Wyandotte County Biographies
"Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas--Historical and Biographical"
Goodspeed Publishing Co., Chicago, 1890
John E. Adams is foreman of the pickle cellar for the Kansas City
Packing Company, and although born in Belfast, Ireland, March 25,
1826, he has been a resident of the United States, and a subject of
"Uncle Sam" since 1848. His parents, Henry and Elizabeth (Richardson) Adams, were also born in Ireland, and there the mother died,
when the subject of this sketch was a lad about fourteen years of age.
His early life was spent in a packing-house in his native land, and
since his ninth year he has been familiar with this business, having
worked at it every year since that time, with the exception of the year
that he was fifteen years of age, when he followed the sea. At the age
of twenty- one years he came to America, to seek his fortune, and during
the winter of 1848-49 was employed in a packing-house at Cincinnati,
Ohio, but in the latter year he removed to St. Louis, which place continued to be his home until 1884, working during this time for the packing firm of Henry Ames & Co., of St. Louis, thirteen years, and later
for Robert McAllister, Francis Whittaker, John J. Roe, Thomas Stanton
and Bassett & Lincoln, a goodly portion of this time acting as foreman.
He finally, in 1881, entered the employ of Morris, Butt & Co., and has
remained with them ever since, the firm name being changed to the
Kansas City Packing Company. In 1884 he was transferred from
St. Louis to Kansas City, since which time he has been foreman of the
pickle cellar at this place. Mr. Adams is honorable and strictly upright in all his dealings, and has always proved himself a valuable
man to his employers and an acquisition to the cities in which he has
resided. His marriage to Miss Ann Ingram took place in 1844, but
she died in 1857, after having borne three children; Eliza Jane,
James and William H. In 1859 Mr. Adams married Miss Elizabeth
Robison, who died in 1875, leaving one child, Margaret, and in 1880
was married to his present wife, Bridget Cunniss. Mr. Adams is a
stanch Democrat in his political views.
H. L. Alden, the senior member of the law firm of Alden, McCrew
& Watson, is closely identified with the growth and prosperity of the
county, and particularly of Kansas City, Kas. He is a native of
Massachusetts, having come to this State in the fall of 1867, when
but twenty years of age, and settled in Wyandotte (now Kansas City,
Kas.), where he has resided since that time. His literary education
was received at Monson Academy, Monson, Mass., and at Kimball
Union Academy, Meriden, N. H. He was engaged in teaching for
two years before coming to Kansas, as principal of an academy in
Pennyslvania, and during the first year of his residence here he had
charge as teacher of the city schools, after which he entered the law
office of Hon. Stephen A. Cobb, and actively commenced the study
of law. He was admitted to practice in the courts of the State, in
April, 1870, since which time he has been actively engaged in the
practice of his chosen profession, and by his energy, close application
and devotion to the interests of his clients, has gained the confidence
of the public, and for years has stood in the front rank of the profession in the State. Soon after his admission to the bar, he formed
a partnership with his former preceptor, which association continued
until Mr. Cobb's death in 1878. In 1879 Mr. Alden formed a
partnership with Henry McCrew, which has continued up to the present time.
George B. Watson, the other partner, joining said partnership January 1, 1887. In the management of his cases, Mr. Alden has achieved
unusual success. He is a profound student and a fluent speaker, and
his intelligent, broad views on all matters of public interest has made
him one of the county's most highly respected and esteemed citizens.
He is a lineal descendant of John Alden, of the "Mayflower," the first
to land on Plymouth Rock and immortalized by Longfellow in his
poem of "The Courtship of Miles Standish." Mr. Alden is a
Republican, and has always taken quite an interest in politics, and has
held several positions of honor and trust. He was city clerk of the
city of Wyandotte during the year 1869. In 1872 he was elected to
the office of county attorney for Wyandotte County, and re-elected in
1874, holding such position for two consecutive terms of two years
each. In 1876 he was elected a member of the State Legislature,
and served for two years as a member of the House of Representatives.
In 1882 he was again elected to the position of county attorney, this
time serving one term. He served on the Republican State Central
Committee, when George T. Anthony was nominated for and elected
governor, and was a member of the National Republican Convention
in 1888, which nominated Harrison for President.
Hon. Harvey Allen, real estate, loan and insurance agent,
Armourdale, Kas. The principal necessity to the success of the real estate
business, the safest and surest form of investment, is to have reliable
agents, who are thoroughly posted on their city and locality. Such an
one has Armourdale in Hon. Harvey Allen. This gentleman was originally from the Buckeye State, his birth occurring in Hamilton County
on April 16, 1824, on Gen. Harrison's farm. His parents, Stephen
and Ann (Clendenning) Allen, were natives of New York and Ohio,
respectively. The father was a prominent tiller of the soil, and removed
from Ohio to Shelby County, Ind., where he received his final summons. His family consisted of three children, two now living, of whom
Harvey Allen is the elder. He was early trained to the duties of the farm
in Shelby County, Ind., whither he had moved with his parents in
1829, when only five years of age, and here he received his education
in the common schools. In 1846 he enlisted in the Mexican War, in
the Third Indiana Regiment, in Gen. Taylor's department, and served
one year. He learned the cabinet-maker's trade, and this followed
until coming West. In 1856 he emigrated to Leavenworth, Kas., and
was one among the first settlers. He took up a claim, farmed a short
time, and then returned to Leavenworth, where he embarked in the
furniture business, carrying it on for about eight years. During his
residence here he was a member of the Board of Education for eight
years, and also, at the same time, was a member of the City Council
for six years. In 1867 and 1868 he was a member of the Legislature,
and was very prominent, politically. In 1870 he embarked in contracting and building iron bridges, which he carried on until 1888, or a
period of eighteen years. He was connected with the Kansas City
Bridge & Iron Company for eight years. In 1883 he removed to
Armourdale, Kas., and bought the property where he now lives, which
was then in a big corn-field. He had but little capital on coming
here, but invested safely and made a lucky hit. For the last two years
he has turned his attention strictly to the real estate business. He is
prominently identified with the building interests of Armourdale, and
in 1890 was elected to the city council. In 1857, at the organization
of the Leavenworth, Lawrence & Galveston Railroad, now the Southern Kansas Railroad, he was elected one of the directors, which position he tilled for seven years, being secretary of the company for
two years. He assisted in making the first survey of that line from
Leavenworth via Lawrence, through Indian Territory to Fort Gibson. He was married, first in 1845, in Indiana, to Miss Martha J.
Russell, who bore him one son, James M. (of Leavenworth). His second marriage occurred on March 23, 1858, to Miss Katie Helfenstein.
Mr. Allen is a Mason, and treasurer of Armourdale Lodge No. 271.
Robert Allison, dairyman, Kansas City, Kas. Prominent among
the successful and enterprising citizens of Kansas City, Kas. , stands
the name of Mr. Allison, who engaged in the dairy business at this place
in 1881, and who is one of the pioneers in that industry. He was
born in Renfrewshire, Scotland, in 1828, and followed farming in that
country until 1871, when he and family came to America, locating in
Wyandotte County, Kas. There Mr. Allison entered a paint shop,
Union Pacific Work Shops, and was thus engaged for eight years.
He was married in Scotland to Miss Grace Ewing, who died there,
and who bore him four children, three living: Elizabeth, Jeanette and
James. The son is in Washington, engaged in the mercantile business, and the two daughters are in Scotland. Mr. Allison's second
marriage was to Miss Agnes Elder, and four children were born to
this union: Jean, Agnes, Matthew and Walter. Mr. and Mrs. Allison
are worthy members of the Presbyterian Church, and he was one of
the first elders. They were formerly members of the Congregational
Church. Politically he is a stanch Republican. He is the owner of
thirty-two lots joining Chelsea Park, and has it all well improved. He
has been actively engaged in the dairy business, of which he has made
a success.
Maj. Eli W. Anderson, dealer in real estate and insurance agent, Armourdale, Kas. This prominent citizen located in this place in 1881,
when there were but seven houses erected, and not a plank down in
the town for a sidewalk. He was born in Xenia, Greene County, Ohio,
and in 1854 emigrated to Galveston, Tex., thence in August, 1860,
to Indiana. Two years later he enlisted in Company I, Seventy-second
Indiana Regiment, and served until September 19, 1863, when he was
wounded at the battle of Chickamauga, lying on the battle-field for twelve
days. His wound was through the left thigh, and he was subsequently
mustered out on account of disability. He enlisted as a private, was
commissioned a major, and was mustered out as a lieutenant. He was
captured on September 19, 1863, but was paroled. His army experience was not pleasant, and to this day he suffers very severely from
his wound. After service he settled in Champaign County, Ill. , moved
from there to Danville, Ill., thence to Indianapolis, Ind., and followed
merchandising for about eight years. In 1878 he came to Kansas
City, Mo., and there resided for four years, being in the employ of
the Fort Scott Railroad Company. In 1881 he moved to Armourdale,
and was the first postmaster at that place, having started the office in
1882. He served one term. During this time he was also in the real
estate business, and the same year he incorporated the little town of
Armourdale. He drew all the ordinances for Armourdale for the first
year, some of which are yet on the docket. In 1882 he was appointed
as school director, and he drew all the plans and specifications for
their present tine school building, superintending its construction.
Since that time he has turned his attention almost exclusively to the
real- estate and loan business, dealing altogether with city property,
and is doing a thriving business. He drew the ordinance for the
grade on Kansas Avenue, and is a prominent citizen. The name of
the firm is now E. W. Anderson & Son. The Major is the father of
Armourdale, and has witnessed the growth from seven houses to its
now population of 8,000, a thriving little city. Much credit is due
Maj. Anderson for his enterprise and integrity in building this city.
He is of Scotch origin, and his parents, James and Nancy (Kendall)
Anderson, are both natives of Scotland. The grandfather emigrated
to Ohio in 1801, settled on a piece of military land near Xenia, and
there his death occurred. Socially the Major is a Mason, and a member of the Grand Army; politically, a stanch Republican. He was
married on November 5, 1865, to Miss Alice Earl, a native of Indiana,
who bore him two children -- Frank and Harry.
Greene B. Anderson (colored) is the efficient constable of Kansas
Township, Wyandotte County, Kas., but is a native of Georgia, where
he was born December 25, 1851. He was reared in his native State,
but at the close of the war was in Chattanooga, Tenn., and was there
employed in a grocery store for six years. During the war, although
but a lad, he took a deep interest in the stirring events of the times,
and witnessed many battles, although too young to take an active part
in them. He was on several battle-fields after the battle was over,
where the wounded and dead thickly covered the ground, and witnessed many heart-rending sights. His father, a mulatto, was an
engineer by trade, and by his own energy purchased his freedom, and
by 1856, the freedom of his son. It was his intention to purchase the
freedom of his entire family, but the war rendered this unnecessary.
The father went with his former master into the Confederate army, to
care for him, and after the war was over, settled in Chattanooga, where
he is still living. From 1873 until 1879 Greene B. Anderson was a
member of the fire department, and at the end of that time, came to
Kansas City, Kas., to work for Houston, Murray & Co., and remained
with them until 1885, when he was appointed by Mayor Hannan as
patrolman, and made such an efficient officer that he was afterward
appointed a member of the police force by the Metropolitan Board,
after which he was appointed deputy constable of Kansas Township,
and was elected constable in 1889 and 1890. Mr. Anderson killed one
man while serving as policeman. The desperado had tired at him twice,
but missed him both times, whereupon Mr. Anderson returned the fire,
with fatal results. He does a great deal of collecting, and is prompt
in making all attachments and levies. He received some schooling
in his youth, for which he paid himself, $1 per month, and is an intelligent man. He was married here June 13, 1882, to Miss Frances Buster, a native of Kentucky. He is a warm Republican, and is a Knight
Templar in the Masonic fraternity, and also belongs to the I. O. O. F.
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