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 76
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J. K. Paul, merchant and police, Armourdale, Kas. Mr. Paul is a native of Bristol County, Mass., born on January 22, 1848, and is of English-Scotch origin. He was reared in his native State, probably on the farm, and received an ordinary education in the common schools. He followed the sea for some time, and at the age of six- teen, or on January 4, 1864, he enlisted in Company B, Fifty-eighth Massachusetts Regiment, and served until the close of the war. He was in all the engagements of the Army of the Potomac, and was wounded through the body in front of Petersburg, on July 30, 1864, when blowing up the Rebel fort. He was in the hospital after this for about four months. Returning home after the war, he remained there until 1868, when he came West and located at California, Mo., going, in 1871, to Jefferson City. There he remained for about nine years, occupied in the foundry and tin business, and in 1880 came to Kansas City, Mo., where he worked at the same calling. He es- tablished a foundry on Broadway, ran it for a short time, and then sold out. In 1882 he removed to Armourdale, where he was in the foundry, and also in the tin business for some time. Subsequently he was city treasurer of Armourdale one term, and councilman one term. He was appointed chief of the fire department of the consoli- dated cities of Kansas City, Kas., Armourdale and Wyandotte, in 1886, holding the position for two terms, or three years. In 1865 he was married to Miss Maria E. Tripp, and became the father of one child, Sarah, who became the wife of John A. Kerr. Mr. Paul's second marriage occurred in 1877, to Miss Nora E. Hillis, and his third in
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1880, to Miss Samantha Hillis, who bore him two children: Victor Arthur and Watson. Mr. Paul is a member of the I. O. O. F., the K. of P., the A. O. U. W. and the G. A. R. He has represented both the K. of P. and the A. O. U. W. in the Grand Lodge, and takes a great interest in these societies. His parents, Jobe and Cordelia (Wascott) Paul, were natives of Massachusetts, and their ancestors came over from England and Scotland at an early day. The paternal grandfather served in the Revolution, lost a leg, and wore a wooden leg after that. He was a farmer. The father of our subject was a stone-mason, also a farmer, and died in Massachusetts, as did also the mother. They had a large family.
Thomas J. Payne, retired, Argentine, Kas. Mr. Payne, a sub- stantial and much esteemed citizen of Wyandotte County, owes his nativity to Van Buren County, Iowa, where his birth occurred on February 16, 1842. He is the son of Stephen J. and Mary E. (Seward) Payne, the father a native of Kentucky and the mother of Schuyler County, Ill. The paternal grandfather, Stephen J., was a captain in the War of 1812. He was among the early set- tlers of Indiana, and there received his final summons. The father of our subject was born in 1817, grew to manhood in Indiana, and moved from there to Illinois, thence to Iowa, thence to Missouri, and in 1856 to Wyandotte County, Kas. He located near Rosedale, where he received permission of an Indian chief, Capt. Joe Parks, to move on his land and to help him farm. He remained with the chief for about two years, and then moved to within about a mile west of Armourdale, where he entered forty-eight acres of Government land. He subse- quently sold out and purchased a larger farm where he resided until assassinated by bushwhackers on July 31, 1863, in the night time. He was a very prominent man, and well liked by all who knew him. He was an intimate friend of James Lane. His widow died on Jan- uary 4, 1889. They were the parents of twelve children, seven sons now living: John S. (who was in Company B, Second Kansas Cavalry, held the rank of deputy sergeant, and was accidentally wounded), Dorastus P. (in Company B, Second Kansas Cavalry), Henry B. (in the Fifteenth Kansas Regiment), Lewis V., William J. and Alfred E. Thomas J. Payne became thoroughly acquainted with the duties of the farm at an early age, and received his education in a little log school-house with slab seats. On August 15, 1862, he enlisted in Company A, Twelfth Kansas Volunteer Infantry, and served over nineteen months. After this he was commissioned by the governor
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of Kansas as first lieutenant of the State Militia, and served in that capacity during Price's raid. Returning home after the war, he re- sumed farming, thoroughly satisfied and having quite enough of army experiences, although he never received a scratch. When Mr. Payne first came here this was known as Westport Landing, and there were but few inhabitants, except Indians, who were friendly. The Payne family was the first white family in Shawnee Township, and have wit nessed all the developments of the county and growth of Kansas City. Mr. Payne held one term of township constable and filled that position in a creditable and satisfactory manner. He is the owner of about ninety four acres of good farming land, and has also about 270 lots in what is known as Gibbs & Payne's Addition to Argentine. Mr. Payne has the finest residence in Shawnee Township, constructed at a cost of about $22,000, besides barn and outbuildings worth $3,000 more, all erected on a natural site with a magnificent view of the sur- rounding country and city. He was married, on May 26, 1868, to Miss Sarah Stover, a native of Illinois, but who was reared in Jack- son County, Mo., and the fruits of this union were eight children, four now living: Lydia B., Lizzie J., Maggie L., and Charles Lewis. Mr. and Mrs. Payne are members of the Baptist Church, and socially he is a member of the A. F. & A. M., the I. O. O. F. and the G. A. R.
John A. Pearson. A representative grocery house of Kansas City, Kas., is that of Mr. Pearson, who conducts a live and extensive busi. ness as a dealer of groceries and general provisions. The house was established January 20, 1890, and such was the rapid increase of his trade that March 26, 1890, he moved into more commodious quarters, his present place of business being No. 1946 North Third Street. He was born in Sweden, September 21, 1858, his father being Per Borge- son and his mother Johanna Borgeson, their marriage taking place in 1851. The subject of this sketch was the fourth of their ten children, and five sons and one daughter are now living. Both parents are liv- ing, their home being in Halland, Sweden. John A. Pearson was reared upon a farm, and attended school between the ages of seven and fifteen, acquiring during this time a fair education. When twenty- one years of age he entered the military service, but after one year's service he emigrated to America, embarking at Gothenburg March 29, and landed at New York April 20, the vessel in which he sailed being the City of New York. On reaching this country he made his way to Houtzdale, Penn., where, for a short time, he worked in a coal mine. He next went to Youngstown, Penn., and during the rest of the sum-
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mer he helped to build a railroad in that vicinity. During the winter of 1880-81 he worked in a coal mine at Dunbar, Penn., and remained thus employed in different parts of the State until 1884, in which year he returned to his native land. After farming on the old Swedish home- stead for two years, he, in 1886, again came to the United States, start- ing August 26 and landing September 16. He at once came to Kansas City, Mo., where he secured a position as clerk in a grocery store owned by the Larson Brothers, remaining with them for about three years, then purchased his present establishment, as above stated. He is an industrious and enterprising young man, and that which has materi- ally contributed to his success has been his constant efforts to accommo- date the demands of his numerous customers with the very best of goods procurable, and to dispose of them at reasonable rates. He has one brother in this country, who came here in 1889, and is now clerking in his grocery. His name is Julius Pearson. John A. was married, September 1, 1887, to Miss Olivia Pearson, she having come to this country in the spring of 1887. One child has been born to them, John Hermann, born February 13, 1890, and died June 24, 1890. Mr. and Mrs. Pearson are members of the Lutheran Church, and are now worthy and honored residents of the city in which they reside. Mr. Pearson's brothers and sisters are as follows: Severina, Bengt J., Severin, John A., Alfred, Otto, Julius, Alfred, Olivia and Tilda. Those deceased are: the two Alfreds, Olivia and Tilda. Four of the family still reside in Sweden, the three brothers being farmers, and . the husband of Severina, whose name is Bengt Swanson, is also a tiller of the soil. All are married, with the exception of Otto and Julius. The wife of John A. Pearson was born in Halland, Sweden, September 6, 1862, she being the third of seven children born to Per Benson. her mother being Charlotte Benson. They are still residing in Halland, Sweden. Their children are: Elof, Olivia, Alfred and Amanda, and three deceased. The living members of the family came to America, but Elof has since returned to Sweden. Alfred resides in Bradford, Penn., and Amanda in Kansas City, Kas. All are single, except Olivia. One of the three children that are dead was Elof, and the other two were named Amanda. When Mr. Pearson returned to Sweden, in 1884, he left New York May 20, on the steamer "Britanic," and reached Gothenburg June 10, after a very pleasant voyage. He took his parents by surprise, not having notified them of his coming, and for two years farmed on the old homestead, near the Cattegat Channel. Upon his return to America, in 1886, he started
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from his home Angust 26, going on the vessel "Romeo " to Hull, England, thence by rail to Liverpool, and August 31, sailed on the steamer " Celtic," for New York, which place he reached September 12. On that trip he accompanied John B. Lason and wife to Kansas City, Mo., they having been on a visit to Sweden.
Joseph Peavey is a native of Canada, having been born there in 1831. His grandfather and two brothers came from England to America, one settled in Massachusetts, one in Main, and Mr. Peavey's grandfather in New Hampshire, and subsequently in Pattontown, Canada. His name was Joshua Peavey, and the rest of his life was spent as a subject of Great Britain, and Edward Peavey, his father, served in the British army of 1812. Soon after the birth of the sub- ject of this sketch his father came to the United States and settled in Bangor, Franklin County, N. Y., and there followed the calling of an agriculturist until his death. The maternal grandmother was a Cana- dian by birth, and died in her native land at the age of one hundred and four years. Two years before her death she could quite easily walk two miles, and was an expert at knitting. Joseph Peavey, the subject of this biography, resided in York State until he was about twelve years of age, then took matters into his own hands, ran away from home and went back to Canada, and there remained until he was twenty-one years of age. He then came once more to the United States, and first located at St. Johnsbury, in Vermont, where he was on a railroad as fireman and engineer until 1860, and after a short visit to Canada came back and located in Connecticut, enlisting in the spring of 1861 in Company A, Twelfth Massachusetts Infantry, under Col. Webster, a son of the famous Daniel Webster. In July, 1864, he was mustered out of service on Boston Common. Although he served in the quartermaster's department, he took part in the Second Bull Run, was at Antietam, Gettysburg, Wilderness, and in front of Petersburg. After being mustered out he returned to Washington with the intention of going South, but he could not get passes, and accordingly remained in the North until the fall of 1864, when he went on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad as a brakeman, continuing in this capacity one year, and the following three years acted as freight con- ductor from Baltimore to Martinsburg. He was married in August, and would have been thirty-six years of age the following September, his wife being Mrs. Caroline M. Fulton, who was born in Frederick City, Md., in 1829, and was there reared. About 1875 Mr. Peavey came to Kansas, and after farming one year he located in Kansas City,
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Kas., and once more took up the occupation of railroading, this time being on the Kansas Pacific Railroad as brakeman, then local dispatcher, then yard master, and again became local dispatcher, but his last work in connection with the railroad was done in 1879. In 1887 he was elected to the city council of Kansas City by his Repub- lican friends, and discharged the duties of this position with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of all concerned for three years. He is reputed for his honor and purity of his life, and personally is lib- eral, generous and high-minded, and a self-made man in every re- spect. From a poor struggling boy, without money or friends to as- sist him, he has become possessed of a comfortable home, money and position, and as honesty has ever been his "guiding star " through life it is not to be wondered at that he has succeeded.
Edward T. Pedigo is a member of the third white family that set- tled in Shawnee Township, Wyandotte County, Kas., the date of their settlement being 1857. He was born in Howard County, Mo., on April 30, 1821, but was reared on Blue-Grass soil, but in 1848, with his parents, Henry and Martha Pedigo, Virginians, he came to Cass County, Mo., and a few years later to Bates County, where they made their home for one year. One year was then spent at Pleasant Hill, three years in Westport, and then he came to Wyandotte County, Kas., and purchased his present farm, consisting of thirty acres. He gives ten acres to potatoes, raising from 100 to 150 bushels to the acre, and in addition to this raises melons, cabbage, cauliflower, tomatoes, cucumbers, etc., and he finds a ready market for these products. He first began growing vegetables for market in 1881, and' has been very successful, securing a comfortable competency for the rest of his days, and he considers Kansas, and especially Wyandotte County, the gar- den spot of the United States. He has easy access to water, the wells being bored to a depth of from twenty eight to thirty-four feet, and the water is pure, cold and slightly impregnated with iron. Before coming to this county he had experienced many hardships and priva- tions, and he now fully appreciates his comfortable home and the de- lights of domestic life. He paid $75 for his claim, and it is now worth, at least, $1,000 per acre. His land was heavily covered with timber, but by indefatigable energy he has it cleared and nicely improved. His estimable wife was formerly Miss Thirza Ann Farrell, a native of Kentucky, whom he married on September 23, 1841, she being a daughter of John and Sarah Farrell, of Virginia. They have no children of their own, but have reared a nephew, William Andrew
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Pedigo, a native of Kansas. Mr. Pedigo is a Republican, and he and his wife are members of the Christian Church, of Kansas City, Kas.
William F. Peters is a well-known groceryman and a popular young citizen of Kansas City, Kas., for he was born here December 9, 1862, to Conrad F. and Egbertine (Myers) Peters, the former of whom was born in Germany and the latter in Holland. Both came to America with their parents and about 1852 they were married in Delphos, Ohio, and for several years afterward they conducted a restaurant in that city. About the year 1857 they removed to Kansas, locating in Wyan- dotte County, and in this city they have lived ever since. For a great many years after locating here they conducted a large boarding-house, the principal one of the place, and during that time the father for three years acted as sexton of Oak Grove Cemetery. In 1871 they removed to that part of the town known as Old Kansas City, and April 1, 1872, moved into their present residence, which is on the corner of Fifth and James Streets. For the past twelve years Mr. Peters has devoted his attention to mining in San Juan County, Colo., and has been quite successful. After following this calling for several years on his own responsibility they finally organized a stock company which is known as the Eureka Mining Company, and of this Mr. Peters acts as manager. The mines are operated during the summer season only and his presence there is only required half of the year, the other six months being spent with his family in Kansas City. He is a member of the I. O. O. F. lodge, and as a man possesses the confidence and respect of all who know him. He and wife in time became the par- ents of eight children, their names being as follows: Andrew Edward Charles, John Hermann, William Frederick, and Wilhelmina Margaret, living, and Henry Christian, Martha, Minnie and Ida May, deceased. The subject of this sketch has thus far spent his entire life in Kansas City, and until he reached the age of sixteen years he was an atten- dant of the schools of the city, obtaining a good knowledge of the ordi- nary branches of learning. . When he attained his eighteenth year he secured a position in a flouring-mill, but after spending two years at this calling he began learning the cigar- maker's trade, two years being thus spent. June 27, 1882, he entered the employ of F. M. Buck & Co., who were conducting a grocery in the same room now occupied by Mr. Peters and his partner, and he remained as a clerk with that firm for three and one-half years, or until Mr. Buck's partner, Walter Greenwood, died. He then continued with Mr. Buck two years longer, at the expiration of which time he and James F. Nettleton became the
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successors of Mr. Buck, and the firm of Peters & Nettleton was estab- lished. Their store is at No. 12 North James Street, and of this they became the owners in November, 1887. They are both worthy busi- ness men, and possess the necessary qualifications for a successful career. Mr. Peters is a member of the K. of P., and is a young man who possesses many friends.
Samuel S. Peterson, chief of police of Kansas City, Kas., is a na- tive of Ottawa, La Salle County, Ill., where he was born June 6, 1842, a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Dominy) Peterson, the former of whom was born near Lexington, Ky., and the latter on Lake Cham- plain, in the State of New York. The father was a soldier in the Black Hawk War, after which he located in La Salle County, Ill., where he was married in 1838, and where he followed the pursuit of farming the remainder of his days, passing from life in April, 1856. The paternal grandfather was John Peterson, and the mother's par- ents were Ezra and Rhoda (Smith) Dominy, both of whom were born on Long Island, and were the descendants of Puritan families. The former served in the War of 1812, and about 1833 moved with his family to La Salle County, Ill. The mother of Samuel S. Peterson is still living and makes her home with him. The latter became familiar with farm life in his youth, and when the Rebellion broke out, with true patriotism he volunteered, and four days after the firing on Fort Sumter he enlisted in Company F, Tenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, with which he served three months or until his company reorganized for the three years' service as Battery C, of the First Regiment, Illi- nois Light Artillery. His company was commonly known as Hough- taling's Battery, taking the name from its first captain. Mr. Peter- son served until the close of the war, being a brave and intrepid soldier, and at the close of the war was mustered out of service at Springfield, Ill., June 12, 1865, having taken an active part in the engagements in the vicinity of Island No. 10, and subsequently in the siege of Corinth and the battle of Murfreesboro. At the latter place he was wounded by a ball in the left shoulder, and soon afterward was captured and taken to Libby Prison, where he was retained for sixty- seven days, being exchanged at the expiration of that time. He at once rejoined his battery at Murfreesboro, and shortly afterward took part in the Tullahoma campaign, and still later in the battle of Chicka- manga, where he was again captured, but succeeded in effecting his escape a few hours later. He was in all the engagements of the At- lanta campaign, and after the capture of that city he went with Sher-
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man on his march to the sea. He was in the engagement at Benton- ville, N. C., and helped capture Johnston shortly after. The war then being at an end he went via Richmond to Washington, D. C., thence to Parkersburg, Cincinnati, Evansville and Indianapolis to Springfield, Ill., where he was mustered out of the service June 12, 1865. For about three years following the war he resided in La Salle County, two of which were spent as deputy sheriff, but in the spring of 1869, he severed his ties there and came to Kansas, locating in Montgomery County, and was for some time engaged in the livery business in Parker. He gave considerable attention to stock dealing and in addition discharged the duties of city marshal, being afterward appointed deputy United States marshal, continuing in this capacity until 1879. In 1874 he had moved to Independence, Kas., where he served four years as city marshal, and in 1879 entered the employ of the Adams Express Company as a messenger. In 1880 he removed from Independence to Newton, and shortly after became a messenger for the Wells Fargo Express Company. Since 1882 he has resided in Kansas City, but continued to fill the above named position until Oc- tober, 1887, since which time he has been the local agent of the com- pany and also the local agent for the American Express Company. In April, 1889, he was appointed by the board of police, commissioner chief of police, and in April, 1890, was reappointed. He is one of the leading citizens of this section, and no matter where he might set- tle he would command universal respect, for he is honest and upright in all his dealings, and is admirably fitted for the position he is now filling. While in the employ of the Wells Fargo Express Company, for successfully resisting the attack of a band of train robbers at Coolidge, Kas., September 29, 1883, he was presented with a hand- some gold watch and chain and $500 in money. His marriage, which occurred on March 26, 1861, was to Miss Hester A. Rogers, by whom he has two living children: Orrin J. and Sadie A. Mr. Peterson is a member of the A. F. & A. M. and the G. A. R., and is a stanch sup- porter of Republican principles.
Hugh Pettengill, justice of the peace, and a prominent citizen of Rosedale, Kas., was born in Maine, near Minot, in Androscoggin County, on August 19, 1825, and is a son of Orren and Jane (Kendall) Pettengill, the father a native of Massachusetts, and the mother of New Hampshire. The father was born in 1797, of Scotch descent, and fol- lowed farming all his life. He went to Maine with his parents, opened a farm, and resided here until 1854, when he moved to Douglas County,
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Kas. He was one of the first settlers, and was here all through the trouble of 1856. He and his son (our subject) were strong Union men, and backed their opinions very actively. They made several vis- its East to their old home, and later settled in Jefferson County, Kas. He was visiting a daughter in Parsons at the time of his death, which occurred in 1879. He was a member of the Free-Will Baptist Church, and in politics was for many years an Abolitionist, and then a Repub- lican. He was in the saw-mill business when a young man, and was the son of Hugh Pettengill, who died in Maine, and who was a farmer. The mother was born in 1803, and died in 1889. She was the daughter of an Englishman, and was a woman of noted piety, belonging to the same church as her husband. Our subject, Hugh Pettengill, was the second of nine children-four sons and five daughters-five of whom are living at the present time. He spent his school days in Maine, and when nineteen years of age, began learning the shoemaker's trade, which he followed for ten years in Maine and Massachusetts. He then commenced to farm in the former State, near his father, and remained thus engaged until 1854, when he came to Douglas County; Kas. There he tilled the soil until 1863, when he returned to Maine, and there remained until 1877, farming and working at his trade. Re- turning then to Kansas, he settled in Jefferson County, remained there until 1881, and then engaged in the grocery business in Wyan- dotte County, until 1888, when he was elected justice of the peace and police judge. In 1850 he married Miss Zynthia H. Lapham, daughter of Latrop Lapham, of Maine, who is still living. To Mr. and Mrs. Pettengill were born six children: Clara, Ellen, Frederick B., Nathan F., Kittie and Mary. Mr. Pettengill is a member of the K. of P., and was a member of the K. of H. In 1861 he enlisted in Company B, Ninth Kansas Volunteer Cavalry, and served until September, 1862, when he was honorably discharged. He was a stanch Republican, and took a great interest in that party until the second election of Gen. Grant. Since then he has been voting independently. He voted for Peter Cooper and Horace Greeley.
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