSAS.
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Eighth Street, Kansas City, Mo., and in 1889 they removed to their present site. Their area of ground covers 120x745 feet, and is entirely covered by this enterprising plant. They comprise a machine shop, of which Mr. Davis is foreman, and which is supplied with cranes, lathes, bores, drills, planers, etc., and the power which a 100-horse engine supplies. The foundry of which Mr. Cowie is the able fore- man, has a thirty horse-power engine, and a cupola of thirty-ton daily capacity. A pattern-shop, which is presided over by Mr. A. Stall- berg, a designer of merit, has its own engine of twelve horse-power. The blacksmith shop, of which Mr. Whit Moran is foreman, has also a warehouse. Their shipping facilities are first class, and they have a platform space of 750 feet. The annual production consists of steam- engines, boilers, machinery of all kinds, building fronts, bridges, archi- tectural and ornamental iron and brass work. Their growing and ex- tensive custom extends to Utah and on to the "land of the Montezu- mas," Mexico, through Texas, Indian Territory, Wyoming, Nebraska, Dakota, and many other Western and Middle States. This industry has met with signal success, and as manufacturers of architectural iron work and general iron and brass founders, their goods have a special reputation for strength, durability, economy and perfect working. Closely identified with Kansas City, Kas., the Keystone Iron Works is deservedly awarded the highest consideration. Mr. Lathrop B. Bul- lene is the efficient secretary and treasurer. For biography of officials and foreman of this enterprising plant, notice particularly the sketches given in the History of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kas.
C. M. Lackey, foreman of the butterine department of Armour Packing House, Kansas City, Kas., has filled his present position for six years, and in a very able and satisfactory way. He owes his na- tivity to Indiana, his birth occurring in Indianapolis, in 1855, and there he grew to man's estate and secured a good practical education. He was reared to the arduous duties of the farm, and when twenty- seven or twenty-eight years of age he left the parental roof and entered the employ of Armour's Packing Company, at Kansas City, Kas. He entered as a laborer, and was promoted to the position of foreman in 1887, and still holds that important position. He sees to making of butterine and oleo oil, and is an expert tester of the former. He was married in Kansas City, Kas., to Miss J. S. Dormoise, a native of Williams County, Ohio, and the fruits of this union have been one child-Charles. Mr. Lackey adheres strictly to the Republican party in his political views, and is one of the first-class citizens of the county.
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He resides at 316 Group Avenue. Socially he is a member of the I. O. O. F., and the A. O. U. W .; is the son of James and S. (Murry) Lackey, the father a native of Ohio, and the mother of Pennsylvania, and both of German extraction. They passed the most of their days in Indiana.
Dr. Joseph Laudon, physician, Vance, Kas. Dr. Joseph Laudon, a physician of more than ordinary ability, was born on November 28, 1834, and is the son of G. W. H. and Caroline (Howe) Laudon, the father born in Virginia, in 1800, and the mother in Kentucky, in 1805. The Laudons are of Scotch-English origin, and the ancestors came to America in early colonial days. The grandfather of our subject, John Laudon, was a Revolutionary soldier and lived to a ripe old age. The Howes were of English descent. Caroline Howe's mother was of French and Indian extraction. G. W. A. Laudon remained in Vir- ginia until early manhood, and studied theology and medicine. He went from his native State to Kentucky, and there in 1825 he was married. After residing there for a number of years, practicing his profession, and occasionally occupying the pulpit, he moved to Frank. lin County, Ohio, then afterward to Westerville, locating about twelve miles north of Columbus. He was one of the founders of the Starling Medical College, at Columbus, Ohio, and here the most of his children- five boys and three girls- were born and reared. While in Ohio, he and his wife agreed to a mutual separation, his wife going to her people in the South, and the Doctor married Miss Elizabeth W. Ladd, the daughter of old Squire Ladd, who was a half-breed Wyandotte Indian, and whose wife was a full blood. The rest of the Ladd girls married the Walkers, Lydia married Matthew Walker, Mary married Joel Walker, who built one of the first business houses in Kansas City, Mo. After his marriage with Miss Ladd, the Doctor grew into close relation with the tribe. In 1854 he came to Wyandotte with his family, remained bnt a short time, as one blacksmith shop constituted the early business house in the town, and one of the Ladd girls taught school in an old log school-house out about Tenth Street. This wasthe first school of any kind in the county. But one child was born to the Doctor's second marriage, Elizabeth, who died when young. In a few months after his arrival here, he went to St. Joseph, Mo., and bought some property, after which he went to Mosquito Creek, in Doniphan County, and laid out the town of Monnt Vernon. He resided in St. Joseph, and was a remarkably successful physician and surgeon, enjoying the most enviable reputation in that part of the
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State. Near the beginning of the war he was drawn into politics, and was a candidate for State auditor on the Lincoln ticket. In the 1860 campaign he was one of the Republican presidential electors, and one year later he was commissioned post surgeon at St. Joseph, and ac- companied his regiment. At Bee Creek bridge he was slightly wounded in the face, but was with his regiment and at the post until some time during 1864, when, on account of his health, he resigned. His death occurred soon after. His body was brought to Wyandotte and buried with Masonic honors, at the Huron Place, he being a Royal Arch Mason. Thus ended the life of one of the pioneers of Wyandotte County. A man of strict morality, orthodox in his views, a life long member of the Methodist Church, a profound student, and a fine, so- cial gentleman. He often contributed to the papers and magazines, with a tendency to the poetic, and having a high appreciation of the finer arts and letters, he collected during his life-time a magnificent library, and to each of his children his administrators were directed to select 200 volumes, as were best adapted to their pursuits and profes- sions. To each of his children he gave as good an education as circum- stances would permit, and each of his sons held a life scholarship in a well-known University. His son, Dr. Joseph Landon, was born in Frank- lin County, Ohio, and was reared in the Southern States. His first recol- lections date back to Westville, Ohio, where he, as a small boy, at- tended the district school, and when eleven years of age, he came to Kansas. He went to St. Joe with his father, afterward went to Ohio and Kentucky, and later attended Pope's Medical College in St. Louis, graduating from that institution in the ear and eye department. At the breaking out of the war he joined Col. Strong's regiment in St. Joe, and assisted his father in the hospital. He was married there on April 9, 1860, to Miss Josephine M. Condon, and their marriage was blessed by the birth of three children-two daughters and a son. The latter, J. S. C. Laudon, grew up and graduated in the Christian Brothers' College in St. Lonis, and then worked for the Singer Sewing Machine Company for some time. In 1886 he went to Australia, and is now in Melborne. Dr. Landon was in service in the Federal army, as were also his brothers, George, Leon and Clay. The latter was killed at Fort Donelson, and George, who was three times wounded, died in Louisville of his wounds. Leon was in the Missouri regiment, and came through without a scratch. The Doctor was at Bee Creek, Lex- ington, Carthage and a number of skirmishes. At Lexington he was wounded in the side, and altogether he was in the service abont
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