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 81
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Dr. E. Sheldon, physician and surgeon, Armourdale, Kas. The
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name of Sheldon is one of the most influential in Armourdale, and one of the most respected by this community. Dr. Sheldon was born in the town of Northfield, Washington County, Vt., on January 31, 1844, and is a son of Samuel R. and Malintha M (Churchill) Sheldon, natives also of the Green Mountain State. The ancestry of this family dates back to England and France, and they were among the first settlers of Vermont. The paternal grandfather was a Methodist minister, and he and his wife died in Vermont. The great-grandfather on this side was a major-general in the Revolutionary War. The maternal grand- father, Isaac Churchill, was first lieutenant in the War of 1812, of Company D, First Vermont Militia. He was a farmer by profession. Samuel R. Sheldon was a sturdy son of the soil, and during the Mexi- can War he was captain of the First. Vermont Battery, Field Artillery. He emigrated to Illinois in 1848, located in Kane County, and there his death ocenrred in 1887. The mother is yet living. Dr. E. Shel- don. the eldest of seven children, five of whom are living, was early initiated into the duties of the farm, and received his education in Kane County, Ill. At the breaking out of the war, and when only seventeen years of age, he enlisted in Company A, Fifty-second Illi- nois Volunteers, and served over four years. He received a gunshot wound at Pittsburg Landing, second battle of Corinth, and was in all the principal engagements of the Western army, having a very -rough experience, which he dislikes to talk about. After the close of service the Doctor returned home and began the study of medicine, working in the meantime to make money enough to carry him through. He was successful and graduated at Bennett Medical College, Chicago, in 1878. He first put out his shingle at Norton, Kas., but in 1881 he came to Armourdale, where he is now the oldest practitioner in the city. He has built up a fine practice, and is cut out for his chosen profession, which has been amply shown by his flattering success, since residing in this city. When he first came here there were but seventeen houses in Armourdale, now Kansas City, and he has been a witness to the rapid growth. He was married in 1876 to Miss Ellen A. Sabin. The Doctor is a representative citizen and a public-spirited man. He was a member of the first school board, and made a hard fight to get their school house.
Morris Sherman, deceased. This gentleman, who was one of the county's most enterprising men, and much esteemed citizens, was born in Rockland, Me., and died in this county March 9, 1881, being at that time fifty-four years of age. His boyhood days, until he was abont
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eighteen years of age, were spent in his native State, where he learned the carriage-maker's trade. He then left Maine and went to New York City, where he followed contracting and building, and where he was a member of the "Bloody Six " fire company. His many experi- ences while a member of this company, he was wont to relate to his children. Upon leaving New York, he went to Chicago, where he re- mained but a short time, and then came up the Missouri River to Quindaro, on the " Polar Star." He here followed his trade for ten years, and then sold out his business, bought land, and turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. He located about a mile and a half north and west of Quindaro, in May, 1857, on land that he had purchased from the Indians, and which is now owned by his widow and children, and was here during the latter part of the Border War. He enlisted in the State Militia, and was on guard duty at the ferry across the Missouri River at Parkville. During the early days of Quindaro, he was township constable, and in politics he was a Demo- crat of the Jacksonian type. While a resident of New York City he was married to Miss Christina Forbes, and they reared a family of five children-two sons and three daughters: Charles J. (who died August 10, 1888, at the age of thirty-three years), Roger E., Helen (wife of Henry Grafke, who is a farmer of this township), Susan (wife of Charles Geib, agent for the Missonri Pacific Railroad, at Spring- field, Neh. ), and Blanche, who died in 1878, at the age of seven years). Roger E., the second son, is living with his mother on a farm adjoin- ing the old homestead. He was born on October 1, 1855, on Staten Island, N. Y., and when not quite two years of age, came with his father to Wyandotte County. He justly claims the title of one of the old- est citizens of the county, and his early life was spent on the farm, where he became thoroughly familiar with the duties of the same. After the death of the father, Roger assumed control of the home place, and has remained on it ever since, with the exception of about one year spent in Colorado. He is the owner of about eighty-five acres in cul- tivation, exclusive of the grounds about the house, and he devotes his attention to the raising of grain and stock. He is a Master Mason, White Church Lodge, and in politics a Democrat, always voting that way.
Dr. S. S. Shively, physician and surgeon, Armourdale, Kas. The parents of this popular and very successful physician, John and Mar- garet (Myers) Shively, were natives of Pennsylvania, and of German descent. The great-grandfather was born in Germany, and was an
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early emigrant to the Keystone State. The paternal grandfather was born in Pennsylvania. John Shively, father of our subject, followed agricultural pursuits all his life, and died in Indiana in 1866. The mother had died the year previous. To their marriage were born thirteen children. Dr. S. S. Shively owes his nativity to Stark County, Ohio, where he was born on February 28, 1839, and remained in his native State, where he received a common-school education, until four- teen years of age. From there he went to Indiana. settled in St. Jo- seph County, where he remained. for some time. He early evinced a strong liking for the medical profession, and began the study of med- icine in 1861, attending lectures in 1864 at the Homœopathic College of Chicago, and practiced until 1880, when he attended Eclectic Med- ical Institute of Cincinnati, Ohio, and received his diploma in 1881. After having practiced near Kirksville, Adair. County, Mo., for seven years, in 1882 he came to Kansas City, Kas., where he has since re- sided. He has a large and constantly increasing practice, and his presence is ever welcome at the bedside of the sick or afflicted. He is called upon from far and near, and his advice is sought for by thou- sands of people. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He was married in 1862 to Miss Josephine Coriell, a native of Ohio, who bore him two children: Lloyd A. and Delbert M., who is a reporter for The Kansas City, Mo., Star. Dr. and Mrs. Shively are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
John M. Shore needs no special introduction to the citizens of Wyandotte Township, Wyandotte County, Kans., having figured very conspicuously in the local history of this County and State. He makes his home in Section 19, this Township, and is by occupation, an agri- culturist and stock-raiser. He was born in Surry County, N. C., on February 2, 1832, and in 1834 his parents emigrated to Missouri. He being the fifth in number of the nine children born to his parents. These children are Elizabeth, wife of Lemual Hobson, a wealthy brick- mason of Odessa, Mo. ; Samuel E., who was a captain in Border War- fare, and lived for a long time in Indiana; Robert A., who resides in Ray Co., Mo .; William C., who lives in Cal., going west in 1849, to seek his fortune in the gold mines of that State; John M., being the next. Mr. Shore's father was a native of N. C., and is dead; his mother is from the same State, and now, at the age of ninety, resides in Kansas City, Mo. He received his education in an old log school-house, and at a later date attended the High Schools. In 1869 he married Miss Ella Haynes, who was born in East
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Tenn., on Sept. 25, 1848, and received her education at her na- tive place, and was a practical teacher in the select schools of Mo., prior to her marriage, and still take special interest in educational matters. She has held several offices of trust in public schools, and as lecturer in the Grange, in her county. To their marriage have been born seven children, viz., Florence M .; Edward H .; Lauren Josephus; Lillian Maud; Oscar M .; Landon Haynes, and Benjamin Harrison. Mr. Shore had a prominent part in the Border Warfare, enlisted in Prairie City, Kan., in the Ottowa Company, which in com- pany with John Brown's company engaged in the battle of "Black Jack," on June 2, 1856. Mr. Shore was offered a commission in this company, but modestly declined. He was always true to his purpose, and a man highly respected by friend and foe alike. His company figured in many encounters, and in them all Mr. Shore evinced great bravery. He was personally acquainted with "John Brown," and relates most interesting stories of this well-known man, and also of other in- teresting matters. He enlisted in the late war in the year 1862, and was in three years' hard service through the plains. In fact, his ex- periences have been numerous and varied, and it would be hard to find a more entertaining narrator of "war romance" than the subject of this sketch. He and his wife are Republicans and Woman Suffragists, and take great pride in supporting their party principles. He has been Township Trustee, and School Director for many years, and is a citizen in whom the utmost confidence is placed. Both Mr. and Mrs. Shore are faithful Christians, and contribute liberally to the support of all religious causes. They came to this Township in the year 1869, and are familiar with each feature of the progress made in this section of the country. They own, at the present writing, a valuable estate that is in an excellent state of cultivation, and have besides, several lots in the city, that yield a handsome income.
Prof. F. M. Slosson, one of the most popular and successful edu- cators of Wyandotte County, was born in Clarence, Erie County, N. Y., January 18, 1854. His earlier education was obtained at Clar- ence Academy, after which, he taught three years and then supple- mented his previous studies with a business course at St. Joseph's College, of Buffalo, N. Y. He next studied law in the office of Hum- phrey & Lockwood, of that city, and in 1880 came to Kansas, intend- ing to follow the legal profession. Finding that avocation over- crowded, he turned his attention to educational work, in which his scholarship, industry and broad views on all popular questions soon
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marked him for prominence. In 1883 he filled the position of city clerk of Armourdale, then a city of the third class. In 1886 he be- came the nominee of the Democratic party for county superintendent of public instruction, to which office he was elected and served one term in a creditable and efficient manner. In 1889 he was chosen superintendent of the Argentine public schools, and to his manage- ment is due much of their present prosperity. As'a Democrat he has always been steadfast and loyal in support of his chosen party. He was married in Leavenworth, Kas., September 16, 1882, to Miss Elinor Jones, and the union has been blessed with four sons, two of whom, Cyril and Eugene, are now living. His parents, Helon and Matilda (Mosher) Slosson, were born in the Empire State, and are of Welsh and English origin, respectively. The father was a tiller of the soil and a respected and honored man.
James Smith, president of the Keystone Iron Works of Kansas City, Kas., is a gentleman who needs no special introduction to the business circles of the two cities. He owes his nativity to New York, his birth occurring in May, 1832, and is the elder of two children, a sister named Betsey, who resides in New York State, and is the wife of a Mr. J. H. Davis, who is a farmer by occupation. The father was a native of New Hampshire, and was a manufacturer by occupation. He died in 1868. The mother was born in Massachusetts. James Smith re- ceived his early educational training in the old subscription schools, and then took a higher course in the St. Lawrence County (N. Y.) Academy. He has always followed the life of a mechanic, having occupied that position with the New York Central Railroad many years. Mr. Smith has been in charge of and president of the Keystone Iron Works for a period of twenty-five years. This plant and its excellent area of bus- iness influence is known throughout the Southwest. The present site covers about four acres, and there are four large buildings included in this large plant, machine shop, 300x50 feet; foundry, 175x75 feet, with a wing attached of 50x84 feet; blacksmith shop, 50x70 feet; pattern shop, 35x65 feet, and three stories high. This large machinery is driven by a 100 horse-power automatic engine, also a 40 horse-power engine in the foundry. The present plant was erected in 1888, at a total cost of $160,000, and they employ from 200 to 350 men. The annual production is from about $400,000 to $500,000. James Smith is presi- den of this immense business; T. B. Bullene, vice-president; L. B. Bul- lene, secretary and treasurer; C. E. Gabelman, general foreman; Thomas Cowie, foreman of the foundry; Andrew Stallberg, foreman of the pat-
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tern shop; Whit Moran, foreman of the blacksmith shop, and E. J. Davis, foreman of the machine shops. Their manufactories extend over many of the principal States besides the Territories. Mr. Smith was identified with the Keystone Iron Works when located in Kansas City, Mo. Mr. Smith was married in New York on September 7, 1854, to Miss Martha Mitchell, a native of Connecticut, whose ancestors came over in the " Mayflower." To this union was born one child, Kate, who resides in Kansas City, and is the wife of A. M. Graff, who is in the insurance business. Mr. Smith has always affiliated with the Re- publican party, and cast his first presidential vote for James Buchanan. He is a member of the Elks, and he and wife are members and ardent supporters of the Unitarian Church. Mr. Smith emigrated direct from New York to Kansas City, Mo., in 1865, when this great rustling city was a mere infant, the population scarcely reaching 3,500. He has seen the most wonderful changes and developments since that time, and seen the population increase to 138,000, while the beautiful city of Kansas City, Kas., has a population of 40,000. Mr. and Mrs. Smith expect to make Kansas City, Kas., their future home.
James S. Smith. An enterprising grocery establishment in Kan- sas City, Kas., is that located at South Seventh Street, which was established in June, 1885. Mr. Smith was born in Alleghany County, Md., June 16, 1849, being a son of Alexander and Julia Ann (Johnson) 'Smith, the former of whom was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and came to America with his parents, Alexander and Margaret Smith, in early manhood. The grandfather was a contractor by occupation, and was engaged in construction of tunnels. Julia Ann Smith was born in Iowa, and was married to Mr. Smith in 1848, their marriage result- ing in the birth of four children: James S., Margaret M., John C. and Alexander. Margaret lives in Maryland, and is the wife of Will- iam Conrad. John lives in Kansas City, Kas., and for the past six years has been in the employ of James S. Smith as a grocer's clerk. Alexander is a ferryman, and is a resident of Belmont County, Ohio. The father of these children, who was a coal miner, died in 1856 from the effects of a fall upon a coal car three month previous. Shortly after his death the mother removed with her children to Wheeling, W. Va., but died in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1859, while on a visit to that city. The four children thus left orphans, found a temporary home for one year among friends in the southern part of Belmont County, Ohio, at a place called Pike Creek. In 1860 their grandmother, Mar- garet Smith (then Margaret Ort), came to Belmont County, Ohio, for
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the purpose of persuading the children to go to Maryland, and make their home with her and James S., and his sister Margaret did so. John and Alexander had previously secured good homes, and remained in Belmont County. James S. Smith continued to reside with his grandmother until he reached the age of sixteen years, or until her death, which occurred in 1865, but his sister, Margaret, made her home with an aunt, Mrs. Tennant, until her marriage to William Con- rad, at the age of eighteen years. John C., the third child, left Bel- mont County, and removed to Maryland, in 1861, and during the rest of his early life had a home in the family of William Staples, remain- ing with him some seventeen years. Alexander remained in Belmont County, Ohio, and his home is still there as stated above. He is mar- ried. During his boyhood, the subject of this sketch attended school in winter, and in summer was employed as a driver in a coal mine. After his grandmother's death he went to Cumberland, Md., where he worked seven months at the jeweler's trade, under W. W. Wilkinson, after which he went to Frostburg, Md., where, during the following six summers, he was employed as a coal miner. During the winters of 1867, 1868 and 1869 he worked in a rolling-mill at Wheeling, W. Va. In the spring of 1872 he went to Georgetown, Colo., where he re- mained a year and a half, during which time he was engaged in pros- pecting, herding and freighting, but in 1873 he came to Kansas City, Kas., which place has been his home ever since, with the exception of one year spent at Frostburg, Md. Here for six months he was engaged in the ice-packing business, and for two and one-half years following this he was employed as a driver by Samuel Freeman. In the fall of 1876 he returned to Frostburg, Md., and after working in a coal mine at that place for one year, he returned to Kansas City, and spent a short time once more in Mr. Freeman's employ. For some three years following this he worked in different elevators and packing-houses of the city, after which, for eight months he clerked in a grocery store for A. Glassner, and while thus employed was married, June 12, 1879, to Miss Katie Campbell, a native of Platte County, Mo., and a daughter of Nathan and Margaret (Archer) Campbell. The eight months suc- ceeding his marriage Mr. Smith was in the employ of the Missouri Pa- cific Railway, but in 1882 he opened a grocery store on the corner of Central Avenue and First Street, as a partner of his cousin, James S. Tennant, which connection lasted for about three years. In the spring of 1885 they purchased a lot at No. 48 South Seventh Street, and upon it in the same spring erected a business building, 22x60 feet,
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but about the time this was completed the firm dissolved partnership, Mr. Tennant trading to Mr. Smith his interest in the above named lot and building, for the latter's interest in the grocery stock on the cor- ner of First Street and Central Avenue. In June, 1885, Mr. Smith placed in his store on South Seventh Street, a new stock of groceries, and has conducted a first-class establishment at that point ever since. His trade is large and constantly increasing, and by the time he had been in business two years, his sales amounted to from $2,500 to $3,000 per month. Upon the same lot on which his store stands, he, in the fall of 1886, erected a good two-story, seven-roomed frame dwelling-house, at a cost of $1,000, which he has since occupied. Besides his grocery establishment, he is also the owner of one of the principal grocery stands in the Central Market of Kansas City, Kas., which brings him in a good income. His marriage has resulted in the birth of three children: Minnie Agnes, Florence and Alexander Na- than, who are aged respectively ten, eight and five years. Mr. Smith has many warm friends here, and by reason of his long residence in the city his trade is very large.
William H. Smith, president and treasurer of the Whittaker Brick Company, was born in Troy, N. Y., in 1857, being the son of George B. and L. P. Smith. In his native city, Mr. Smith grew to manhood's estate, receiving in the meantime an academic education, and thus fitting himself to hold the positions of honor and trust since given to his charge. The company of which he is president is one of the wealthiest and most important in this section of the country, mak- ing at the present time a specialty of ornamental brick, and doing a lucrative business not only in this city, but in the surrounding cities. The plant was established in 1887, at a cost of $40,000, and has a capacity of 50,000 brick daily. The general office is on the corner of Fifth and Jersey Avenue, and the works are at Vance, eight miles from the city. J. M. Smith is vice-president of the company, J. F. Getty, secretary, and George C. Little, manager. Mr. Smith's polit- ical ideas are in keeping with the Republican party, of which he is a member. He is a High Mason, belongs to King Solomon Lodge No. 91, A. F. & A. M., to the Commandery Knight Templar No. 15, Orien- tal Temple, of the Mystic Shrine, all of Troy, N. Y., and is also a member of the Old Guard of the Troy Citizens' Corps. The subject of this sketch was married February 11, 1878, to Miss Ida M. Quackenbush, native of Troy, and to this union has been born one child, viz .: George B. And thus, as the world moves on in her circled orb, the spirit of
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progress seems more and more to assert itself, and every day brings to light wonderful exhibitions of the indomitable courage and unfail- ing energy that enables men to overcome every obstacle that bars their march toward fame and fortune.
Charles F. Smith is the competent proprietor of Edgerton Place Drug Store, an establishment which is one of the best equipped and conducted in the city. He was born in Floyd County, Iowa, Novem- ber 3, 1864, to Joel W. and Susan (Wheat) Smith, both of whom were natives of York State. He was reared to manhood in his native town of Charles City, and his early educational training was received in the public schools of that place. Upon attaining his eighteenth year he began clerking in a drug store, and has given his whole attention to this calling ever since. He entered the Chicago College of Phar- macy in 1885, and after attending two terms graduated in 1887, his career as a student in this institution being characterized by close application and devotion to the work at hand. In November, 1888, he came to Kansas City, Kas., and in April, 1889, established a drug store on Third Street. The following October he moved his store to No. 423 Stewart Avenue, Edgerton Place, where he is now doing a very paying business. He has been familiar with the details of the business for the past seven years, and being a graduate of one of the leading pharmaceutical institutions in the country, he is, without doubt, one of the most competent pharmacists in the city. His store is well stocked with pure drugs and all other articles usually kept in an establishment of the kind. It has always been his end and aim to please his customers, and this, in connection with his close attention to business and his honesty, has contributed largely to his success. He has made many friends since locating here, and being a young man of good morals he is deservedly popular.
B. S. Smith (colored) is an attorney at law, of Kansas City, Kas., and is a well-posted, intelligent and enterprising man. His birth occurred at Fayetteville, in Washington County, Ark., in August, 1860, but he was reared to manhood in Springfield, Ill., and Springfield, Mo. His father and mother were slaves at the time of his birth, but after the war he was taken North, and as soon as he reached a proper age he was sent to the common schools. Being intelligent and possessing a retentive memory he made rapid progress in his studies, and in time was graduated from the high school of 'Springfield, Ill. Being de- termined to become still better educated, he entered the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, in October, 1884, and was graduated from
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the law department of this institution in 1886. He immediately located at Springfield, Greene County, Mo., where he opened an office and practiced for nine months, Imbued with the idea that he could better his financial condition in Kansas, he came thither and hung out his "shingle " in Kansas City, and here has been since the month of May, 1887, and doing well. He is thoroughly posted in legal lore, but much prefers civil to criminal practice. He possesses much gen - uine ability and deserves much credit for the position he now occupies, for notwithstanding the drawbacks of poverty, prejudice of race, etc., he has surmounted all these difficulties and has established himself firmly in business with a promising future before him. He labored hard in his early youth, saved his money and paid his way through school and is now enjoying the reward of his early industry and laud- able ambition, for he has won the respect of all who know him.
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