The History of Jackson county, Missouri, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., biographical sketches of its citizens, Jackson county in the late warhistory of Missouri, map of Jackson county, Part 101

Author: Union Historical Company
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Kansas City, Mo. : Union historical company
Number of Pages: 1068

USA > Missouri > Jackson County > The History of Jackson county, Missouri, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., biographical sketches of its citizens, Jackson county in the late warhistory of Missouri, map of Jackson county > Part 101

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BIOGRAPHICAL.

May 15th, 1861, and Annie E., born June 7th, 1868. Himself and wife are Presbyterians, and members of Dr. Madeira's church of Kansas City.

JOHN BAUERLEIN,

Was born in Hollfield, Bavaria, July 10, 1828, and when nineteen he came with his parents to the United States, landing in Baltimore in July, 1847. After a visit with friends in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, they went to St. Louis, Missouri, and settled. He received only an elementary education in the old country, and after arriving at St. Louis attended the St. Mary's Seminary, at Barnes, in order to fa- miliarize himself with the English language. Also served an apprenticeship at boot and shoe making. October 20, 1853, he married Miss Barbara Friederitze, of St. Louis, and in March, 1854, he came to Kansas City and established him- self in the boot and shoe business, opening his shop on the levee in a building near where the Gillis house now stands. Two years after he removed to the corner of Main and Fifth streets, which he purchased and improved, where Hammerslough's clothing house now is. Selling that place in May, 1857, he bought on the corner of Sixth street and Grand avenue, where he lived and carried on the grocery business from 1869 to 1880. He has been successful in business in Kansas City, and is now enjoying the fruits of his industry and thrift. Has a neat residence on Harrison street in the midst of an interesting family : James (an engraver, with Cady & Olmstead, with whom he has been eight years), Frank (attending college at Columbia, Missouri), Louis (clerk and collector in Whipple, Cowherd & Co.'s bank), and Anna.

WILLIAM F. BAYNE.

Was born in Roanoke county, Virginia, in 1816, and when very small was taken by his father to Louisville, Kentucky. There he was reared, his educational advantages having been such as could be obtained from the common country schools. In 1843 he removed to Kansas City, Missouri, being among the earliest settlers of the county, and has made his home hereabouts since that time. After arriving he engaged in farming, and continued to follow it until a few years ago. Since that time he has been engaged in contracting for the city and private individuals. Mr. Bayne was married in January, 1844, to Miss Lucy M. Hudgens, a native of Cumberland county, Virginia, born in May, 1818. They have two children living : Lucy C. and Julia A. Two are deceased : Mary J. and James D.

A. E. BEGGS,

Buyer for Plankinton & Armours. Was born in Morgan county, Ill., April 14, 1846, and was there reared and educated in the common schools. In 1863 he entered the Western University, of Bloomington, Ill., graduating June 21, 1867. While in his native county, was engaged in the stock business, principally feed- ing. October 9, 1871, he came to Kansas City, where he has since been engaged in the live stock trade, except the winter of 1876-7, which he spent in St. Louis and Chicago. Was married to Mrs. Maggie G. Scott (Gentry), of Boyle county, Kentucky.

VALENTINE BICKING,

Merchant tailor. Was born in the Province of Nassua, Prussia, February 14, 1833. When thirteen years of age he went to the city of Maintz, where he learned his trade of tailoring, and where he remained until he was nineteen, when he came to the United States, arriving in New Orleans on Christmas day of 1851. Shortly after he went to Indianola, Texas, and from there to San Antonia, by ox team, in company with friends who came with him from Prussia; there engaged in his business as a tailor, remaining until 1853, when he returned to New Orleans. He worked at his trade in that city and afterward in Louisville, Ky., Florence, Ala., Tuscumbia and Pocahontas, Miss., and Memphis, Tenn., until 1855, when he

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went to Philadelphia and worked until 1863; then came to Kansas City, and was employed as foreman in the tailoring department of Louis Hammerslough's house, being with him until 1867, when he established himself in his present business, which compels him to employ twenty-five hands. In 1858 he mar- ried Miss Jane Crogan, of Philadelphia; she died April 10, 1880.

J. A. BENT,

Attorney at law. Was born in West Virginia, July 15, 1853, and there was reared and attended school until fifteen years old. At this early age he started in business for himself and since then has been his own support. About 1868 he came to Kansas, and took charge of a farm for his brother, and two years after- ward entered the academy at Topeka. After completing his education there, he entered college, and remained therein two years. At the age of twenty-two com- menced the study of law with Crumrine & Vance, of Topeka, with whom he remained one year and then moved to Atchison; continued there for one year, and on account of some business matters in the east, went there and was for some time unsettled. He returned to Kansas and afterward engaged in the law business in this city. Mr. Bent is quite notably connected, being a cousin of Hon. E. B. Washburne, of Illinois, and also of "Stonewall " Jackson. His grand- father was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, having been with Washington at the battle of Valley Forge. Two of Mr. Bent's brothers were killed while in the Confederate army at the Seven Days' fight at Richmond.

MRS. MATTIE A. BINGHAM,

Nee Livingston. Is a native of Kentucky, and was born near Frankfort, in January, 1824. Being deprived of her parents by death when she was only three years old, she was taken and reared by her grandmother. She received her ele- mentary education in the schools of Frankfort, completing it at Shelbyville, Kentucky. She left the latter place when sixteen, and lived with a married sister, Mrs. Thomas J. Hughes, of Jefferson City, Missouri, and afterward lived alternately with her and another married sister, Mrs. W. W. Owen, of Shelby- ville, until 1847. Then she went with Mrs. Hughes to Lexington, Missouri, and soon after opened a private school for young ladies and taught until 1850. On October 12th, 1851, she was married to Dr. Johnston Lykins, and after spending the winter in Washington, D. C., she came with her husband to Kansas City, where they made their home. Here she was the companion of her husband, a devoted noble wife, even assisting him to relieve destitute and suffering humanity. His death occurred in 1876. When she was fourteen she became a member of the Baptist church, and she and her husband were two of the original eight members who organized the first Baptist church of Kansas City. June 24th, 1878, she was married to her second husband, Gen. George C. Bingham, who was at the time filling the chair of Fine Arts in the State University, at Columbia. He died July 7th, 1879. In the late war she favored the Confederate cause, and was not sparing in her energy or means to alleviate the wants and sufferings of Confederate widows and orphans at its close. She, aided by many noble ladies, founded the Widows' and Orphans' Home, located at Kansas City, and which af- terward became the Industrial Home and School for the orphans and indigent chil- dren of the State of Missouri. She served as president from 1866 until 1880, when, declining to act longer was elected treasuress. In 1877, after the society had donated the building and grounds to the State, it became a State institute, by an act passed in the Legislature, in 1874; but the State seemingly not appreciat- ing its beneficence, let it revert back to the society. Mrs. Bingham, prompted by a benevolent spirit, instituted a boarding school for young ladies, and all the proceeds over contingent expenses were devoted to the support and education of orphans remaining in the Home, being five in all, the others being returned to the counties from whence they came, or were sent to homes found for them. She

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acted as principal until her marriage with Gen. Bingham, when she left Kansas City to live in Columbia, Missouri.

M. A. BOGIE,

Physician and surgeon. Was born on the 20th of December, 1841, and is a native of Richmond, Madison county, Ky., at which place he was partly brought up on a farm. He received good educational advantages, and attended the Kentucky University, from which he graduated in 1862. He commenced the study of medicine in 1860, and went to Philadelphia, where he attended lectures. Thence to New York and graduated M. D. first in 1864. He returned to Kentucky, engaged in practicing a short time, and in January, 1865, went to Mexico. There he followed his profession until August, 1870, when he left that country and went to New York. Spent .eighteen months in the hospitals and medical schools, and graduated while there twice more. Dr. Bogie took up his residence here in the winter of 1871, and since that time has been enjoying a good practice. He was married November 19th, 1872, to Miss C. E. Park, born in Kentucky, October 27th, 1846. She died March 6th, 1876. Lost one child.

BOUSCAREN & KENYON.

This law firm was established in Kansas City, January 1, 1881. O. Bous- caren, the senior member, is a native of Kentucky, having been born in Grant county, May 9, 1856. He was educated at St. Xavier's College, Cincinnati, graduating from that institution in 1876, and immediately began the study of law under Judge G. W. Craddock. He completed his studies in the spring of 1879, and was immediately admitted to the bar in Frankfort, Kentucky, and in the fall of that year went to Washington, D. C., where he resumed the study of mining and patent laws. There remained until September, 1880, when he came to Kan- sas City, and here made the acquaintance of C. A. Kenyon, the junior member of the firm. Mr. Kenyon was born in Kalamazoo county, Michigan, May 9, 1857. His parents moved to Logan county, Illinois, in 1859, where he lived until coming to Kansas City in 1880. He was educated at Illinois College, grad- uating from that institution in 1877, and soon after began the study of law in the office of Bason & Blinn, of Lincoln, Illinois. He completed it, and graduated from the law department of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, in 1880, and was admitted to the Supreme Court of Michigan in April of that year. He came to Kansas City during that fall. They are a young firm, favorably received by the older practitioners, and have promise of a successful career.

J. DALLAS BOWSER,

Editor of the Gate City Press. Was born near Weldon, Halifax county, North Carolina, February 15th, 1846, of free parents of whose ancestry nothing is known, further, than that his grandfather derived his name from being found one morning when but a few weeks old, at the door step of a family named Bowser, who cared for the little stranger, gave him their family name, and adopted him for their son. When the subject of this sketch was but six weeks old, his parents disliking the restraints of slavery upon the free people of color of the State, and desiring to secure for their children the advantages of an education, removed to Ohio, arriv- ing at Chillicothe in May, where the father engaged in agricultural pursuits in summer and school teaching in winter. At the age of twenty James left home to take charge of a school in Jamestown, Ohio, teaching without intermission or vacation in various parts of the State until March, 1868, when he came to Kan- sas City, taught a spring term of school at Westport, Missouri, and in the fall took charge of the colored schools of Kansas City, holding the position of principal for eleven consecutive years. Some unpleasant controversies arising, he resigned his position in Kansas City in Angust, 1879, to take charge of the public schools of Wy-

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andott, Kansas. In July, 1870, Mr. Bowser returned to Ohio to wed a Miss Chris- tie A. Lett, but who died within a week after his arrival. In July, 1873, he married Miss Dora S. J. Troy, of Zenia, Ohio, who for six years has been teaching in the Kansas City schools. In 1875, Mr. Bowser was nominated for supervisor of reg- istration, but was defeated by Mr .. J. W. Bell, the Democratic candidate. In religion as well as in politics he is a liberal, choosing to think and act for himself. In theology, he is a follower of Henry Ward Beecher : in philosophy, of Herbert Spencer. Mr. Bowser is the fortunate possessor of a handsome residence prop- erty on East Tenth Street.

H. C. BOWER,

Photographer. Was born in Illinois, on the 10th of February, 1852, and there lived until about ten years of age. His parents then removed to Kansas and settled in Linn county, and in this new and lonely country the subject of our sketch was brought up and educated. He followed farming about ten years and then learned the business of a photographer which he has followed ever since. He is now located in Kansas City, Kansas, where he is prepared to do all kinds of work in the picture line with neatness and dispatch.

LEE E. BOWERS,

Dealer in groceries and provisions. Was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, Feb- ruary 14th, 1850, and when about three years of age accompanied his parents to Illinois, settling in St. Clair county, where he was reared and educated. At the age of about seventeen, he commenced learning the trade of carpenter and joiner which he followed while in that State. About the year 1870, he moved to St. Louis, followed his trade for about one year and then came to Kansas City, be- coming engaged in the manufacture of crackers, with Taylor Brothers. This he followed for about four years and then commenced in the saloon business. Four years later he engaged in his present business. He keeps a large and well assorted stock and enjoys a liberal patronage as he well deserves. His marriage was April 12th, 1876, to Carrie Wirtz, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, a pleasant lady who assists her husband in the store. They have one child, Mabel. Mr. B. is a member of the Knights of Pythias.

BRABROOK & KNOWLES.

This firm was established January 1, 1880, and is composed of W. F. Bra- brook and J. W. Knowles. They both came from Worcester, Mass., where they had been previously employed in the establishment of Ware, Pratt & Co., the former as superintendent for eleven years, and the latter as cutter for six years.

The senior member was born in Sterling, Mass., June 12, 1848. His father died when he was four years old, and after his father's death Mr. Brabrook lived with his mother until he was eight years old, when he was sent to live with his guardian, Burgess Taylor, of Chattanooga, Tenn. He lived with him until De- cember, 1859, when he returned to Worcester, and attended school until 1861, then enlisting in Company E, - Massachusetts Infantry Volunteers, and served until July, 1862, when he was discharged on account of sickness. He returned to his native town, and April 5, 1863, married Miss Ida E. Pope, of Hardwick Vt. They have four children: Arthur G., William, Daisy and George W. The junior member, Mr. Knowles, was born in Providence, Mass., June 28, 1846, and there lived until he was eighteen. When seventeen he went into the . shop of William Boyne to learn to be cutter, being with him one year when he went to Boston, and was there employed in the house of Ryder, Crocket & Co .; worked with them until 1868, and after working as cutter in various places he went to Worcester, Mass., where he was employed by Ware, Pratte & Co., as before stated, being with them until he came to Kansas City, in 1880. January

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15, 1877, he married Miss Ellen Chilson, of Woonsocket, R. I., by whom he has one child, A. Williston.

G. W. BRIANT.

Prominent among the early settlers of Jackson county who have passed the ordeal of pioneer life and whose early struggles well deserve a place in these memorials is the subject of this brief notice. Mr. Briant is a native of this State, born in Cooper county on the 12th day of March, 1830. Five years later he with his parents removed to Lafayette county, Mo., where they lived until 1842, when they came to this county. . Mr. Briant was educated at the Highland Academy, and on reaching his majority he engaged in the freighting business with the Hon. W. F. Ewing, in the Santa Fe trade, occupying a prominent place of trust for one year, at the end of which time he embarked in the same business for himself, commencing with but two teams and continued successfully, making upward of sixty-six trips from Jackson county, Mo., to Santa Fe, New Mexico. In 1865 our subject formed a partnership with Mr. J. L. Watkins in the banking business in Kansas City under the firm name of Watkins & Co. He retained his relation with this firm until 1877, when he retired from the business, since which time he has given his attention to the stock trade, which business he started before his retirement from the bank, and is also interested in the Eagle Flouring Mills, of Kansas City. Mr. Briant is a man of good business qualifications and by close attention to business has gained a fair share of this world's goods. He is a true neighbor, never forgetting the injunction of the Savior to remember the poor. His charities are distributed in a quiet and private manner. He is also a warm friend of the young, often giving them, in an unobtrusive and most kindly manner, words of advice which are like apples of gold in pictures of silver. He was married to Miss Elizabeth A. Lobb, October 6, 1858. She is a native of Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Briant are both members of the Cumberland Presby- terian Church.

BROOKS' SIGN WORKS.

This is the leading establishment of the kind in the west, and their handiwork can be found in many places in this part of the country as in others. The busi- ness in Kansas City is carried on by the firm of Charles Brooks, and his son Charles Brooks, whom all the banks, telegraph and express companies and every railroad centering here they have as their patrons. The elder Brooks for many years prior to the war, carried on business at Detroit and Ann Arbor, Michigan. When the tocsin of war sounded in 1860 he threw up his business and joined the Fifth Michigan Cavalry as sergeant, serving through the war under the ill fated Custer. After being mustered out at Leavenworth, Kansas, in June, 1865, he closed up his business in Michigan and started out to seek fresh fields for his labor. Coming to the City of Kansas, then numbering less than 4,000 souls, he started the business that has assumed such vast proportions. His sons George C., Charles and James F., as they grew up " took to the business like ducks to water," and they are now classed among the best sign painters of the country. During the depressing times of 1875, the elder Brooks went to San Francisco where he started the business soon to make the name of Brooks Sign Works fa- miliar on the Pacific Coast. ' For his assistants he had his two sons, and leaving the business in their hands, he returned to Kansas City where his son Charles held the business during his absence. Concord and unanimity are characteristics of the firm, and between employer and employees are cherished the most friendly feelings. Their foreman, Mr. Vincent Whelan, has been in their employ for ten years, and is esteemed by them almost as a partner. The firm contemplate start- ing a branch of their works at El Paso or some other point in Arizona, where the younger son, James F., will locate.

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P. S. BROWN

Was born in Bedford county, Penn , October 14, 1833, and received his early education in the schools there. At the age of seventeen he received instruction from Dr. John McKinny, an eminent teacher and noted for his ability, and con- tinued with him for some time, dividing his attention between school and the duties of the sheriff's office. Then was engaged with the Cambria fron Company for two years, after which he removed to Davenport, Iowa, where he engaged in the grocery business. Some time after he commenced the study of law with J. W. Thompson, and was associated with this eminent gentleman three years. In 1857 was admitted to the bar in Scott county, practicing in the district court, and in March, 1858, he came to Kansas City. November 3, 1858, he married Miss Julia A. Shaffer, of Pittsburg. Soon after he commenced practicing law, and has been actively engaged at it since. In 1866 he was elected a member of the city coun- cil, serving two terms, and during this time introduced an ordinance granting the right of way to the Pacific Railroad Company, for which the city received $35,- 000. Was also actively engaged in promoting the completion of the Kansas City, Galveston & Lake Superior Railroad, doubtless one of the turning points in the history of Kansas City. He contributed his services one year as their attorney, and was instrumental in establishing the road on a firm basis, building the bridge, etc. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have had nine children, six of whom are living- Julia A. (now Mrs. Edward Shillito, of Cincinnati), Lulu K., William H. (at University at Columbia ), P. S., Ralph and Sadie L. (twins). Mr. Brown is an elder, and has been connected with the First Presbyterian church since 1859. His wife is also a member.

DR. R. WOOD BROWN

Is the son of Henry E. Brown, a wholesale grocer of long standing in New York City. He was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., March 11, 1852, and when eight years old entered the military school at Danbury, Conn., attended for four years and then removed with his father to Green Bay, Wisconsin, where he lived with them until he was eighteen, when he went to Philadelphia; there took a full course in the Philadelphia Dental College, graduating from that instiution in the spring of 1873, thus finishing a course of study which he began when sixteen. After grad- uating he returned to Brooklyn and opened an office for the practice of dentistry, and at once entered upon the study of medicine in the Long Island College Hospital, also holding, at the same time, the position of surgeon dentist, which he filled for two years, graduating as M. D. in June, 1876. In the fall of that year he made a tour to Europe, visiting Liverpool, London, Paris, Turin, Rome, Naples and Milan, consulting with many of the eminent physicians and surgeons of those cities for the purpose of making himself proficient in the profession. He made a nine months' trip, returning to Brooklyn in 1877, where he remained only a short time, being called to Green Bay by the sickness and death of his mother. In the fall of that year he came to Kansas City and established him- self in the dental profession, and has a lucrative practice. He is assistant secre- tary of Academy of Science, as well as holding membership in the Kansas City Histological and Pathological Society, the Dental Society of Kansas City and the Kansas City Medical Society.

R. B. BUFFINGTON,

Weigh Master at cattle scales for Kansas City Stock Yards, was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, August 2, 1842, and in the spring of 1857 he left his native State with his parents and moved to Warren county, Illinois. He was reared a farmer's boy, and followed the same till the fall of 1868, when he came to Kansas City, and July 1, 1871, he accepted the position as shipping master for the Kan-

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sas City Stock Yards. Retaining this position till August 1, 1872, he was allotted to his present situation.

THOMAS B. BULLENE.

The subject of this sketch was born in Oswego county, New York, August 10, 1828, and is the youngest son in a family of sixteen children. His father was a successful farmer and merchant in his native county, and afterward identi- fied himself with the lumber business in Albany. At the age of seven years our subject accompanied his parents to Albany, where he lived until ten years of age, and in 1837 went to Southport (now Kenosha), Wisconsin. Here he was reared and educated, receiving an academic education only, which he supplemented with a discriminative course in ancient and modern literature and history. At the age of twenty-one he entered actively into the mercantile business at Lyons, Wisconsin, in partnership with another brother, remaining until 1856, prospering and laying the foundation of his future enlarged operations in business. In 1851 he was married to Miss Amarett Hickock, daughter of Harris Hickock, Esq., of Bridgeport, New York. By this union they have a family of five children : Thomas C. born in Lyons; Lathrop B. born at Independence, Iowa; Harris Hickock born at Independence, Iowa; Fred S. born in Kansas City in 1864 and Lora Amarett born in Kansas City in 1870. In 1856 Mr. Bullene removed to Iowa, there being engaged in business until 1863, when he removed to Kansas City and purchased property, buying, at that time, the land on which now stands the great mercantile house of Bullene, Moores & Emery, it being then far re- moved from the business portion of the city. On arriving here he found the city under martial law, some very prominent mercantile establishments being closed by order of the provost marshal, among them the house of Gillis & Coates. 'Mr. Bullene bought the interest of Mr. Gillis, and, in connection with his brother, L. Bullene, of Lawrence, and K. Coates, Esq., organized the dry goods house of Coates & Bullene. Mr. Coates only remained in the firm one year, the business being continued until 1867, when Mr. W. E. Emery was admitted, constituting the firm of Bullene Brothers & Emery. Early in 1870 Mr. L. T. Moore, of Kentucky, joined in the business, and the firm then became Bullene, Moore & Emery, and in 1871 Mr. L. R. Moore, of Montgomery, Alabama, and a brother of L. T., took an equal interest in the business, and the title became Bullene, Moores & Emery. Mr. Bullene was one of the founders of the Kansas City Agricultural and Mechanical Association, and has always been one of its directors ; is also a director in the Merchants Exchange. He has a fine literary taste, con- tributing to public journals in the most unobtrusive manner, characteristic of the man. He is of unquestioned integrity, a close reasoner and a profound thinker. To a thorough knowledge of his business, he joins the general culture derived from a varied and extended course of reading and observation.

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The History of Jackson county, Missouri, containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., biographical sketches of its citizens, Jackson county in the late warhistory of Missouri, map of Jackson county, Part 101

Author: Union Historical Company Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Kansas City, Mo. : Union historical company Number of Pages: 1068

Author: Union Historical Company
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Kansas City, Mo. : Union historical company
Number of Pages: 1068