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 69
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four years, but only one year with his regiment, being in the hospital service at St. Joe. After the war closed he went to Lexington, Mo., practiced here about two years, and then went to Greentown, remained one year, thence to Napoleon, and two years later to St. Joe. From there he went to Leavenworth, then to Lenape, Kas., from there to De Soto, and then to Prairie Centre, where he remained until the fall of 1875, after which he came to his present place of residence. He was married, the second time, to Mrs. Mary M. Ish, nee Rupe, a sister of Dr. Rupe, of San Francisco. Since coming here, Dr. Laudon has en- joyed a good practice, and is busy all the time. He owns a nice little farm, which he devotes to gardening and fruit-growing. In principle he is Democratic, but votes for the best man in local affairs.
E. B. Lane, jeweler, Armourdale, Kas. This well-known and pop- ular jewelry establishment of Mr. E. B. Lane, is one of the most prom- inent in the city, and Mr. Lane has always been successful as a business man, being practical and skilled as a watchmaker and jeweler. He established his business in Kansas City, Kas., in January, 1888, and has carried it on ever since with unusual success. He was born in Bowling Green, Ky., on January 4, 1865, and is the son of Samuel and Elvira (Barnett) Lane, natives also of Kentucky. The father fol- lowed farming all his life, and died in 1873. E. B. Lane received a common-school education in Bowling Green, Ky., was early trained to the duties of the farm, and remained on the same until sixteen years of age. He then began learning the jeweler's trade, and served an ap- prenticeship at Nashville, Tenn. He came West in 1883, located at Humansville, Mo., and there remained for about four years. In 1888 he came to Armourdale, and immediately embarked in business for himself. Previous to this, however, he had been engaged in business in Kansas City, Mo., but later moved to this city, where he has since remained. He is a thoroughly practical jeweler, and devotes his entire attention to the general business of his house, and satisfactorily pro- vides for the wants and tastes of his numerous customers. He was married in 1889 to Miss Carrie C. McFarland, a native of Leaven- worth, Kas. Socially Mr. Lane is a member of the A. O. U. W.
Henry Larson. Among the important industrial enterprises which contribute to the commercial standing of the thriving town of Kansas City, Kas., is the grocery establishment of Mr. Larson. He has been in business in this place since 1885, but has only conducted his present establishment since December 8, 1889. He was born in Hal- land, Sweden, February 2, 1853, his father's name being Lars Hanson,
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and the mother's maiden name Johanna Borgson, to whom a family of eight children were born-six sons and two daughters-only four of the sons being now alive. The names of all are: Emma Sophia, Anna Johanna, John B., Henry, Severin, Jacob, Adolph, and a son that died in infancy. Severin died at the age of eighteen years; Emma S. resides in Sweden; Anna J. in Denmark, and John B., Henry, Jacob and Adolph came to America, and John B. and Jacob reside in Kansas City, Mo., and the other two in Kansas City, Kas. The father of these children, who was a carpenter by trade, died in Sweden in 1882, but his widow still survives him. The subject of this sketch spent his boyhood in the country of his birth, and between the ages of seven and fourteen years was an attendant of school, dur- ing which time he made his home in the family of a Lutheran minister, for whom he did chores to pay for his board and clothes. At the age of fourteen he went to Denmark, where he remained for four and a half years, being employed as a coachman for a minister. Returning to Sweden, he spent the winter of 1872-73 with his parents, and in the spring of the latter year bade adieu to home and friends and started for America in search of a fortune. He embarked at Gothenburg on the "City of Paris," and landed at New York, almost immediately joining his brother, John B., in Montgomery County, Penn., the lat- ter having come to this country two years previously. He remained in that vicinity for about eight months, helping to build a railroad. In the fall of 1873 he went to Ontario, Canada, where he worked as a farm hand for about eighteen months, or until the spring of 1874, at which time he and the son of the man for whom he worked, went to the northern part of Ontario, and there Mr. Larson entered 160 acres of land, and during the one year that he remained on this place he made such improvements as he could. In the spring of 1875 he went to a point six miles west of Niagara Falls, and for two years took care of work horses for a contractor named Blicksley, after which, in 1879, he came West as far as Kansas City, Mo., to which place his brother named above, had in the meantime come. At this place he secured a position as clerk in a grocery store, and at the expiration of three months, he and his brother, who had been employed in a like establishment, opened a grocery store of their own on the corner of Ninth and Wyoming Streets, and continued in business there about five years, being very successful. In 1885, with the money they had thus earned, they purchased a lot on the corner of Second and James Streets, Kansas City, Kas., and upon it erected a two-story brick
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business block, in which, when completed, opened up a first-class grocery store. A good patronage was soon accorded them, and the store has since had a prosperous career. In July, 1888, Henry sold his interest in the store to his younger brother, Adolph, who had come to America in 1880. Meanwhile, in 1885, he had purchased two va- cant lots, which were side by side, on the corner of Fourth and La- fayette Streets, Edgerton Place, and upon one of these, in 1886, he erected a handsome residence, which he has since occupied as his home. Upon the other, in 1889, he erected a business block, which has two excellent store-rooms, and in one of these, on December 8, 1889, he began selling groceries, and it is to its management that his attention is now given. He has one of the cleanest and neatest estab- lishments in the city, and although he has only been in business at his present stand for a short time, he has, by his accommodating spirit, energy and honesty, built up a first-class trade. He is one of the men who is bound to succeed in life, and is agreeable and courteous in his treatment to all. He uses his other business room as a ware and storage room, and besides his groceries, he carries a first-class line of meats, both salt and fresh. He was married, July 20, 1882, to Miss Hannah Sophia Linnarson, who was born in Sweden, and came to the United States in 1874. Their marriage has resulted in the birth of three children: Hermann Leonard (born September 2, 1883), Es- ther Maria Sophia (born December 16, 1885), and Johanna Louisa (born August 14, 1887). Mr. and Mrs. Larson are members of the Lutheran Church, and are upright citizens. Mrs. Larson was born in Gothenburg, Sweden, March 17, 1860, her parents being John and Maria (Olson) Linnarson. The latter had a family of ten children, of whom Mrs. Larson was the eldest-five sons and four daughters now living, their names being Anna Sophia, Josephine, Charlotte, Maria Helena, Charley, Oscar, John, Edwin, Ernest and John (who died at the age of one year). In 1872 the father came to America and established a home for his wife and children, who soon after joined him in Kansas City, Mo. In the spring of 1889 they removed to a point near Oldsburg, Kas., where they now reside on a farm.
Swen Adolph Larson has been connected with the grocery interests of Kansas City, Kas., since August, 1887. He is a native of Sweden, born September 29, 1859, and is a son of Lars Hanson and Johanna (Borgson) Larson, being the youngest of their eight children, of whom notice is given in the sketch of Henry Larson. Swen Adolph spent his boyhood on the old home farm, which lies only one mile from the
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shore of the Cattegat Channel, and from his earliest boyhood had a great desire to become a sailor, which was probably caused by the scenes presented to him along the coast, for at times the waters, stud- ded with vessels from many parts of the world, presented a fascinating picture. He attended school until he was fourteen years of age, re- ceiving a good knowledge of the ordinary branches of learning. At the age of fifteen years, he started out in the world to do for him- self and went directly from his home to Warburg, where he se- cured a seaman's permit, after which he at once secured a posi- tion on a sailing vessel called "Elizabeth," which was commanded by Capt. C. G. Borgson, remaining with him on the Cattegat Channel for three seasons, and during this time endured all the pleasures and hardships incident to the life of a sailor. Tiring of the sea, he re- turned home, and, after a short visit with his parents, he embarked for America, April 3, 1880, going by steamer from Warburg to Gothenburg, thence upon another steamer to Hull, England, after which he went by rail to Liverpool; from this place he sailed, April 12, for the United States, in the steamer "Hellwitsea." He reached New York April 23, and on the following day left that city for Houtsdale, Penn., where for three months he worked in a coal mine. He then went to Johns- town, Penn., in the vicinity of which place he helped to build a rail- road, the time spent there being about four months, and in January, 1881, he came West, to Kansas City, Mo., and entered the employ of his brothers, John B. and Henry, who had come thither some time be- fore, and established a grocery store on the corner of Ninth and Wy- oming Street. He remained with them as a clerk some six years, and then, with the money he had saved out of his earnings, he engaged in business for himself. In August, 1887, he and his brother Jacob bought from their brother John B. a grocery, at No. 1527 West Ninth Street, and although it is now conducted by Jacob, Swen A. still owns an interest in the same. July 6, 1889, he bought from his brother Henry the grocery at No. 228 North James Street, and is now devoting his whole attention to its management. It is located in a good two-story brick building, 25x56 feet, and is one of the largest and best-stocked establishments of the kind in Kansas City. Mr. Larson has conducted it for about one year, and its sales for this time amount to nearly $25,000. Mr. Larson possesses every essential necessary to make a successful business man, is kind and agreeable in his manners, and has a large number of friends. He was married, May 29, 1889, to Miss Charlotte Linnarson, who was born in Sweden, June 11, 1865,
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her parents being John and Mary Linnarson, who came to America about 1872, and settled in Kansas City, Kas., where Mrs. Larson grew to womanhood. She and her husband are members of the Lu- theran Church of Kansas City, Mo., and are well known as honorable and upright people.
The La Rue Hardware Company of Kansas City, Kas., was estab- lished in 1888, with J. H. and George A. La Rue as owners. They are dealers in shelf and builder's hardware, tinware, granite iron ware, gasoline, cooking and heating stoves, galvanized iron work, roofing and spouting, etc. They do a fine business, and are prosperous, enterpris- ing men. J. H. La Rue, the senior member of the firm, is a native of Adams County, Penn., born on July 21, 1862. His parents, Solomon and Sarah (Alicker) La Rue, are natives of the Keystone State, and his paternal grandfather, Henry La Rue, was a native of France and an early settler of Pennsylvania, where he died at the age of eighty- four years. He was a farmer by occupation. The maternal grand- father, Abraham Alicker, was born in Holland, and also died in Penn- sylvania. These grandparents came over and purchased land from William Penn. The parents of our subject are both yet living and are residents of Adams County, Penn. The father has been a farmer most all his life, and is now comparatively retired, although largely interested in banking interests at Dillsburg, Penn. J. H. La Rue was educated at Millersville Normal School of Pennsylvania, from which he gradu- ated in 1880, and he afterward tanght school for five years. Being dissatisfied with this occupation be decided to take Horace Greeley's advice and go West. Accordingly in 1885 he started and never stopped until he reached Kansas City, Mo. He made up his mind to do any- thing to get a start, and so entered the employ of Richard & Conover Hardware Company, as a roustabout at $1.50 per day. Here he re- mained for three years. Inside of eighteen months he had worked him- self up to the third highest position in the house. In 1888 he decided to open up business for himself. and has since carried it on with his brother George. Both gentlemen have a thorough practical knowledge of all departments of their business, while their promptness and reliability must mark them as most desirable with whom to establish business re- lations in this line. J. H. La Rue is a member of the I. O. O. F.
J. H. Lasley is the present capable surveyor of Wyandotte County, Kas., and although he has been a resident of this section of the coun- try about eight years, he came from the Buckeye State, where he was born in 1840. After attending the common schools and acquir-
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ing a good practical education, he took a course in engineering and surveying in Gallipolis, Ohio Academy, graduating from this institu- tion with a thorough knowledge of the work before him. He entered the Federal army in 1860 with a number of schoolmates, becoming a member of Company H, Fifty-third Ohio Infantry, and entered reg- ular service on October 26, 1861, and in the battle of Shiloh, in which he took an active part, he was severely wounded. He was honorably discharged, but was unable to walk for three years. On January 8, 1862, he was made second lieutenant, and served as such until he was wounded and furloughed home. He laid on the battle-field for two days, a part of the time exposed to the fire of the two armies. After remaining in the hospital at Covington (Ky.) for some time, he was discharged by order of Secretary Stanton. After the war he remained in his native State, where he served one term as county surveyor of his native county, then engaged in the dry-goods business until the fall of 1866, when he came to Missouri and located in Cass County, where he farmed for some twelve years, after which he moved to Kansas City, Mo. At the end of three years he came to Rosedale, Kas., and here was chosen to the position of county surveyor in the fall of 1883, a position he has filled for six consecutive years, and was also engineer of the city for one year after the consolidation of the three towns. He has proved a very efficient officer, and is the thorough master of his business. He was married in Missouri to Miss Rachel A. Custer, by whom he has a family of six children: One boy, C. O. Lasley and five daughters: Hallie, Katie, Myrtle, Pearl and Rachel. The son is now eighteen years of age. Mr. Lasley is a Republican in his political views, and socially is a member of the A. O. U. W., the K. of P., the G. A. R. and the Union Veterans' Union. He is quite well fixed, financially, and is the owner of property in Rosedale, Bonner and Kansas City, Kas. His father was an Ohioan, but was of German descent, and was a Whig in politics. His father was a native German and an Aboli- tionist in his views. The mother of the subject of this sketch was of Irish descent on one side and Scotch on the other, being born in Penn- sylvania.
P. K. Leland. Wyandotte County, Kas., has been long, well and justly noted for the sterling honesty and superior capability of her pub- lic officials, and this enviable reputation has been fully sustained by Mr. Leland, who is the efficient police judge of Kansas City. He first saw the light of day at Grafton, Mass., June 1, 1828. He received a liberal education, being an attendant of Leicester and Westfield
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Academies, Amherst College and Brown University. He was of a rather adventurous disposition, and visited various foreign countries and rounded Cape Horn, being at sea nine months. He was taken with the gold fever, became one of the famous forty-niners, and two years were spent in the gold mines of California, where he passed through a varied experience and met with many thrilling adventures. At the end of this time he returned as far east as the State of Illi- nois and there resumed his law studies and was admitted to the bar in 1853, and for a number of years practiced his profession at Ottawa, Ill. He soon built up an enviable reputation as a legal practitioner, and his ability was soon seen and recognized by the people by whom he was elected to the position of judge of the county court of La Salle County, Ill., the duties of which he discharged in a very effi- cient manner for eight years. He also held the office of deputy clerk of the Supreme Court of Illinois for three years, but in 1885 removed from Illinois to Kansas City, Kas., and here was admitted to the bar the following year. Here he was appointed to the position of police judge of that city in April, 1887, being reappointed in April, 1889, and so far he has proved the beau ideal of a public servant, being efficient, punctual, industrious, honest and uniformly courteous to all with whom he came in contact. His marriage, which took place on March 26, 1856, to Miss Lizzie M. White, has resulted in the birth of three children: Dr. K. W. Leland (of Utica, Ill.), Cora (wife of C. E. Abraham), and Lillian (wife of Evan Browne, of Kansas City, Kas.). Mr. Leland inherits English blood of his parents, Cyrus and Betsey (Kimball) Leland, both of whom were born'in Grafton, Mass., the former being a descendant of one of the Pilgrim Fathers. He is lib- eral in views, generous and the soul'of honor. Although not aggressive, he possesses a mind of his own with the courage to express his views when necessary. He is a gentlemen by instinct and education, and the many warm friends whom he possesses in Kansas City, testify to his popularity.
Alonzo Woodford Little was born in Muhlenberg County, of the Blue Grass State, April 3, 1847, but his parents, Douglas and Martha A. (Wright) Little, were born in North Carolina and Virginia, respectively, the parents of both having been among the early emigrants to Ken- tucky. Alonzo was reared to manhood in the vicinity of his birthplace, and throughout his youth he was employed more or less as a clerk in a store, but at the age of twenty-one years he took up the study of law, and under the preceptorship of his brother, Judge Lucius P. Lit-
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tle, of Owensboro, Ky., he made himself thoroughly familiar with legal lore, and in 1871 was admitted to the bar. The following year he practiced with his brother, and in the latter part of 1872 located in West Point, Miss., for the practice of his profession, and after remain- ing there for two years was appointed clerk of the Supreme Court of Mississippi, and served in that capacity one term of four years. He next located in Jackson, Miss., and resumed the practice of law as a partner of J. W. Jenkins, now of Kansas City, Kas. In 1880 he re- moved to Medicine Lodge, Kas., and after being in the real estate and cattle business for two years, the three following years were spent in mercantile pursuits and the banking business, in partnership in the latter institution with J. W. McNeal and H. C. Thompson, being associated in the mercantile business with this gentleman also. The bank with which he was connected was organized as a private bank in April, 1883, under the name of McNeal, Little & Thompson, but in 1886 it was converted into a national bank, and has since been known as the Citizen's National Bank. Mr. Little sold his interest in the same in 1887. Meanwhile, in 1884, he had removed to Kansas City, Kas., and engaged in the real estate and loan business, but after sell- ing his interest in the above mentioned bank, he, in July, 1887, helped to organize the Armourdale Bank, and of it he has since been presi- dent. In the fall of 1888, in connection with Nicholas McAlpine, he organized the Argentine Bank, of Argentine, and in January, 1889, was one to organize the Exchange Bank, of Kansas City, Kas., and has since acted as its cashier. He disposed of his interest in the Argen- tine Bank in March, 1889. Another bank that he helped organize in May, 1889, was the McNeal & Little Banking Company, of Guthrie, Oklahoma, which is converted into a National bank, under the name of the Guthrie National Bank, of which Mr. Little is vice-president. In September, 1889, the First National Bank, of Medicine Lodge, Kas., was reorganized, at which time Mr. Little became a stock- holder and director, and is so still. In 1870, just before he entered upon the study of law, he acted as census taker in McLean County, Ky. He is a Republican in his political views, and is one of the city's most enterprising business men, and is very popular. What he has, in the way of worldly goods, has been earned by earnest endeavor, and besides his extensive banking interests, he has one of the handsomest homes in Kansas City, which is situated at No. 630 Washington Ave- nne. His marriage, which occurred September 15, 1875, at Jeffers- town, Ky., was to Miss Ida M. McDaniel, a daughter of Rev. James
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S. McDaniel, of that place. To them a family of four sons have been born: Alonzo W., Lucius J. (who died in infancy), Gerard B. and Sehon E. Mr. Little and his family worship in the Methodist Epis- copal Church.
Thomas E. C. Lloyd is the efficient manager of the Wyandotte Plumbing Company, of Kansas City, Kas., a concern whose growth is an excellent proof of the rapid progress made by the city in the last few years. He was born in Sheffield, England, and in addition to re- ceiving a common-school, education he learned the trade of a plumber. When only twelve years of age he became a sailor boy, and for three years was on the ocean. In 1882 he came to the United States, and after spending some time in Utica, N. Y., and Iowa, he came to Kan- sas City, Kas., which place he reached in the month of July, 1884, and here began following his trade, that of a plumber, and soon became recognized here for the thorough knowledge of his calling. In a short time he had all the work he could attend to, and in time was given his present position, in the discharge of which he manages fourteen ex- perts regularly in plumbing, gas and steam fitting. He has laid a large portion of the sewerage put down by the city, and at times has employed seventy-five men. His establishment consists of a basement, 25x90 feet, where he carries a large stock of lead pipe, wasb-basins, marble, zinc and iron sinks, street top boxes for gas and water, hose, cistern pumps, bath tubs, gas fixtures and burners, etc., in fact his line of goods is exceptionally large and well chosen. In addition to this he has an office and store at No. 549 Minnesota Avenue, and is agent for the Detroit Hot Water Heater, and for the combination gas machine. He is the leader of his business in the city, is a popular man, a good citizen, and is the promoter of his own success. He was married in the month of February, 1888, to Miss Ida L. Buesche, a native of Kansas City, Kas., and to them one child has been born- Edward W. He is independent in his political views, and socially is a member of the K. of P. His parents were Joseph John Chell and Emma (Walker) Lloyd, the former born in Wales and the latter in England, their deaths occurring in the latter country at the age of fifty and in 1888 at the age of sixty, respectively.
J. W. Longfellow, police commissioner and receiving clerk for the Ridenor, Baker Grocery Company, of Kansas City, Mo., is a native of Maine, born in Aroostook County, in 1841. He came West with his parents in 1857, settled in Lawrence, Kas., and there received a high- school education. During the late war he was filled with a patriotic
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desire to aid his country, and in 1861 enlisted in the Second Kansas Infantry, serving with the same until mustered out. After this lie re- turned to the home place, tilling the soil for about a year, and then joined the Tenth Kansas Infantry, with which he remained until the cessation of hostilities. He operated with the first company through Southwest Missouri, under Gen. Lyon, and was in the battle of Wilson Creek. He operated with the army of the South, after enlist- ing in the Tenth Kansas Infantry, was under Canby, and in A. J. Smith's army corps. He received a slight wound at Wilson Creek, and there Gen. Lyon was killed. Mr. Longfellow was mustered out at Fort Leavenworth, Kas., and after the surrender he went on a farm, where he remained for several years. Subsequently he went to Law- rence, embarked in the transfer business, and did fairly well for a few years. He then sold ont, went back on a farm for a couple of years, and then returned to Lawrence, where he ran a transfer for seven years. He then came here with the present company, and has now been with them nearly twelve years. He is doing well for them as chief receiving clerk, and has sole control of receiving and putting in stock all the goods, having filled this position for several years. He was appointed police commissioner without any solicitation and with- out his knowledge. He owns some good property in Kansas City, Kas., and is a man respected and esteemed by every one. He is a member of the G. A. R., and is past commander at the present time. He is a member of the Union Veteran's Union, and is a member of Fireside Council No. 421, National Union. In politics he is a stanch Republican. Mr. Longfellow was married at Lawrence, Kas., to Miss Sarah A. Davis, a native of Pittsfield, Ill., born in 1843, and their union has been blessed by the following children: Charles I., Jacob H., Fred and Harry. They lost one child in infancy. Mr. Longfellow was the son of Charles and Mary (Day) Long, both natives of Maine. The father was a pioneer of Kansas, and served through the war in Capt. Bickerton's Artillery Company. He is now living, resides at Lawrence, and is seventy-seven years of age. He is a farm- er. He is a cousin of the poet Longfellow, and his great, great- grandparents were also the great-grandparents of Longfellow. One was a native of England and the other of Scotland.
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