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 117

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 117

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J. J. SQUIER,

Capitalist, was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, January 31, 1836, and was there reared, his early education being received in the common schools. He afterward entered the Green Academy, continuing therein until eighteen years of age, when his father moved to Ohio, and bought a store at Cambridge. J. J. had charge of this, and was so occupied until 1861, when the establishment was sold, and he removed to Iowa, locating in Mahaska county. Here he was engaged quite extensively in the sheep and cattle business, which he continued for some time. He was the first to introduce the Spanish Merino sheep in that county. After leaving here, he went to St. Louis, and embarked in the real estate brokerage business in the spring of 1868, coming to Kansas City in the fall of that year. Mr. Squier afterward went to Chicago, and commenced the wholesale hardware and stove business, and three years later returned to Kansas City. Here he invested in real estate, and engaged in the live stock business. He lately bought what is known as the Walnut Grove Place, formerly owned by Wm. Stewart, consisting of 120 acres, one and one half miles southeast of the city limits, where he has improved and made a beautiful home for his future residence. His marriage was on the 19th of December, 1861, to Miss Mary Stranathan, of Cumberland, Ohio, and a native of that State. They have one child, Cora S., living, having recently lost a son, Albert G., a most interesting and promising boy.

DRS. JOHN STARK and D. E. DICKERSON,

Of the Western Surgical Institute of Kansas City. Dr. Stark was born in Coat- bridge, Scotland, December 20, 1841. He graduated from the Royal College

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of Glasgow, Scotland, and came to the United States in 1863, stopping in New York, when he was commissioned assistant surgeon in the United States Army. Served four years, and for three years of that time had charge of the United States Army Hospital, at Fort Mohave, Arizona. In 1867 he returned to Eu- rope, and while in Glasgow, Scotland, received the appointment of surgeon for the Anchor Line of Trans-Atlantic Mail Steamships. In 1868 he came to Kansas City, when, in 1873, he associated himself with D. E. Dickerson, M. D., when they founded the Western Surgical Institute, under the incorporate laws of the State of Missouri. This enterprise has proved a financial as well as profes- sional success, patients coming from New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, Indian Ter- ritory, Nebraska, and adjacent States, it being the only institution west of the Mississippi that is provided with steam propelled movement cure, that being the most modern treatment for the cure of paralytics. Difficult surgical operations are performed daily. Dr. Dickerson is a native of New York. He was born in Watertown, May 19, 1835, and received his literary education by attending the Jefferson County Academy, and graduated as M. D. from the New York Medi- cal University at Albany, in 1857. He first practiced in his native town. In 1861 he was appointed, by Governor Morgan, surgeon of the Sing Sing Prison Hospital on the Hudson, holding that position only a short time, when the same Governor commissioned him surgeon of the 33d Regiment New York Volunteers. He served in that and other regiments until the close of the war in 1865, and coming to Kansas City in the fall of that year, he soon built up a lucrative prac- tice. Here he has served as city physician on the staffs of Mayors Harris, Long, and McGee.

E. STINE,

Undertaker, was born in Jonestown, Lebanon county, Penn., January 2, 1833, and made it his home until sixteen years of age. He then removed to Harris- burg, same State, where he learned his trade, that of cabinet maker, continuing it in that locality for six years. Then took up his residence in Laporte, Ind., resumed his former occupation, and about the year 1857 removed to Iowa. Two years later, or about 1859, Mr. Stine came to Kansas City. For three years he worked in the employ of A. W. Henning & Co., and in 1862 cominenced work- ing for himself. In this business he has been quite successful, and is worthy of what he has gained. He married Miss Emma Coleman, of Vinton, Iowa, in 1858. She was born in Ashtabula, Ohio. Their family consists of two children : William and Fannie.

ERNST G. STOELTZING,

Dealer in hardware, stoves and tinware, was born at Radenenburg-on-the-Fulda, Germany, January 14, 1842, and was there reared and educated. He came to America in March, 1858, and found employment in New York City as an ap- prentice to the tinner's trade, where he remained until 1860. In that year he sailed for Germany, and thinking himself not quite proficient in his trade, went to work there for one year, and also traveled over the various parts of Germany, Switzerland, Italy and France for several years, working in most of the large cities. Also at his old home, where he worked at the coppersmith trade for his brother. He again sailed for America and arrived in New York in August, 1866, and came directly to Kansas City, where he found employment with Mr. Charles Thomas, then located at what is now known as the Public Square. He remained about six months there, and then went to Osawatomie, Kansas, where he remained one year. At the expiration of that time removed back to Kansas City and started in business for himself in the Metropolitan Block, on Grand avenue, where he now is. Mr. Stoeltzing, by his attention to business and honest dealing, has gained a large trade. He was married in Illinois in August, 1872, to Miss Mar- tha Dicker. They have one child, Ernst F., born in March, 1880.

W. H. MORGAN (DECEASED)

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KANSAS CITY.

WILL. P. SESSIONS,

Druggist and pharmacist. The subject of this sketch was born in Missouri City, Clay county, Mo., April 8, 1858, and was there reared and educated. In the year 1870 he came to Kansas City and found employment as clerk for C. F. Hol- man, later Holman & French. He remained with them until September 15th, 1880, when he established himself at his present location, and has one of the fin- est drug houses on Main street, and is also doing a large lucrative trade.

J. R. STOLLER,

Live stock commission merchant, is a native of Ohio, and was born in Morrow county, June 1, 1841. Was educated in his native county, and was there en- gaged in the stock trade till July, 1878, when he came to Cass county, Mo., where he was dealing in stock about five years. Then moved to Denver, Col., and was. engaged in raising stock on the plains until March, 1877, when he located in Kansas City, and immediately began at his present occupation. In addition to his commission trade, he has a ranche in the Indian Territory, upon which he keeps several thousand head of cattle. Was married to Miss Lucretia M. Miner, July 5, 1868. They have six children : Laura M., Frank R., Charles E., Lucy C., John C. and Fanny P.

CONRAD STUMPF,

Brick manufacturer, was born in Germany, September 20, 1834, remaining there until the age of fifteen, when, in 1851, he came to the United States. Landed at New York City, thence to Patterson, New Jersey, and after a short stay there went to Canada West. Here he resided three years, engaged in the bricklaying trade, learning that trade there. In 1857 emigrated to Peoria, Ill., living there for three years, and during the financial crash of that year, his stock of trade was rather low. In 1860 he went to Ionia, Michigan, there commenced business for himself, engaging in contracting and building, and followed it until 1867, when he sold out and removed to Omaha, Neb. Here he resumed his former business, and in 1869 came to Kansas City, and formed a copartnership in the brick manufacture with G. W. McClelland, which still exists. Mr. Stumpf was married in June, 1871, to Miss Caroline Westman, who was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio. They have three children : Estelle A., Emma G. and Victor C.

W. R. STUMPFF,

Of the firm of Zuler & Stumpff, was born in St. Joseph, or where St. Joseph now is, April Ist, 1842. He claims to be the first white child born in that city and that his mother filled the first grave. His father settled there in 1841 ; his mother died in 1842, when he was taken by his father to Washington county Kentucky his former home. Here young Stumpff was left with relatives, and here he lived until eleven years old, when he returned to St. Joe with his father. His father dying the following year, he was left with his step mother with whom he lived until he was seventeen, when he enlisted in the Confederate army under Captain Sullivan, in Company C, 5th Regiment Missouri Infantry Volunteers. Served until 1863, when he was discharged. After his discharge, he went to Paris, Ills., and from there to Terre Haute, Ind., where he worked at the blacksmith- ing trade, he having learned that trade with his father when very young. He afterward worked in many places in Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, Texas, Arkan- sas and Kansas, and came to Kansas City in 1877 when the present firm of Zuler & Stumpff was formed.

F. STURDEVANT,

Physician and Surgeon, was born in Sullivan county, New York, October 21, 1845, and there was reared and educated ; remaining untill 1879. He was em-

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ployed on a farm when young, and attended school in winter. When fifteen years of age he commenced learning the trade of a tanner, which he followed un- til the breaking out of the war. Then enlisted in Company G, 143d New York Volunteer Infantry, serving for three years-having been mustered into the ser- vice at Monticello. Was engaged in many of the hotly contested battles of the war, being at Suffolk, Lookout Mountain, three day's fight at Mission Ridge, Knoxville ; and then returning was stationed at Bridgeport, Ala., until the Ist of May following, when they took part in Sherman's memorable campaign. Were engaged at Dalton, Buzzard's Roost, Dallas, Big Shanty, and others too numer- ous to mention. Was on Sherman's March to the Sea, at the surrender of Colum- bia, S. C., and also at the surrender of Joe Johnson. After being honorably discharged, he returned and entered an Academy at Monticello. There finished his literary education, and then entered the medical college at Albany, where he graduated in December, 1869. Then commenced the practice of his profession at Deposit, Broome county, continuing until 1879, when he came west and resided in Kansas until July 5th, 1880, when he came to his present location. He has built up a good practice and is the surgeon of three railroad companies. Mr. S. was married in 1873 to Miss V. M. Judson. Their family consists of two children, Mable M. and Emily.

RUFUS SUITS,

Proprietor of the City Cloak and Suit House, was born in Palestine, New York, July 26, 183r, and there lived and attended school until he was seventeen. Then he went to New York City and was employed by A. T. Stewart & Co., as a salesman in the cloak and suit department, and two years after was promoted to the head of that department and had charge of it for eight years. Leaving there in 1856, he went to Chicago and became connected with the firm of Hamlin, Hall & Co., wholesale and retail dry goods dealers, being with them until the great fire in 1871, when they were burned out. His own residence was also burned, and he thereby lost nearly all he had accumulated. Soon after the fire, he went to Cincinnati and took charge of the cloak and suit department of John Shillito's wholesale manufactory, being with them until 1877, when he came to Kansas City and took charge of the cloak and suit department of Bullene, Moores & Emery. In the spring of 1880, he established his present cloak and suit house in Kansas City, having the facilities to please the most fastidions, employing the most skillful and tasty dress makers. He makes ladies dresses and cloaks either for the trade or on special orders.

JOSEPH W. SWAIN,

Superintendent of the Consolidated Tank Line Company, of Kansas City, was born in Cincinnati in 1851, and there received his primary education, also pass- ing through the intermediate grades of the city schools. After this he accepted a position on a steam boat as first clerk, and held the position for three years, soon after becoming connected with a railroad, remaining one year. In 1871 he became identified with the firm of R. H. Fleming & Co., continuing with them until 1873, when he associated himself with the Consolidated Tank Line Com- pany, establishing the first office west of the Mississippi River at St. Joe, Mo. He remained in charge of the business for several years, and then came to Kan- sas City and accepted the superintendency of the company. They are doing a large business, and handle annually fifty thousand barrels of petroleum, the oil being shipped from the refineries in tank direct from Cleveland to this place. Mr. Swain was married in 1876 to Miss May Howard, of St. Joe, daughter of Dr. Jno. B. Howard, an eminent physician of that place. They have two children : Pauline M. and Sarah.

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KANSAS CTIY.

GEORGE SWEENEY

Was born in County Donegal, Ireland, in 1820, and lived in his native county until receiving an education. In 1848 he emigrated to the United States, landing at Philadelphia, where he remained a short time and then went to Pittsburg, Penn. Here resided until 1856, when he came to Kansas City, and has since made it his home. After coming he engaged in the retail grain trade, continuing it until 1866, when he sold out, and in 1868 was elected City Treasurer, holding the position three years. In 1869 he erected a fine building on the west side of the square. In 1842 he was married to Miss Rose Ann Daugherty, of the same place as her husband.

E. G. TAYLOR,

Of the firm of Scott & Taylor, attorneys, was born in Lafayette county, Mo., January 26, 1856. He is a son of Hon. S. F. Taylor, who fell a victim in the late war at Corinth, Miss. He attended the public schools until he was sixteen, when he, with an older brother, made an overland trip to Salt Lake City and Idaho. Returning in the spring of 1874, he entered the Missouri State Univers- ity, at Columbia, taking an irregular literary course, and graduating from the law department of that institution in 1879. Soon after he came to Kansas City and opened an office with Fletcher Cowherd, for the practice of law under the firm name of Taylor & Cowherd. In November of the same year Mr. William J. Scott became connected with them, changing the name of the firm to Scott, Taylor & Cowherd. In the spring of 1880 Mr. Cowherd retired from the firm to engage in the banking business with the Whipple Brothers, of Kansas City, the firm then becoming Scott & Taylor. He is an ardent Demo- crat, and although a young man, was the nominee of his party for the Legislature in 1880.

GEORGE E. TEED,

Dealer in cigars, tobacco and confectionery, was born in Portage County, Ohio, March 30, 1842, but only remained there a short time. He was taken by his parents from place to place (as his father was in the canal business) until twelve years of age, when they settled in Michigan. Here he was brought up and edu- cated, and at the age of seventeen or eighteen he engaged as a sailor on the lakes, continuing it until the war broke out. In the spring of 1862 he enlisted in Company F, 19th Michigan Infantry, serving until the close of the war, when he was mustered out. He was in some very important battles of the war, among which were Resacca, Dallas, Peachtree Creek, in the campaign through Georgia, on the memorable March to the Sea, and through the Carolina campaign. He then became engaged in railroading, commencing as brakeman and being pro- moted until he became conductor of a passenger train. This he followed until April, 1880, when he commenced his present business. He was married in June, 1876, to Miss Jane Phillips, of Plymouth, Ind. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., A. F. and A. M., and also a member of the Conductors' Brother- hood.

ELI TEED,

With Plankinton & Armours, was born in Ulster county, N. Y., July 10, 1831, and from the time he attained his fifteenth year to his twenty-fifth, his occupation was that of a sailor on the Pacific, to Bedford and most all points on these waters and the Arctic ocean. In 1856 he went to Milwaukee, Wis., remaining till the spring of 1861, when he went to California. Remained till 1866, then went to Montana Territory, and was there engaged in mining In 1871 came to Kan- sas City. Has been about eighteen months in his present position. He served as one of the council of Kansas City, Kan., in the years of 1874-5, and was

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mayor 1875-80. Was married to Miss S. J. Sackett, March 19, 1871. They have one child, Elmore S.

HENRY THILENIUS,

Wholesale and retail manufacturer of harness and saddles, was born in Hano- ver, Germany, September 6, 1837, and came to the United States with his parents when eleven years old. They settled in St. Louis, and there he lived until 1867. When he was sixteen he began to learn the trade of saddler and harness maker with J. B. Sickles & Co., of St. Louis, serving five years. In 1867 he came to Kansas City and soon after established himself in business of harness and saddle making, and has built up an extensive wholesale and retail trade, his house being the oldest in the city. His wholesale trade extends to New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas and Missouri.

CHARLES THOMAS

Was born in Germany in 1832 and at the age of twenty-one years, emigrated to the United States. He landed in New York in 1853 and in 1856 removed to the Territory of Kansas, and thence to Kansas City, where he has since resided. After arriving he engaged in working at the tinner's trade. Mr. Thomas was one of the ninety-one persons who had the courage to vote for Mr. Lincoln in 1860, and in 1861 was one of the first to help in putting down the rebellion, belonging to Van Horn's battalion some eight months. Was then mustered out but remained in the militia till the close of the war, being mustered out as captain. He did good service in the protection of this State.

MRS. JULIA ANN THRELKELD,

Was born in Washington, Mason county, January 19, 1805. Her father, James Kercheval, removed to Lebanon, Warren county, Kentucky, when she was five years old, and her mother dying soon after, she was taken by an aunt who resided in Lebanon. She lived with her until her marriage with Benjamin Threlkeld, of Flemingsburg, Kentucky, in 1821. They first settled in Flemingsburg, but in 1825 they moved to Morganfield, Kentucky, where they lived until 1834, then coming to Missouri. They settled in Boone county, near Columbia, where they lived until 1849, when they came to Kansas City, where they lived until 1852. Then on account of the ill health of her husband and prevalence of the cholera, they went to Providence, Mo., where her husband died the following fall. She resided there until 1855 then returned to Kansas City. She has four children : Edward R. (of Leadville, Colorado), Anna E. (wife of M. D. Trefner, of Kansas City), Sallie (a teacher in the Humbolt school of Kansas City, having taught in the city for eleven years), and W. W. (of Kansas City). She became a member of the Baptist church in 1827 and still retains her membership.

G. W. TINDALL,

Dentist, was born in Howard county, Mo., on the 14th of February, 1833, and until fourteen years of age was reared on a farm. From that time until of age his time was divided between attending school and clerking. When twelve years of age he removed with his parents to Savannah, where he remained two years and then moved to St. Joseph. For three years he was engaged in clerking in a mer- cantile store. In 1854 he went to Lexington and studied dentistry with Dr. H. E. Peebles. During the winter of 1854-'5 attended dental college at Cincinnati, Ohio, and on the 5th of February, 1855, he came to Kansas City and commenced the practice of his profession. Dr. Tindall was married to M. A. Macartney, of St. Louis, July 14, 1858. They have by this union four children : Charles M., Minnie L., Laura L., and George W.

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KANSAS CITY.

JOHN H. TOWT,

Dealer in real estate, was born in Oneida county, N. Y., April 24, 1833, where he was brought up, and attended the common schools. In his young manhood he went to West Poltney, Vt., where he attended the Troy Conference College, a school under the charge of the M. E. church. After leaving there in 1853, he went to Wisconsin, and with others founded the town of Ironton, where they es- tablished large iron works and mills, conducting the business under the firm name of Jones, Towt & Co. Three years later he engaged in manufacturing carriages, which he followed for three years. In the spring of 1859 started for Pike's Peak, but on reaching Omaha, and reconsidering his intentions, he decided to visit towns along the Missouri River. Stopping in Carrollton, Carroll county, he engaged in merchandising for three years. Here he married Miss Jose- phine Kincheloe, formerly of Parkersburg, Va. They now have two children, Charles and Edward, aged fifteen and twelve years. Mr. Towt returned to Ironton and again entered into the carriage manufacture, also hotel keeping. Continuing this until 1869 he came to Kansas City and embarked in the real es- tate business. One year later, in 1870, he took the contract and built the street railway from Kansas City to Westport, for Mr. N. Holmes. After this, com- menced the grocery business, following it until the spring of 1880, since which time he has followed the real estate business. He owns two business houses and two dwellings, besides valuable lots.

WILLIAM TOBENER,

Of the firm of H. Tobener & Co., manufacturers of cigars and tobacco, was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1837, and came to the United States in 1847, landing in New Orleans. Thence to St. Louis, where he lived until 1852, when he crossed the plains to California, and remained fourteen years, being engaged in mining. In 1866 he returned and located at Kansas City, and has since re- mained here. In 1867 he formed a partnership with his brother, engaging in the manufacture of cigars and tobacco, and has built up an immense business. Their place is better known by the name of. the Metropolitan Tobacco Works. They are live and enterprising business men, and deserve to succeed. In 1867 our subject was married to Miss Barbara Selman, of this city, and by this union they have six children : Henry, George, Willam, Frederick, Francis, and Louisa.

SIMEON SEYMOUR TODD, M.D.,

Is of Scotch ancestry, who, partly because of their religious faith, being Presby- terians, and partly for political reasons, were driven from Scotland about the middle of the seventeenth century, taking refuge in northern Ireland in the County of Down. He is the third son of David Andrew and Mary Todd, grand- son of Owen Todd, great grandson of David Todd, and great, great grandson of Robert Todd, who, with his wife, Isabella and six children, accompanied by his half-brother, Andrew, immigrated from Ireland to this country, landing in the city of New York in the year 1737, and who, soon after, moved to the town of Trappe, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, where three more children were added to the family, and where the patriarch and his wife are buried. The de- scendants of Robert Todd are very numerous, and embrace the reputable family names of the Parkers, the McFarlands, the Findlays, the Majors, the Porters, the Hamills, the Mcclintocks, etc., of Pennsylvania, and many other well known names in the South and West.

The subject of this sketch was born at the home of his maternal grandfather, Hiram Ogle, in the vicinity of Vevay, Indiana, March 10th, 1826, the home of his parents being then at Madison, Indiana. At the age of nineteen years he began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. William Davidson, an accom- plished physician of Madison. At the end of four years of hard study, eight

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months of which had been spent in military hospitals during the war with Mexico, he graduated with distinction in a class of nineteen at the Indiana Medical College, then located at Laporte. In June, 1849, he went to Kentucky and began the practice of his profession at Lawrenceburg, the county seat of Anderson county, and on the roth of October, 1850, was married to Miss Judith Ann Ridgway, of Laporte, Indiana, by whom he had a daughter and son, while living at Lawrence- burg, both of whom died in infancy.

In January, 1854, the doctor, with his family, left their home in Kentucky, and in the following summer migrated to California, by the overland route, reach- ing Sacramento in September of that year. The two succeeding years were spent in the gold mines of Plumas county, where, in September, 1856, the family made their home in the beautiful little city of Santa Rosa, county seat of Sonoma county, on the north side of the bay of San Francisco. Meeting with an old classmate here, Dr. J. F. Boyce, an agreeable partnership was formed and a lucrative practice of several years followed. But the doctor sought a wider field, and the opening of the War of the Rebellion found him practicing his profession in San Francisco. A call for six regiments of volunteers having been made, he offered himself, and was appointed surgeon of the Fourth Infantry, and served in hospitals till the close of the war in 1865.

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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 117

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