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 72
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George W. Martin has been the editor and proprietor of the Kan- sas City Gazette, since the month of July, 1888, and is well known throughout the State, and an able and successful journalist. The first number of the paper appeared in 1859, and has been issued once a week up to the present time. A daily was started in 1888, and in this short space of time has reached a local circulation of over 2,000, and as it is a member of the Press News Association, it obtains the news of the country as quickly as any other daily. It is a well-printed four- page sheet, and the weekly, which has a circulation of over 1,200, is an eight-page paper. In October, 1889, the plant was moved to a sub- stantial brick structure, 25x80 feet, on Sixth Street, in the business portion of the town, and in connection with the newspaper work, all
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kinds of book and job printing are done. Mr. Martin is a Pennsylva- nian by birth, and in the month of March, 1857, came to Kansas, and settled in Douglas County, taking up his abode at a later period at Junction City, where he began publishing the Union. He was State printer for eight years, until 1881, and was the founder of what is now known as Printer's Row, in Topeka, on Eighth Street and the Avenue. During 1865-66 he was register of the land office, and was the first removal by Andrew Johnson, and the first to be reinstated by Gen. Grant, in 1869. During the year 1867 he was internal revenue assess- or. He is past grand master of the State of the I. O. O. F., and is a delegate to the Grand Lodge of the United States. Personally Mr. Martin is of a genial and social disposition, and possesses the instincts and training of a true gentleman. While he is not aggressive in opin- ion nor disputatious, yet he has most emphatically a "mind of his own," with the moral courage to express his views when occasion so demands, and fearlessly does so through the columns of his paper, which is one of the breezy and well-conducted journals of the State.
Louis F. Martin, beef inspector, Kansas City, Kas. Mr. Martin was originally from Alton, Ill., his birth occurring on April 14, 1850, and is a son of James K. and Hannah C. Martin, the father a native of Wheeling Creek, Ohio, and the mother of Germany. James K. was born in 1816, attained his growth in his native State, and was one of the first engineers on the flatboats on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. During the Mexican War he enlisted in the Third United States Dra- goons, and served until the close. He is at present residing in Chicago, Ill. In politics he is a Republican. Louis F. Martin was reared to manhood partially in Altou, and when seven years of age, moved with his parents to Keokuk, Iowa, where they resided until 1864. He was educated in the public schools of Keokuk and Chicago, learned the trade of machinist at the Buckeye Foundry in Keokuk, and was in the packing department for some time. After this he worked for Jef. Godman in Keokuk, and has worked for all the principal houses in Chicago. He came West in 1885, and took charge of the killing, cut- ting and casing department at Dods & Sons until 1889, when he was appointed inspector for the city. This position he fills at the present time. He was elected councilman at large in 1887, served two years, and was chairman of the Committee on Bridges and Viaducts, Jails and Police. He championed the cause of the constructing of the Seventh Street viaduct, and it is largely due to perseverance that the structure was completed. He visited Boston, made satisfactory arrangements,
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and spent one year in getting the proposed arrangements to a finish. He introduced the asphalt and vitrified brick pavements to this city, and championed the cause of the people against the waterworks com- pany. In the spring of 1889 he was candidate for mayor. Prior to his coming to this city he was superintendent for the J. E. Boyd Pack- ing House of Omaha. Mr. Martin was married to Miss Addie M. Hub- bard, native of Quincy, Ill., and a direct descendant of William Penn, and goes back to the Puritans on the Hubbard side. To Mr. and Mrs. Martin have been born these children: Charles F., Louis Franklin, Mabel Florence, Adelaide Esther, Alice Maud, Lorraine F. and an infant. Mr. Martin affiliates with the Republican party in politics, and was elected to his present position on that ticket. He is a mem- ber of Killwidding Lodge No. 311, A. F. & A. M., Chapter No. 127, Chicago, and is past patron of Chicago Chapter O. E. S. of this order. He was grand marshal of Illinois for three years, of Excelsior Lodge No. 3, K. of P., and assisted in the organization of Fort Dearborn Division No. 1, Uniform Rank of K. P. He is a charter member of Chicago Division No. 7, and a member of Fireside Council of National Union. Mr. Martin assists in enterprises of a public nature and all that are worthy of his consideration.
W. W. Martin, proprietor of the Hans Dairy Farm, and one of the prominent business men of the county, was originally from Brown County, Ohio, his birth occurring on February 13, 1833, and is the son of Zachariah and Rebecca (Southerland) Martin, natives, respect- ively, of Virginia and Ohio, and of Scotch and Irish descent. They are both deceased, the father dying in Brown County, Ohio, in 1855, at the age of fifty-six years, and the mother when forty-seven years of age. He was an anti-slavery man, was a Whig in politics before the war, and afterward was a Republican. He was the son of Alexander Martin, who was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and who died in Ohio soon after moving to that State, being then fifty years of age. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Martin-four sons and two daughters-three now living. W. W. Martin, the fifth of the above- mentioned children, received his education in Brown County, Ohio, and after the death of his father, went to Putnam County, Ill., making his home in that and La Salle County. In 1864 he married Miss Emily Robinson, a native of Southern Illinois, born in 1843, and the daugh- ter of Edward W. Robinson. Four interesting children were born to this union: May (wife of Angus Cameron, a stone-cutter of Kansas City, Kas.), Edward W. (deputy postmaster of Kansas City, Kas.),
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Nettie (at home), and Daisy. While living in La Salle County, Ill., Mr. Martin followed farming, and this carried on until 1875, when he came to Kansas, and located in Johnson County. In 1879 he located in Wyandotte County, and engaged in the dairy business in 1883, with four head of cattle. Since then he has developed the extensive trade which he now carries on. He has forty head of cows at the present time, and gets 100 gallons of milk per day. His farm of seventy-five acres s in the corporation, near the Rock Island roundhouse, and on the Murphy Boulevard.
John R. Matney is a farmer and stock-raiser of Shawnee Town- ship, Wyandotte County, Kas., and is one of the oldest and best known settlers of this region, having purchased his present admirably kept farm of 300 acres of Peggy Piebock, a Shawnee Indian. His birth occurred in Tazewell County, W. Va., January 23, 1834, he being the third of five children born to Charles and Abigail (Brown) Matney, both of whom were born in that State, the former on November 24, 1803. He spent his youth and early manhood in the county of his birth, following the occupation of farming, and here he remained until 1844, the two subsequent years being spent in the occupation of farming in Platte County, Mo. In the fall of 1846 he moved to Jack- son County, settling at Westport, where he purchased a good farm of 100 acres, which he continued to till until the spring of 1866. In the fall of 1865 he lost his wife with small-pox, but he still survives her, and is in the enjoyment of excellent health. In his early days he was renowned for his skill as a hunter, and many are the interesting inci- dents which he relates which occurred on his hunting expeditions. John R. Matney was reared to manhood in Westport, Mo., but in 1866 followed his father's footsteps, and came to Kansas, and as above stated purchased his present farm. Since then he has greatly improved his property, and besides clearing his land of stumps and building fences, he has a commodious nine-roomed house, built upon the southern plan, and excellent barns and sheds for the protection of his stock. He has a large herd of Durham cattle, which he raises ex- clusively, besides a sufficient number of horses and mules for the suc- cessful conduct of his farm. His orchard comprises 1,000 apple trees, and he has other fruit in like proportion, among which may be men- tioned a large vineyard, the most of which is devoted to Concord grapes. Mr. Matney is a Democrat in his political views, and on this ticket was elected township treasurer, and was also clerk of the same for a number of years. He was one of the first directors when the
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school district was organized, is still such, and was one of the incor- porate officers of the township. He was a delegate to the Democratic State Convention for two years, and he is a member of Shawnee Lodge No. 54, of the A. F. & A. M., of which he has been treasurer. He is in favor of the Farmers' Alliance movement, and in fact, takes a deep interest in all worthy enterprises. He experienced many hardships during the late war, being robbed and threatened by bush- whackers and deserters, but was fortunate enough to escape with only the loss of money. On March 15, 1855, he was married to Miss Mis- souri Matney, a daughter of William and Sallie (Yokum) Matney, who were born in West Virginia. Mrs. Matney was born in Westport, Mo., in 1842, and her union with Mr. Matney has resulted in the birth of nine children: Sarah (wife of Dave Havard), William (is a resident of Colorado and is married to Tillie Burton), David, Ella (wife of Charles Dotson), Henry, Albert, Alex, Minnie and Edith. Mr. Matney is one of the county's best and most substantial citizens, and his life has been filled with deeds of kindness, it being truly said of him that he never violated a friendship nor forgot a kind action done him. Such men as he make model American citizens, and fully deserve the honor which they invariably receive. On his farm is a walnut tree growing, which sprouted from an old walnut planted by James Quape, a Shawnee Indian, thirty years ago, the diameter of the stump being four feet.
Michael Mesh gardener, Turner, Kas. The occupation which Mr. Mesh now follows has received his attention for a number of years, and it is but the truth to say that in it he is thoroughly posted and well in- formed. He is one of the early settlers of Wyandotte County, coming here in September, 1866, from Ohio, and has been engaged in gardening ever since. His father bought over twenty two acres just north of Wyan- dotte, and there our subject now resides. His father was a native of Baden Baden, Germany, born in 1812, and grew to manhood in his native country, where he learned the butcher's trade. He came to the United States in 1835, spent some time in seeing the country, and finally set- tled in Cincinnati, Ohio, before that city had hardly started. He owned a great deal of property but it was destroyed by fire and water, and he afterward, in 1866, came to Kansas, where he resided until his death in 1876. His widow survived him but two years. They had six children: Sophia (wife of Conrad Zwissler), John, George, Louisa (wife of Lew Holly), and Kate (widow of John Farrell). Michael and John bought the interests of the other heirs, and in 1886 they bought
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twenty acres near Turner, which they began improving, and now have it in first-class condition, and have it dedicated to gardening and fruit raising. These two places they run in partnership, and have the home place in fifty bearing apple trees, all varieties, ten plum trees, thirty peach trees, seventy-five cherry trees, two acres in raspberries, half an acre in blackberries, one acre of strawberries, and one acre in Concord grapes. They have three-fourths of an acre in asparagus, one acre in rhubarb and the balance in all kinds of gardening. At the home of our subject he has 100 apple trees, eight different varieties, a few plum, cherry, and pear trees, one and a half acres in raspberries, one- half acre in blackberries, one acre in strawberries, one acre in grapes, one-fourth of an acre in asparagus, and one-half acre in rhubarb. They make a specialty of early and late vegetables, and are well sup- plied with all kinds of machinery, etc., necessary to carry on the busi- ness successfully. They have 8,000 feet of glass, thus enabling them to raise all kinds of vegetables in the winter and spring, and late in the fall. Michael Mesh was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on December 31, 1855, and there attained his growth. He was married in Wyandotte County, Kas., in 1885, to Miss Rebecca Anna Morrow, the daughter of Thomas and Emily Morrow, natives of Missouri and Ohio, respect- ively. She was born in Clay County, Mo., on February 14, 1868, and two children are the result of their union: Emma Louisa and John. Mr. Mesh is a Democrat in politics, and was reared in the Catholic faith. He supports any enterprise that has for its object the welfare of the county.
James N. Myers, one of the original white settlers of Quindaro Township, located here in 1863, and since his residence here he has been very prominently identified with the material affairs of this com- munity, indeed far more so than the average of men. He was born in Montgomery County, Ind., on October 14, 1846, and is the third of five children born to James and Mary A. (Matthews) Myers, natives of Kentucky, where the father was reared to manhood. The latter was given a common-school education, and carried on agricultural pursuits the principal part of his life. He moved west in 1839, settled in Mont- gomery County, and here continued his chosen occupation until 1859, when he came to this State, locating at Fort Scott, where he remained until 1863. He was a member of the State Militia, and was killed during Gen. Price's raid. James N. Myers was reared to manhood partly in In- diana and partly in Kansas, and when seventeen years of age, he enlisted in the Sixteenth Kansas Cavalry, under Capt. Stubblefield, in the West-
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ern Division. His company followed Gen. Price in his retreat from Lexington, Mo., to Arkansas River, and captured Gen. Marmaduke at Mine Creek, on the Missouri and Kansas line. They followed Gen. Price to Arkansas River, and then went to Fort Leavenworth, where they were mustered out in December, 1865. During the Indian troubles in the spring of 1865, this company was sent to Colorado, Wyoming Territory and Nebraska, to quell the disturbance, and re- mained nine months. Returning to Fort Leavenworth, Mr. Myers came to this county and settled in this township, where he purchased 200 acres of land in 1878. The year previous to this he was appointed keeper of the poor farm, and remained in that position one term. He then returned to his farm, and has met with excellent success, being one of the solid farmers and representative citizens of this county. In October, 1869, he was married to Miss Anna Malott, daughter of Hiram and Susan E. Malott, and a native of Platte County, Mo., born in June, 1853. They have four children: Martha Elizabeth, Charles I., Lenora and James A. Mr. Myers affiliates with the Democratic party in his political views. He has held the position of school director for several years, and is a man who contributes liberally to all char- itable or worthy enterprises. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Delaware Lodge No. 96.
John F. Meyers, contractor and builder, Kansas City. Kas. Among the many industries of a town and county worthy of record, and standing among the foremost in importance is that of contractor and builder. Prominent among those engaged in this is Mr. Meyers, who was born in Franklin County, Mo., in 1843, and who was reared and received a good common-school education in that county. He also learned the trade of contractor and builder there, and remained there until 1866, when he came to Kansas. He first located in Wyan- dotte, taught an English and a German school for five months, and then began contracting, which he has carried on ever since. He found plenty of work and did the work on several houses himself during the panic. He is a skilled workman, and is prospering in this business. He is the owner of a lot, 180x115 feet, at the corner of Third and Virginia Avenue, has three houses on the same, and is the owner of three or four other places in the city, some business property on Minnesota Avenue and his shop on Fifth Street. He is one of the leading con- tractors of the city, and is highly respected and esteemed as a thor- oughly reliable man of business. In 1867 he was united in marriage to Miss Carrie M. Harris, of St. Louis County, Mo., and they have
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one child, Jessie I. Mr. Meyers is the son of F. W. and Anna Meyers, both natives of Germany. The parents came to the United States in 1837 and settled in Franklin County, Mo. Our subject is a Republican in his political principles, and' socially is a member of the I. O. O. F. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is not only a competent, successful and reliable business man, but is a man highly esteemed for his social qualities.
George C. Mick first came to Wyandotte County, Kas., in 1870, and during the four years that he then made his home here, he spent one year in driving a freight wagon from the frontier towns to the In- dian Nation. At the end of the four years he went to Ohio, where he remained eight years engaged in farming, and from this State he re- moved to Iowa, and one year later returned to Wyandotte County, Kas., and here followed the occupation of farming for some years, but of late years has given his attention to the raising of small fruit and potatoes. He owns twelve and one-half acres in Section 23, which is devoted to fruit as follows: Four acres in raspberries, one and one-half acres in strawberries, 700 apple trees, 130 plum trees and thirty-five acres are given to potatoes, the yield annually being from 100 to 250 bushels to the acre. He raises about 10,000 heads of cabbage, also other vege- tables in large quantities. He seems to be especially well adapted to this calling, for he has met with a more than average degree of suc- cess, and his efforts to makea success of his life is well worthy the em- ulation of all. He was born in Pike County, Ohio, August 28, 1849, being the eldest of seven children born to Peter and Caroline (Bar- tholomew) Mick, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio, respectively. The father died in 1862 and the mother in 1874, both being deeply re- gretted by their children. George C. Mick was reared to mature years in Missouri and Illinois, and after his father's death he moved with his mother to Kentucky, and from there back to Ohio soon after- ward. In the fall of 1865 George C. returned to Missouri, then came to Kansas as above stated. He was married in 1876 to Miss Clara Morris, of Ohio, and to them five children have been born: Almns, George, Etta, Fredie and Nellie. Mr. Mick has always supported Republican principles, and he and his wife are worthy members of the Christian Church. He also belongs to the Farmers' Alliance, and is a supporter of all worthy public enterprises.
Adolph Miller is a carpenter and joiner, but at the present time is engaged principally in horticulture, an enterprise that pays well in this section of the country. He is a native of Poland, his birth occur-
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ring near the ancient city of Posen, on August 16, 1856, he being the third of three children, the two other members of the family dying in infancy. Their father was of German birth, and died at the age of forty-seven years, having been a carpenter and joiner throughout life. The mother was a native of Poland and died at the age of fifty- nine years. Adolph Miller emigrated from his native land in the fall of 1863 direct to New York City; went from there to Chicago, from there direct to Lawrence and Wyandotte, Kas., where he was employed on the building of the Kansas Pacific Railroad, then the Union Pacific, now located in Wyandotte, Kas. The county at that date was in a very primitive condition, forty or fifty houses con- stituting the present flourishing Kansas City, Kas., and his father felled the first tree ever cut on his present farm. He settled on his farm of thirty acres in 1868, it being at that time overgrown with brush and timber, and he and his mother, who was a widow, cleared the farm themselves and converted the same into a flourishing garden spot. Here Mr. Miller began for himself the hard battle of life.
The uncleared forest, the unbroken soil, The iron bark that turns the lumberer's axe, The rapid that e'er bears the boatman's toil, The prairie, hiding the mazed wanderer's tracks, The ambushed Indian, the prowling bear; Such were the needs that helped his youth to train- Rough culture-but such trees large fruit may bear, If but their stocks be of right girth and grain.
Mr. Miller expects to devote his farm to horticultural purposes, and it must be said that he could do no better, for on account of his close proximity to the "Chicago of the West," it is sure to prove very profitable. The first cost of his land was about $15 per acre, but he now values it at $200 per acre. He has a commodious and comfort- able frame residence, good barns, etc. At the present time he is rais- ing the following varieties of fruits: Apples, peaches, pears, cherries, apricots, the best varieties of grapes, strawberries, raspberries, black- berries, gooseberries and currants. His early education was obtained in the common schools of this county with the Indians, in fact, his teacher was part Indian, and he remembers many interesting circum- stances that happened during this time. He afterward attended what was known as the "Stone School " or "old No. 2," where he received sufficient education to fit him for the practical duties of life. He was married to Miss Luella Holly, who was born near Albany, Wis., her
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education being received in Kansas, and many of her old schoolmates and classmates were members of the Wyandotte tribe of Indians. Her marriage to Mr. Miller took place on May 16, 1880, and to their union two sons have been born: Ernest (aged nine years), and Alphonso (aged seven). Mr. Miller has always been a Democrat, and his first presidential vote was cast for Gen. Hancock.
Alexander E. Miller, farmer and fruit grower, Pomeroy, Kas. This esteemed and very industrious citizen is a native of the Keystone State, his birth occurring in York County, on October 12, 1816, and is a son of David and Elizabeth (Ewing) Miller, the father a native of Ger- many, and the mother of Pennsylvania. Both were of Scotch descent. Their children, ten in number, of whom our subject was the third, are named as follows: Jane (married Joseph Feltenburger, of York County, Penn.), John, Eve (became the wife of Thomas Nessworthy), David, Samuel, Elizabeth A., William, Mary Ann (wife of Henry Chap- man), and Phœbe C. (wife of George Chapman). Mr. Miller was mar- ried in 1841, to Miss Elizabeth Richard, daughter of Benjamin and Catherine (Huston) Richard, and his union was blessed by the birth of nine children, six of whom are still living: William R. (resides in Cambridge, Ohio), Margaret J. (wife of Reuben W. Fishburn, of Kansas City, Kas.), Franklin P. (a resident of this county), James H. (a resident of the county), Andrew C. (also a resident of Kansas City, Kas.), and Florence (wife of Burt Beedle, and a resident of Rosedale, Kas). Mr. Miller came to Wyandotte County in 1869, and located on his present property, consisting of ninety-seven acres six miles north- west of Kansas City, where he has resided ever since. He has one of the best improved farms in the county, and has excellent buildings, good barns, etc. Everything indicates to the beholder that the owner is progressive and thoroughgoing. He raises various kinds of fruits, and on his farm are splendid springs of clear, cold water Mr. Miller was reared a stone-mason, and followed that trade most all the time until coming to Kansas. He believes in liberal education, and is an active supporter of various enterprises. He has at all times sup- ported the Republican party, and is a strict partisan. He and Mrs. Miller are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
G. A. Miller, ex-superintendent of the Blind Asylum of Wyandotte County, Kas., has been a resident of this State since 1865, but was born in Wayne County, N. Y., in 1835, and from the time he was three years of age he was reared in the State of Michigan. Besides attending the common schools, he received a good academic education,
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