Wyandotte County Biographies
"Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas--Historical and Biographical"
Goodspeed Publishing Co., Chicago, 1890
Henry M. Bacon is a well-known young druggist of Kansas City,
Kas., and has been conceded one of the most accurate pharmacists of the
city. He has been in business here since 1881 , being the owner and conductor of two excellent drug establishments. He was born in
Franklin, Mass., January 24, 1854, being a son of George W. and
Julia A. (Brooks) Bacon, the former a native of the Bay State, and a
son of Joseph and Mary Ann (Metcalf) Bacon, also natives of that
State. George W. Bacon is still living, and resides in Massachusetts,
but his wife passed from life in 1865. Henry M. Bacon made his
home in Massachusetts, until he was two and twenty years of age, and
received an exceptionally fine literary education, in Amherst College,
from which institution he was graduated in 1876. In August of the
same year he came west to Kansas, and for one year was principal of
the public schools at Arkansas City, after which he accepted a clerkship in a drug store, and in 1881 engaged in his present business.
He has devoted thirteen years of his life to the calling of a druggist,
and no more competent pharmacist resides within the limits of Wyandotte County. He is a charter member of the State Pharmaceutical
Association, also of the Tauromee Lodge of the A. O. U. W. He belongs to the school board of Kansas City, having been elected in the
spring of 1890, and every enterprise in which he becomes interested is
benefited by his patronage. Miss Mattie F. Mitchell became his wife
October 10, 1883, she being a native of La Fayette, Ind. , and to them
a son has been born: Walter B., whose birth occurred March 15,
1885. Mr. and Mrs. Bacon are members of the Pilgrim Congregational Church, of which he is now a trustee.
August Baker is one of the original settlers of Wyandotte County,
Kas., coming here in 1870. He was born in Germany on April 21,
1842, being the sixth of nine children born to Chris and Hannah Baker, also native Germans. The subject of this sketch, at the early age
of eight years, was so unfortunate as to lose both his parents, their
deaths being caused by cholera, which terrible epidemic swept Germany during the year 1850. In August, 1856, when only fourteen
years of age, he emigrated to the United States, settling with an elder
brother, Henry, who now resides in Champaign County, Ill. He also
resided in this county until the opening of the Rebellion, when he enlisted in the First Illinois Light Artillery, under Capt. Chaney, who
resigned at Jackson, Miss., and was succeeded by Lieut. H. H. Burton. His regiment was a member of the Sixteenth Army Corps, under
Gen. John A. Logan, whose fortunes he followed until the closing of
the war. The principal engagements in which he took part were
Memphis, Corinth, siege of Vicksburg, Jackson, and those battles in
which Sherman participated in his famous march to the sea. His
regiment was sent to Missionary Ridge to reinforce Gen. Grant, and
served in the left wing of this battle. He then went to Knoxville,Tenn.
where Gen. Burnside was surrounded by Gen. Longstreet, after which
he went to Chattanooga, where he remained until his regiment received
orders to go to Chicago to be mustered out of service. They passed
through Indianapolis, Ind. , where they were banqueted by the citizens.
receiving their first good dinner in three years. While at Atlanta, Ga.,
on July 22, 1864, he and his entire company were captured by the
Confederates. He was driving a piece of artillery at the time of his
capture, but after remaining in the hands of the Confederates a short
time, he became tired of being shot at by his own comrades, and he
and a fellow-driver, named John Singleton, managed to escape, and hid
in a deep ditch until the Union army advanced, when they were rescued from their dangerous position. After being mustered out of the
service, Mr. Baker came to Fort Leavenworth, Kas., and hired out as a
teamster to Smith & Lambert, hauling Government supplies to the
soldiers at Fort Union, Colo., which place they reached in July, 1865.
He there quitted the company, and with twenty-three other teamsters
started for California, but after a twelve days' march were surprised
by the Indians, who killed and scalped two of their comrades and stole
their mules. Becoming disheartened at these misfortunes, they returned to Fort Union, and after spending some time as a herder, Mr.
Baker went to Fort Lyons, Colo., where he remained until the spring;
then becoming assistant wagon boss, he took a train to Kansas City,
Mo., where he received his discharge and returned to Chicago. Here
he enlisted in the Twentieth United States Infantry, and went to Norfolk, where he was uniformed and sent to Richmond. He joined his
regiment at this place, after which he was sent to New Orleans, and
was promoted to the position of provost-sergeant. After remaining
there six months he went to Baton Rouge, thence to Shreveport, where
he, with his regiment, took the train for Marshall, Tex. While there
he was appealed to by the people of Boston, Tex., for protection from
the depredations of Col. Baker and his gang of desperadoes. The
subject of this sketch was then sergeant, was given command of some
men, and although he and his men surrounded a saloon in which Baker was, he succeeded in making good his escape on a mule which he
had stolen, after having shot a man named Titoos. Baker afterward
captured a train of supplies, after killing three of the four men on the
train, but as he made his headquarters in the canebrake, it was found
impossible to effect his capture, although a company of cavalrymen
hunted the country for miles around for two weeks. He was afterward
shot by his brother-in-law, at Orton Bros.' Circus, which was held at
Boston, Tex. The gang of desperadoes entered the tent, began shooting right and left, and riding in the ring, clearing the tent. The soldiers secured their arms, and in their attack of these men succeeded
in killing three, and captured four more. The latter were secured in
jail, but the following morning, as the jailer went to take his prisoners their breakfast, they shot him down and escaped. They were pursued by our subject and his men, but would not surrender until another of their number had been killed. The troops stayed at Boston
for seven months, notwithstanding the threats received by them from
the friends of the dead men. They were then ordered to Fort Hansom, Dak., where the Indians were troublesome, and here Mr. Baker
remained until August, 1869, when he was discharged and returned to
Illinois. He then went to Nebraska to engage in farming, but while
on his way to Leavenworth to purchase a team and supplies he had
his money stolen from him at St. Joseph, and for a time was compelled
to hire out. He worked here until the following fall, then bought a
team and a mower, having received some aid from his Illinois friends,
by the sale of some land. He cut grass and harvested that summer
and fall, after which he went to Fremont, Neb., and on August 5, 1870,
was married to Miss Mena Falke, a daughter of Henry Falke. She accompanied her husband to Wyandotte County, Kas., and here they
purchased some land and settled down to farming. They now own 160
acres of fine farming land, on which is erected a new house, good
barns, fences, etc. They have a family of four children: William,
Chris, Frank and August. Mr. Baker is a Republican, a member of
the Farmer's Mutual Benefit Association, and is president of the same
at Rock Lodge. He and his wife and children are members
of the Lutheran Church of Leavenworth, and for the last three years
he has been trustee of his township, and was treasurer for two years.
He is an upright gentleman in every respect, and is a worthy citizen in
this community.
Dr. Thomas D. Bancroft, the founder of the Bancroft Tabernacle,
in Kansas City, Kas., was born in the year of 1837, in the State of
Ohio. His parents were David and Louisa (Thomas) Bancroft, natives of New York State. When two years old, the family returned to
their native State, where the subject of this sketch grew to manhood.
At the age of sixteen he left home, and came to Kansas when eighteen
years old and joined the Free-State troops, then under the leadership
of Gen. James Lane and John Brown. The summer of 1856 was
spent in the service of the cause of freedom, and against making the
Territory of Kansas into a slave State. After the close of this war he
returned home to his father's house, where there was something more
than husks to feed upon. (Boys having sense often do that.) Between
the close of the Border Ruffian War and the breaking out of the great
Rebellion, he tried to pick up a little education at Genesee Wesleyan Seminary and College in Lima, Livingston County, N. Y.
The excitement consequent upon the general election that gave to Mr.
Lincoln the presidency was too much for him, and after serving as captain of a wide-awake company during the campaign, he left school on
January 28, 1861, and went to Washington, D. C, and was present at the Capitol building, and heard many of the farewell speeches
made in both the Senate and House of Representatives by receding
members. Many threats were made against the Capitol by Southern
sympathizers, and in the absence of troops to protect the Government
archives, a company of frontier guards was formed for the purpose of
protecting the Capitol, and placed under the leadership of the old Free-State leader, Gen. Lane, who was then there in Washington, having
been elected the first United States Senator, after Kansas had been
admitted as a free State. Mr. Bancroft was among the first to join
this company, which played a very conspicuous part in preventing an
attack being made upon Washington, for the company was made up of
men who had formerly fought in the Kansas Border Ruffian War, the
remembrance of which was enough to make pro-slavery men think
twice before they crossed the Potomac River. This company was
quartered in the east room of the President's house, and did duty on
Long Bridge, Eastern Branch Bridge, and in fact protected Washington and the Government until the arrival of troops, when they dis-
banded. Mr. Bancroft was present at the first inaugural of Abraham
Lincoln, afterward making his personal acquaintance, and was in
the theater on the night of Mr. Lincoln's murder. He now has in his
possession a drop of Mr. Lincoln's blood on a piece of the program
played that night. While Mr. Lincoln was being carried down stairs
out of the theater, Mr. Bancroft was one of a number of men who stood
at the head of the stairs to keep back the crowd of excited people, and
it was at that time this drop of blood fell from the mortal wound and
was instantly picked up by him. During the war Dr. Bancroft fought
in the volunteer service in twenty or more battles and skirmishes, and
was with Gen. Sheridan through the wilderness battle to the James
River. Three bullet holes through his blouse-coat in one day is the
most tangible evidence he can produce of the poor marksmanship of
Confederate sharpshooting. At the close of the war he naturally came
West, and, like most other persons, drifted about until the year 1879,
when he engaged as traveling salesman with the firm of Messrs. Ridenour, Baker & Co. , wholesale grocers in Kansas City, Mo. During this
time he became a reader of Dr. T. De Witt Talmage's books and
sermons, and often filled appointments in the lecture field and public
readings from Dr. Talmage's writings. He established many public
libraries in the State of Kansas, and also the first public library in Hot
Springs, Ark. During this time he had espoused the Christian Religion, and visited many Eastern cities for the purpose of finding out
some practical way of reaching and bringing into the fold of Christ
the poor, neglected and destitute of our cities. While in Brooklyn he
made the acquaintance of Dr. Talmage, and afterward joined his
church, the Brooklyn Tabernacle. He then returned West and settled in Kansas City, Kas., where he now resides. He was married to
Susie Archer, of Washington, D. C, in 1861, and to this union there was
born one son, William T., who now resides in Kansas City, Kas., and is
a successful business man. In 1862 his wife died, and he was again
married to Miss Elida Smith in the year 1880. She was a native of
New Jersey, and still lives to bless their home at 713 Trout Avenue.
In 1888 he began the organization of a Sunday-school, by washing
clothing and gathering destitute children into a school which he
called the Tabernacle Sunday-school. At their first meeting there
were about a dozen children present. The school grew in numbers and
interest until the Opera House was too small to accommodate them. He
then rented a piece of ground, and began the erection of a tabernacle
building which now bears his name, and has a seating capacity of
1,500 people. Its dimensions are 60x90 feet with gallery, and is 31 feet
high in the clear. It is well seated, lighted, and is a very pleasant
auditorium. It contains two parlors, one of which is used as a storeroom for clothing and provisions for distribution among those who are
needy. Hundreds have been fed and clothed, and hundreds have reformed, and are now reputable citizens. Employment is furnished for
those who want to work, and all are required to wash before assistance
is given. The Tabernacle is also used as a place of worship. Regular services being held on Sunday, and two prayer-meetings during the
week. A regular society has been organized, called the Tabernacle
Fold, which is undenominational. Their creed is made up of verses
selected from the Bible, each member being required to select a verse
for his part of the creed. The school is now one of the most orderly and well-behaved schools in the city. The children are nearly all
singers, and it is delightful to listen to them. The Doctor says the
work is only well begun, and that with the proper assistance he will
be able to reclaim nearly all the unfortunate children in the city.
Never before has there been such energy put into practical home missionary work, and no one now has any doubt about Dr. Bancroft's ultimate success.
Thomas J. Barker, a Kansas pioneer, and one of the first settlers
of Kansas City, was born in Bedford County, Va., December 11, 1828,
His father, William A. Barker, born in Albemarle County, Va., in
1796, was a slave overseer, and served in the War of 1812. He was
the son of Jacob Barker (a boatman on the James River), who was
born at Richmond, Va. , and was the son of James Barker, of English descent, who served under Washington, in the French and Indian and
Revolutionary Wars. Mr. Barker's mother, Sarah (Hobbs) Barker,
was born in 1800, in Bedford County, Va., and was the daughter of James Hobbs, a distiller, who was a native of England, and
after serving in the English army, in the East Indies, emigrated to
America in 1794, and served in the War of 1812. William A. Barker,
the father, and Sarah Hobbs, the mother, were married in 1817.
in Bedford County, Va. , where Thomas was born. They moved in
1832 to Giles County, where the father died in 1837. To them had
been born eight children: James B., Mary V., Massenna C, William
E., Anderson L., Thomas J., Francis S. and Joseph G., of whom
Anderson L., Thomas J. and Francis S. are still living. The father,
for twelve years previous to his death in 1837, was afflicted with the
palsy, and the care of the family almost entirely devolved upon his
wife. She was possessed of a more than ordinary degree of intelligence and great force of character, but she was unable to provide for
her children and give them extensive educational advantages.
Thomas J. Barker attended school in all, about one year, at the log
cabin school house of those times and that country. He was endowed
with an enquiring mind, was anxious to acquire knowledge, and soon
made himself proficient in arithmetic and geography. When eighteen,
having first made an arrangement with his mother for the three years'
service he still owed her, he started out to make his own way in the
world. At that time his health was not good, and he thought best to
seek other employment than that of farming. He engaged to work for
Anderson Pack, a wealthy planter, merchant and owner of a tan-yard in
Mercer County, Va. He worked principally in the tan-yard, but at times
did service in the store. He remained with Mr. Pack about two years,
during which time an incident that afterward affected his career in life
occurred. He was frequently entrusted with the buying and receiving of
hides. At one time Augustus Pack, a nephew of his employer, delivered
a large quantity of hides which proved on inspection to be more or less
injured. Thomas refused to receive them except at a reduction of
one-third in the price. This demand was resisted and the owner of
the yard was appealed to and the hides received. But Mr. Pack was
highly pleased with the business qualities of his clerk. About a year
after this transaction having determined to abandon the tanning business, he met Mr. Augustus Pack, whom he supposed he had greatly
offended by so strenuously representing the interests of his employer, when he was greatly and agreeably surprised to receive charge
of Mr. Pack's store, where he remained about two years, receiving a
much larger salary than his uncle had given him. In 1851 he went
to Central America, intending to work on the Panama Railroad, then
in process of construction. But on reaching Aspinwall he was taken
sick, and after remaining on the Isthmus about two weeks he returned
to New Orleans, and thence to Louisville, Ky., where he received the
benefit of hospital treatment for a short time before returning for his
home. He next engaged in mercantile business with James B. Malone,
at the head of navigation on the Kanawha River. In April, 1855,
he immigrated to Kansas, and for a short time stayed in Wyandotte,
He went thence to Leavenworth and engaged with Charles A. Manners to assist in running the
territorial line between Kansas and Nebraska. There were twelve in the party, and he was given the position of cook. Late in the following fall, the survey having been completed, he went to Wyandotte, where he has ever since resided. He
first engaged as chief cook at the Catfish Hotel, a position he took in
the absence of other employment. In about two months he obtained
work as a rail-splitter and wood-chopper, using timber then standing
on the present site of Kansas City, Kas. In the spring of 1856 he
was employed by Mr. Isaiah Walker, as clerk in his store. In the
winter of the same year, he bought a half interest in the store, and
was an equal partner for about a year and a half, when he sold his interest. During this time he was appointed postmaster, and held the
position until 1863, when he, Silas Armstrong, and John L. Hall
bought a saw-mill about three miles west of the city, and engaged in
manufacturing and selling lumber, in which he continued for several
years. In the fall of 1864 he bought a half interest in the steamboat "Kansas Valley," on which building lumber was shipped to
Leavenworth and other points, also supplying the Government with
considerable quantities. In 1864 he and John L. Hall built the
steamer "Emma;" in 1865, the steamer "Hiram Wood;" in 1866,
the "Tom Morgan;" in 1867, the "Frank Nutts." In 1866 he began dealing extensively in wood, selling to the Government and supplying the city of Leavenworth and steamboats. In 1867 he commenced dealing in railroad ties, which proved very lucrative, buying
large tracts of timbered land, making the timber pay for the land,
much of which he has since sold at a remunerative price, the remaining he still holds, which has become quite valuable. In late years he
has dealt extensively in real estate, including farm lands and town
property, and is considered a safe and prudent financier, and one who
has been upright in his dealings and avoided litigation. In politics
he has always been a Democrat, but during the war he was a strong
Union man and Douglas Democrat. He was appointed by Gov. Madera,
Wyandotte County's first clerk, but never qualified; was elected to the
House of Representatives from a Republican district in 1866, and
again in 1880. He is a member of the Masonic order, was reared in
the faith of the Baptist Church, his parents being strict members of
that organization, but he is quite liberal in his religious views and inclined to be skeptical. He was married in 1865, in Wyandotte, to Miss
Mary E. Hall, a native of Maine, born in 1846, to whom have been
born three children: Thomas J., Jr. (a farmer), James E. (a law
student), and Clara E. (who was born June 28, 1876, and died August 19, 1883). "Uncle Tom" Barker, as he is familiarly called by
his many friends, has a good residence on Quindaro Boulevard. His
business is in good shape and he is enjoying life.
F. H. Barker is one of the wide-awake insurance and loan and real
estate agents of Kansas City, Kas. He was born in Connecticut, in
1835, but grew to manhood in Illinois, his home for many years being
near Jacksonville. At the opening of the Rebellion he joined the One
Hundred and Sixth Illinois Infantry, being mustered into the service
August 7, 1862, and mustered out July 15, 1865. After being in the
Army of the Tennessee for some time, and stationed at Jackson, Trenton and Bolivar, Tenn. , he was transferred to the Trans-Mississippi
Army, after which he participated in the siege of Vicksburg, Helena,
Little Rock, Red River and Pine Bluff. After the war he settled in
Springfield. Ill., but in April, 1868, left that place to come to Atchison, Kas., where he remained for about seven years, being engaged in
the D. C. Newcomb dry goods house. He then moved his family to
Kansas City, Kas., and traveled for the wholesale dry goods house of
Homer, Rhoades & Hubbs for five years, and for the past six years
has been engaged in the insurance and loan business, and has been
more than ordinarily successful, being now the owner of some good
property in Kansas City. He belongs to the Board of Trade, the
I. O. O. F., and in his political views is a stanch Republican. He
was married in Illinois, to Miss Julia H. Thomas, by whom he had
four children, but he lost his wife and three children, and only Frederick E. is now living. His second marriage took place in Atchison,
Kas., to Miss Sardenia Andrews, by whom he has a daughter, Madora.
Mr. Barker is a pleasant and agreeable gentleman, thoroughly and
scrupulously honorable in his business dealings, and is putting to a good
use the talents with which Nature has endowed him. He is an excellent
member of society, is a stanch supporter of the public school system,
for some time has been a member of the board of education in Kansas City, Kas., and is an earnest Christian. His parents, G. W. and
Sarah A. (Phelps) Barker, were born in Connecticut, and the mother
belongs to the same stock as Gov. Phelps, of Missouri. Mr. Barker
had two brothers; one survives, and is a resident of Kansas, but
George H. was killed at the battle of Shiloh, while serving in the
Fourteenth Illinois Infantry. He also has two sisters, Mary P.
Cooper and Charlotte L. Barker, both residents of Kansas.
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