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 84
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89
John W. Summers is a groceryman of Kansas City, Kas., but was born in Linn County, of this State, December 12, 1866, being a son of William H. and Ann R. (Harris) Summers, the former born in Pittsburgh, Penn., in 1840, and the latter in West Virginia in 1845. William H. Summers came to Kansas with a married sister when he was only ten or eleven years of age, and after reaching a proper age he pre-empted and improved a farm in Linn County, and throughout the remainder of his life his attention was given to its cultivation. He was married, in 1860, to Miss Ann R. Harris, who bore him four chil- dren, of whom the subject of this sketch was the third. He was a member of the State Militia during the Rebellion, and for a great many years he held the office of constable. He was a Republican politically, and was a man who had the confidence and respect of the community in which he resided, and his death, which occurred in Feb- ruary, 1871, was regretted by all. His wife survives him, and resides on the old home place in Linn County. John W. Summers has relied
835
WYANDOTTE COUNTY.
upon his own exertions for his clothing and subsistence ever since he was ten years of age, and being desirous of obtaining a good educa- tion he would labor at some remunerative pursuit during the summer months and attend school in winter, continuing in this way until 1889, his last term of school being in the National Business College of Kan- sas City, Mo., in the spring of that year. He thus acquired an excel . lent knowledge of the ordinary branches of learning, and this school- ing fitted him for any branch of business in which he might desire to engage. During the winter of 1884-85 he taught school in Sumner County, Kas., and during his vacations he was employed chiefly at the carpenter's trade, though he also at different times gave some attention to the printer's trade. He came to Kansas City, Kas., in 1883, and has considered this place his home ever since. In Decem- ber, 1889, he opened a grocery establishment at No. 1720 Central Avenue as the partner of E. M. Dart, and the firm has since done a prosperous business. He is a young man of excellent habits, business as well as social, and possesses all the elements of a successful busi- ness man. He was married, December 24, 1888, to Miss Bessie M. Dart, a daughter of S. L. Dart of this city. Mr. Summers is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he and his wife are highly respected and liked by all who know them.
Eli Swarts, M. D. Among the people of Kansas City, Kas., as well as the surrounding country, the name of Dr. Swarts has become well and favorably known, for he has been an active practitioner of this county since March 20, 1882, and has won an enviable reputation. He was born in Jeromeville, Wayne County, Ohio, July 24, 1835, the eldest of four sons born to Daniel and Hannah (Daniel) Swarts, the former of whom was also born in Wayne County, Ohio, his birth oc- ing November 26, 1810. He was reared to manhood in his native county, following the occupation of farming until after his removal to Indiana, in 1839, at which time he settled on a large tract of wild land in Warren County, which he began improving, erecting a dwelling- house and outbuildings. He was engaged in boat-building, and be- ing the owner of a saw-mill, he prepared his own lumber, and in this way made considerable money. He owned a grist mill also, it being the only one in the county at that day, and this was also an excellent source of revenue to him. After remaining on this farm for some time he sold out and purchased 420 acres of land, of which he was the owner until 1851, when he sold out and moved to Williamsport, going from there to Attica, Ind., soon after, where he was residing at the time of
836
HISTORY OF KANSAS.
his death, which occurred on December 29, 1872, he being at that time in comfortable circumstances. His sons are Eli, Cyrus, Daniel and Winfield S. The eldest of this family, Eli, removed with his father to Williamsport, and in this town learned the trade of a baker and confectioner, which calling he followed up to the time of the opening of the war, at which time he enlisted in Company C, Eighty-sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, under Capt. Dick and Col. Hamilton, and served in the Army of the Cumberland, in Rosecran's Division, taking an active part in the battle of Stone River, where he was quite severely wounded by a minie-ball. He was taken to Hospital No. 18, and at the end of three months was furloughed home, and was afterward transferred to the Second Battalion of Invalid Corps, with headquarters at Indianapolis, Ind. He was afterward discharged on account of his wounds, and returned to Attica, where he remained until 1867, when he went to Illinois, and opened a bakery and confectionery establishment in Paris, in which business he remained until 1873, when he began the study of medicine in Mattoon, Ill., under Dr. A. M. Henry, afterward enter- ing and graduating from the Eclectic Medical College of Cincinnati, Ohio, receiving his diploma in 1878. He then practiced in Paris un- til the time of his removal to Kansas City, Kas, where he now is a well- known and successful practioner. He is a member of the State Eclec- tic Medical Association, of Kansas. and was chosen its president in 1886. He has always been a Democrat, and in the I. O. O. F. he has attained to the Encampment, and has represented his lodge in the Grand Lodge of the United States. He was married on March 9, 1856, to Miss Hannah Randall, of Williamport, Ind., she being the seventh daughter of Benjamin O. and Sybil (Weeks) Randall, natives of Vermont and New Hamshire, respectively. Mrs. Swarts was born in Danville, Vt., February 27, 1834, and in 1836 was taken by her parents to Ohio, and three years later to Franklin County, Ind., where she was reared to womanhood. She has borne Dr. Swarts one son - James A., who was born in Williamsport, Ind., December 30, 1856, and was married December 25, 1879, to Miss Ida Bridges, who afterward died, leaving him with a daughter, Helen. On January 29, 1882, he mar- ried Miss Mary L. Schaak, who was born in Lockport, N. Y., Sep- tember 6, 1865, and by her has two children: James A. and John L.
John M. Sweeney, buyer for the Kansas City Packing Company, was born in Canada, twelve miles from the Falls of Niagara, May 29, 1849, his parents, Alexander and Bridget (Stanton) Sweeney, having been born in Ireland, a short history of their lives being given in the
837
WYANDOTTE COUNTY.
sketch of Daniel J. Sweeney. Of a family of seventeen children born to this couple, the following are living: John M., Anthony J., Daniel J., James, Thomas, Alexander J., Mary, Katie, Hugh, Edward, Frank and Frederick W., the eldest three sons being members of the Kansas City Packing Company. The early boyhood of John M. Sweeney was spent in Canada, learning the beef business, but at the age of eighteen years, he was taken to Chicago by his parents, and there spent the rest of his youth, and his early manhood, his time being spent in the trade of a butcher, a calling he has been connected with all his life. He spent seven years as cattle buyer at Chicago, for the firm of Sweeney & Sons, of which he was one, after which he acted as a sales- man for the firm of Libby, McNeil & Libby, a packing firm of that city for seven years. In 1885 he went to Denver, Colo., but shortly after returned to Chicago, to accept a position with Philip D. Armour, and was manager of his interests in the city of Philadelphia, Penn., nearly three years. He then resigned the position, and came west to Kansas City, Kas., soon after securing a position with the firm of Jacob Dold & Son, and for that firm opened a refrigerator in Phila- delphia, which he managed for a little over a year. He resigned, re- turned to Kansas City, and has since been acting as cattle-buyer for the Kansas City Packing Company, and has shown excellent judgment in this direction. His marriage to Miss Mary O'Connell, who was born in Jef- ferson City, Mo., May 6, 1858, took place in 1880, and has resulted in the birth of six sons: De Loss, Alexander, Emery John, George An- thony, Joseph Adelford, Frederick Allen, and Bartholomew Francis (twins). Mr. and Mrs. Sweeney are members of the Catholic Church.
Anthony J. Sweeney is the manager, and one of the directors and stockholders of the Kansas City (Kas.) Packing & Chase Refrigerat. ing Company, and, like his brother, Daniel J., is a native of Canada, his birth occurring July 1, 1851. In 1867 he came with his parents to the United States, and was educated in Bryant & Stratton's Busi- ness College, of Chicago, Ill., in which city his parents had settled, and was graduated from the same in December of that year. The same month he entered the employ of Morris, Waixel & Co., with which firm he remained until the following spring, and then entered the employ of John O' Malley, a wholesale beef dealer, as book-keeper, but at the end of two years became an employe of O'Connor & Baynes in the same business, after which the firm changed to Sweeney & Baynes. Anthony J. remained with this firm for six months, and then, in company with his brother John, purchased the interest of
838
HISTORY OF KANSAS.
Baynes, and the firm became Sweeney & Sons, it being changed two years later to Sweeney & Co. The subject of this sketch then went to New York City and Boston, and opened branch commission houses for this firm. In the fall of 1873 the above firm commenced shipping dressed-beef to the Eastern markets, being one of the pioneers in the dressed-beef trade, which of late years has grown to be such an im- mense business. In 1875 he gave up business for himself, and for about six months was manager of a slaughter house at Bridgeport, Ill., after which he was in the employ of Libby, McNeil & Libby, of Chicago, for some time, but resigning his position, he went to Denver, and embarked in the cattle business which he still continues, being the owner of a cattle and horse ranch, thirty miles from that city. He came to Kansas City, Kas., in 1887, and the following year worked for the Jacob Dold Packing Company, as Eastern manager for the firm, with his office in Boston, and then for one year held the same position for the Kansas City Packing Company, being now manager of the beef department for the Kansas City Packing & Chase Refrigerating Company. In addition to filling this position, he is a member of the firm of Sweeney, Nathan & Co., of Boston, and is also Eastern man- ager for the Cold Blast Transportation Company Car Line. He is an excellent business man, and very popular with his fellows. He is a member of the Royal Arcanum and the A. O. U. W.
Daniel J. Sweeney is a stockholder of the Kansas City Packing & Refrigerating Company, and being a man who possesses many sterling business and social qualifications, he is an acquisition to the city in which he resides. He was born in Dundas, Canada, May 8, 1854, his parents, Alexander and Bridget (Stanton) Sweeney, being natives of the Emerald Isle, the former of whom is now a resident of Chicago, Ill., is in his sixty-seventh year, and for the past thirteen years has been one of the meat inspectors of what is now the second city in the Union. His wife died in this city May 6, 1888, at the age of sixty- three years. Daniel J. Sweeney came to the United States with his parents, seme twenty-five years since, and settled with them in Chicago, where he was reared and educated, but in 1869 he began the battle of life for himself, being an employe of the firm of Sweeney & Baynes, when that firm was doing business on Kinzie Street. They were burned out during the great fire of 1871, and about thirty days later they resumed business on the West Side, near the old Haymarket. Here Daniel J. was head book-keeper for some time. In 1874, when he engaged in the wholesale beef business, under the firm name of
839
WYANDOTTE COUNTY.
Sweeney & Co., their establishment was a first-class one, and continued so to be, until July, 1879, when Mr. Sweeney became a salesman for the firm of Britten & Guth, with whom he remained for some time. In 1887 he came to Kansas City, Kas., and for some two years was with Jacob Doll, since which time he has been with his present company. He was married in 1883 to Miss Katie Oakey, who was born in Chi- cago, in 1864, and they now have two bright and interesting little chil- dren: Lauretta M. and Edith. Mr. Sweeney is a supporter of Demo- cratic principles, and is a member of the I. O. F.
Henry S. Swingley, the subject of this important sketch, in the business circles of Kansas City, Kas., is a gentleman who needs no especial introduction to the populace of the city, nor the surrounding country. Mr. Swingley is the senior member of the well-known firm of undertakers known as Swingley & Quarles. He is a native of Polo, Ogle County, III. His father, who was a native of Hagerstown, Md., born in 1817, and well remembers some of his boyhood days, and was a merchant by profession. He is living at present, at the advanced age of seventy-three, and resides in Turner, Wyandotte County, Kas. The mother of Henry S., Mrs. Anna Mary (Locher) Swingley, was also a native of Maryland. She was a lady of refined tastes, and also an ac- complished musician, having been liberally educated in the select schools of Maryland. She died at the age of sixty-one years. Her remains are interred in Olathe Cemetery, Johnson County, Kas., where, at her head, rests a beautiful monument, sacred to her memory, erected by her loving sons. Mr. Swingley was the third in a family of twelve children: Elizabeth L. (a resident of Wyandotte County, and the widow of John M. Ainsworth, who was a farmer by avocation), Rosena E. (residing in Morris County, Kas., married to Thomas Barber, who is a stock-raiser), Michael S. (living in Wyandotte County, and mar- ried to Miss Lucy Swingley; he is a manager of the Kaw River Im- provement Company), James J. (single, and in Wyandotte County, is a dealer in general merchandise), Samuel A. (unmarried, and in Old Mexico, is a dealer in stock, and also engaged in mining), Mollie A (wife of Dr. C. L. Burke, a successful physician and surgeon of this county), Frank (died at the age of nineteen, while a college student), Charles E. (a partner with his brother James in this county), Edna E. (the youngest in the family, died at the age of five years). Mr. Swingley's early education was obtained in the common schools of Illi- nois, and completed in the grammar schools of Baltimore, Md., and naturally he is an enthusiast upon the subject of good educational prin-
840
HISTORY OF KANSAS.
ciples and schools. He commenced life for himself at the age of twenty years. He started out as an agriculturist, for two years, with his brother; then, after about one year's absence in St. Louis, he and his brother purchased a farm in Wyandotte County, Kas., which consisted of 200 acres of heavily timbered land. This was purchased as a specu- lation, and these enterprising and thrifty gentlemen furnished some of the principal railroads with ties, and also filled contracts for posts for the famous snow-sheds in the Rocky Mountains, besides furnishing wood and fuel for the Government at the frontier posts. Mr. Swing- ley has had a varied experience as a business man. He opened up a successful career as a real estate dealer in Kansas City, Mo., in the year 1884, and being a bustling and enterprising man, made this a sig- nal success. His business transactions in the real estate circles were recognized among the leading members of the fraternity as solid and responsible in detail. He then disposed of his real estate interests in Kansas City, Mo., and immediately embarked in the livery and under- taking business in Kansas City, Kas. The well known firm of Swing- ley & Quarles, of which he is a member, have an expert embalmer, who superintends in detail the undertaking department. Their place of business is located at the corner of Fourth Street and Minnesota Avenue, and their capital amounts to $20,000. The firm is incorporated in the livery and undertaking business. Mr. Swingley has been successful in his chosen avocation above the average. He is a Democrat of the true Jeffersonian stripe, and a man recognized among his constituents as one who stands upon the true principles of Democracy. He cast his first presidential vote for Samuel J. Tilden. He has aimed to sup- port men of principle and honor through life. Mr. Swingley com- menced his official life on a school board of education, as clerk, holding the position for three years. He was a formidable candidate for sheriff of Wyandotte County, Kas., on the Democratic ticket in the year 1883, and though the race which he made was decidedly a commendable one, his opponent defeated him by only sixty four votes of the to. tal vote polled. In 1885 he made another race, for the office of regis- ter of deeds, and was defeated by but nineteen votes. The county of Wyandotte being Republican by a majority of 1,300, and the princi- ples which Mr. Swingley sustains being purely Democratic, his popu- larity as a man of integrity and honor will be at once clearly seen. He was a delegate from the Second Congressional District of Kansas to the National Democratic Convention, held in St. Louis, Mo., where Hon. Grover Cleveland was nnanimously nominated for President of
841
WYANDOTTE COUNTY.
the United States. He is at present secretary of the Second Congres- sional District of Kansas. He is a member of the Masonic lodge of Kansas City, Kas., and a member of the K. P. lodge; also a member of the A. O. U. W. He is a devoted member of the Reformed Church, of Kansas City, Mo. He is a gentleman who has been open-handed in the benevolences which have been presented him for his worthy con- sideration. Mr. Swingley is single in life, has an extensive business, and is also the owner and proprietor of two excellent farms, lying within five miles of the city limits of this place. He is honored and respected for his honesty of purpose, and considers his word as his bond. Here he will make his future abiding place, where his interests are, and here he will enjoy the esteem of a wide circle of acquaint- ances.
J. J. Swingley is the senior member of the well-known general mercantile firm of Swingley Bros., of Turner, Wyandotte County, Kas., and it may be truly remarked that no more honorable or upright business man exists in the county than he. He was born in Oglé County, Ill., January 23, 1852, being the fifth of eight children born to Samuel N. and Anna M. (Locher) Swingley, natives of Maryland, the former born October 22, 1817, in Washington County, and the latter in Baltimore, in July, 1824. Mr. Swingley resided in the State of his birth until he attained manhood, and received the advantages of a good common-school education, and also acquired a thorough knowl- edge of mercantile life. In 1843 he became associated in this business with George W. Shearwood & Swingley, the latter being a relative, but afterward headed a party from Maryland, and settled in Ogle County, Ill., the land at that time not being in the market. They were instrumental in starting the town of Mount Morris, and here Mr. Swingley remained until 1861. His father, Michael Swingley died here in 1848, his widow passing from life in 1853. While in Illinois, Mr. Swingley was engaged chiefly in farming, and this calling he con- tinued to follow from 1861 to 1881, a farm of 127 acres, which he purchased in 1865, being the scene of his labors. On coming to Wyandotte County, in 1880, he purchased a small farm on a portion of which he founded the town of Turner. He was married in Mary- land in 1842, to Anna Mary Locher, but he was called upon to mourn her death February 9,1885, she having borne him the following family of children: Elizabeth (wife of John M. Ainsworth), Emma R. (wife of Thomas Barber), Henry S., Michael S., James J. (the subject of this sketch), Samuel, Mollie (wife of Dr. C. L. Burke), and Charles. J. J.
53
842
HISTORY OF KANSAS.
Swingley spent his youth in Johnson County, Kas., and besides be- ing an attendant of the common schools of that county, he also took a commercial course in Olathe College, and at the age of twenty-five years became a school teacher, following this calling for two years. At the end of this time he began manufacturing cigars and dealing in domestic and imported tobaccos, but at the end of three years he moved to Turner, and in addition to keeping this class of goods added a gen- eral stock, the post-office of Turner also being held in their store. He is associated in business with a younger brother, Charles E., both of whom are unmarried. He was a member of Company D, of the Na- tional Guards, at Olathe, for five years, and was a member of the crack company, which, during his membership, took part each year in the State contest, and was successful in securing the first honors and prizes of the Encampment. Since his residence in Wyandotte County he has taken an active interest in such matters and assisted in drilling the young ladies in the recent Business Men's Carnival in Argentine. He, like his ancestors before him, has always been a Democrat, and has held a number of offices in his township. In 1884 he was ap- pointed postmaster of Turner, a position he is still filling. He is a member of Cincinnati Lodge No. 91, of the K. of P., of Argentine, and has held different offices in this order, among which was chan- cellor commander. In February, 1887, he was commissioned notary public, and in 1888 filled the unexpired term of A. A. Lovelace, as county commissioner, and in the fall of that year made the race for the office against John Steffens, but was defeated by a majority of thirteen. He is an earnest member of the Congregational Church.
Albert G. Talbott, real estate broker. The magnitude of the real estate interests of Kansas City, Kas., and the incessant activity in the market, have enlisted the services of many of her most responsible, sagacious and honorable citizens, and among the number is Mr. Tal- bott, whose life, like that of all truly self-made men, has been very interesting, and a few facts connected therewith will not be out of place. When only twelve years of age, he left his home in Indiana, and embarked for the gold regions of California, via New York and the Isthmus of Panama, and upon reaching the " Eldorado of America" he at once began to look about him for something to do. He some- time afterward engaged in mining, and in a short time young Talbott had accumulated a handsome amount of money. He then went to San Francisco and engaged in the money broker business, his office being at 84 Montgomery Street, Brannan's Block, and here he remained until
843
WYANDOTTE COUNTY.
he lost in mining stocks $150,000. This was the needed impetus to cause him again to strike out for a more congenial and healthful climate, and this time he finally turned up in the gold-bearing regions of Idaho, where he soon after conceived the idea of building a good mountain wagon-road from Boise City, in the valley of Boise River, to Idaho City, in the mountains, and acting upon this idea, he at once set to work to secure a charter from Ada County, of which Idaho City was the county seat, for a toll road running twenty years, from Boise to Idaho Cities. On March 4, 1865, he hired his men and teams, and by May 1, 1865, he had completed and thrown open to the public as fine a wagon-road as could have been found in any mountainous coun- try. By the 1st of November following, he had paid for the building of the road, and had $20,000 left, to show the correctness of his judg- ment. In November, 1865, a fire swept the business portion of Idaho City, and Mr. Talbott, seeing that he had made the bulk of profit out of the road, sold it to Henry Greathouse, of the Oregon & Idaho Stage Company. Being then possessed of a desire to see once more an entirely civilized section of the United States, he started eastward, leaving Boise City for Fort Benton with twenty wagons and teams in April, 1866, and on May 12 arrived at the latter place. On May 14 he took passage on the first return boat of the season, steamer "St. John," of St. Louis, for Omaha, Neb., and here, following the advice of some old school friends, he made investments which resulted in the loss of nearly all his hard-earned money. He then decided to seek fresh fields, and immediately took passage on a steamer bound south, and visited nearly all the southern cities of any importance. In February, 1868, while in New Orleans, meditating whether to go back to Cali- fornia or return North, he decided to trust to chance, and taking a copper cent from his pocket he tossed it up, saying, "Heads up, I go to California; tails up, I go to Leavenworth, Kas." Tails came up, and on April 1 he took a steamer for the latter place, and in a short time had made many friends and acquaintances in Leavenworth. He was given a position on the old Leavenworth Bulletin, and was one of the men who rendered most valuable service on that paper when A. Caldwell was brought out and elected United States Senator, from Leavenworth, in 1872. When the Times and Bulletin were merged in the spring of 1872, he became its advertising man, and after the paper was purchased by Col. D. R. Anthony, he was retained and soon after promoted to the position of business manager of the paper. In this position he displayed much ability, but becoming
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.