Wyandotte County Biographies
"Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas--Historical and Biographical"
Goodspeed Publishing Co., Chicago, 1890
William Barshfeld is the head butcher of the cattle-killing department of Armour's Packing House in Kansas City, and has been a resident of this place for more than ten years. He is a native of Hesse
Darmstadt, Germany, and when an infant was brought to America by
his parents, and was reared in St. Louis, Mo., acquiring a good common-school education in that place. His father was a St. Louis
butcher, and also conducted a meat-market at that place, and it may
be truly said that the subject of this sketch was reared to that trade.
After starting out in life for himself, he worked for the butchers of
that city until 1860, at which time he went to Nashville, Ill., but continued to pursue his calling there until his removal to Kansas City,
Kas. For some time after reaching this place he worked for Bigger
& Nofsinger, then entered the employ of P. D. Armour, and since
1879 has been one of his leading butchers, holding the position of
foreman since 1884. He is very capable and expeditious, and no more
fitting man for the place could be found, for he most thoroughly understands every detail of the work, and puts his knowledge into practice. He is a man of family, having been married in Illinois to Miss
M. A. Fervy, and as a result seven children have been born to them :
George W., Henry R. , Charles P., Emma, Jeanette, Mary and a son
dead. Mr. Barshfeld is the owner of a comfortable and pleasant
home at No. 400 Everett Street, Kansas City, Kas. , and being pleased
with the city and surrounding country, he expects to make this his future home. He is a patron of education, and is giving his children
good educational advantages. Politically he supports Democratic
principles, and socially he belongs to the K. of P. and the A. O. U.
W. He was born on September 12, 1848, and is a son of George and
Catherine (Seffin) Barshfeld, the former of whom died at the age of
seventy-live years, the latter being still alive. They have two sons
and two daughters, one son and two daughters being residents of
St. Louis.
Jacob M. Broadhurst, councilman of the Fourth Ward, Argentine, Kas. The name of Broadhurst is one of the most influential in
Argentine, and is one of the most respected by this community. He
was born in Clay Couaty, Mo., on July 24, 1857, and is the third in
a family of nine children, born to Alfred and Elizabeth (Fanbion)
Broadhurst, natives of Tennessee. Jacob M. Broadhurst was early
trained to the duties of the farm, grew to manhood in his native
county, and received a common education in the country schools. He
tilled the soil with fair success in Clay County until 1874, when he
emigrated to Johnsoa County, Kas., and there he remained until
1889, when he came to Wyandotte County. He has been a resident
of this State since 1874, and has followed different pursuits, teaming
for some time at Armourdale, and after coming here was engaged in
the grocery business for some time. In 1890 he was elected councilman of the Fourth Ward of Argentine, on the citizens' ticket, and is
a Democrat in his political views. He is a member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, South, and is liberal in his support of all enterprises for the good of county, or any charitable or benevolent movement. Mr. Broadhurst was married, in 1879, to Miss Mary Hundley,
a native of Leavenworth, Kas., born on May 24, 1859, and the daughter of William Hundley. The fruits of this union have been four
children, who are named as follows: Delia, Ressie, Roy and C. Essie.
Michael L. Brophy, dealer in staple and fancy groceries, Rosedale, Kas. "The food we eat" is a vitally important question, and one
which concerns the happiness and welfare of every man, woman and
child. It is but natural to suppose that the best groceries are to be found
in those establishments which transact the largest business. One of the
finest groceries in Rosedale is that conducted by Mr. Brophy, who
keeps everything usually found in a first-class house. Mr. Brophy is
an Irishman by birth and American by adoption. He was born
in Queen's County, Ireland, thirty-seven years ago the 9th of last
April (1890), and is the son of Mark and Ann (Coragan) Brophy, both
natives of the same county as their son. His mother died there in
1863, but his father is still living and is a prosperous farmer of his
native county. Michael L. Brophy secured a fair education in the
schools of his native county, and when seventeen years of age left Ireland to seek a new home in America. After reaching this country he
located first in Meriden, Conn., and worked in the glass works in that
place for three years. He then went to Milwaukee, Wis., remained
in that State about a year, and then made up his mind to return to
the old country, which he did, remaining there about two years. He
again came to America, landed in New York City, where he made his
home for two years, and where he was engaged in the retail liquor
business. In 1879 he came West and settled in Rosedale, Kas., engaged in the barb-wire fence business for two years, and for three
years built wrought-iron fence also, and in 1885 branched into the
grocery business. He has an excellent trade, and while in this house
can always be found the best, it may also be stated, with equal truth,
that here, too, can be bought the cheapest, a fact which has considerably contributed to the store's success. The second year he was in this
city he was on the police force, and in 1889 he was treasurer of the city.
In 1880 he was married to Miss Johanna Harrington. Mr. and Mrs.
Brophy have a very interesting family, consisting of four children: The
eldest, Annie M.; next, Johanna E. and Julia; then comes the pet of the
house, Mark Bernard (now in his fifth year). Mr. Brophy has been
for some time past a Forester, and in his political principles is a Republican. He is a prominent and enterprising citizen.
Thomas Brosnan, stone contractor (Armourdale), Kansas City, Kas.
It is a recognized fact that among those who have made their home in
Wyandotte County, the men of foreign birth have contributed their
full share to the development and prosperity of a community known
as one of the best in this portion of the State. And it is also apparent
that those of Irish nativity have occupied no inferior position in all
matters tending to the improvement and continued progress of Wyandotte County. Born in County Kerry, Ireland, Thomas Brosnan obtained his early education in a national school on his father's farm,
and while yet young was taken by his uncle, now Canon Brosnan, of
Cabereeveen, County Kerry, who is also the originator of the idea of
erecting a memorial church to Ireland's faithful son, the liberator,
Daniel O'Connel, in his native town Caberceveen. When taking
Thomas in charge, Father Brosnan was curate in Millstreet in County
Cork, where he devoted a good deal of his time in educating both
Thomas and his brother Jerry, the former had a natural turn for
architecture, and was placed in the charge of Barry McMullin, one of
the largest builders in South Ireland, where he learned architectural
drawing, becoming thoroughly acquainted with all branches of the
building trade. After an apprenticeship of seven years he, in June,
1873, sailed for America, taking passage at Queenstown, and landing
in New York City, where he worked at his trade for nine months. He
then came to Cleveland, Ohio, and worked in the city, and along the
lakes for the Government on light-house work for about five years, and
then started for Houston, Tex. From there he went to New Orleans,
Memphis and Vicksburg, where he settled down, but during the yellow fever epidemic he was compelled to leave, going back to Ireland
again to breathe bis native air. He remained at bis old home for
about a year, and then returned to the United States, coming directly
to Kansas City, Mo. , where be resided two years, engaged in contracting.
In 1883 he removed to Armourdale, built his present business house,
known as the Lone Elm House, also several other stores and dwellings,
and has carried on business here ever since. Mr. Brosnan is a large
stone contractor, owns a fine quarry, and also considerable town property. He certainly deserves credit for his enterprise, as he has ever
been willing to advance the interests of his city. He attends strictly
to bis own business, meddles with no one in theirs, and is a first-class
citizen. His brother, Patrick, is with him in the quarry business, and
is also engaged in real estate. Patrick came over in 188-t, and he
and his brother do an extensive business. Jeremiah came with Thomas
in 1873, and a sister, Minnie, crossed the ocean in 1888, and is house-keeper for these brothers, who also keep a lodging-bouse. Maggie
came over in 1884, but returned to her home in Ireland. Elizabeth is
in a convent in the Argentine Republic. The parents of Mr. Brosnan,
Benjamin and Mary (Kelleher) Brosnan, are natives of Ireland, and
there they still reside. They were the parents of a large family, four
of whom are in the United States.
Lewis A. Brotherson was born in Denmark, April 11, 1840, being
a son of Andrew J. and Anna Christina (Aagard) Brotherson, who
were married about 1831, and became the parents of five children:
Hans L., Bodel C., Lewis A., Andrew J. and Andy J. Bodel C. died
when she was twenty years of age. Hans L. still resides in Denmark,
but two of his sons came to America, and now live in Kansas City,
Kas. The other members of the family also reside in Wyandotte
County, Kas. Lewis A. and Andrew J., being residents of Kansas
City, Andy J. being a farmer in the western part of the county. The
parents of these children are both dead, the father having passed from
life in 1871, and the mother in 1864. They were members of the
Danish Lutheran Church, and were highly honored in the community
in which they resided. The subject of this sketch spent his youth
and early manhood in his native country, and between the ages of six
and fifteen years he attended school, his attention being given to farming from that time until he was twenty-one years of age. At the age
of twenty-two years he secured the position of clerk in a general store,
but at the end of three months he resigned it to enter the service, of
his country, which was then at war with Prussia, this being in 1864.
He served four months, participating in a number of battles, and during this time was once captured and held a prisoner three days. Upon leaving the army he returned to the same store in which he had
formerly clerked, and here he continued to work until 1867. By this
time the portion of Denmark in which he resided had been transferred
to Prussia, and he was called upon to take the oath of allegiance to
the Prussian Government, but firmly declining to do this he was compelled to leave the country, which he did in April, 1867. On leaving
his old home he went to Denmark proper, where he remained four
years engaged in farming, after which he returned to his former home,
and on April 29, 1869, was married to Miss Anna M. Browhn, starting
with his wife, twelve days after their marriage, for America, embarking at Copenhagen on May 15, and landing at Quebec in the early part
of June. They at once left that place for Jefferson City, Mo., but
after a residence of two years in this city they removed to Kansas
City, Mo., and a year later, or in 1872, came to Kansas City, Kas.,
where they have since made their home. On October 5, 1871, Mr.
Brotherson entered the employ of the Armour Packing Company, and
has remained with it continuously ever since, a period of nearly nineteen years, which is proof positive of his faithfulness, and the high
esteem in which he is held by his employers. Eighteen years of this
time he has held the position of foreman. In the spring of 1872 he
purchased two vacant lots on the corner of North Third Street and
Troup Avenue, and upon one of them, in the fall of the same year, he
built a dwelling-house, which he occupied as his home until 1889, but
which he still owns. Upon the other, in 1889, he built a two-story
brick business block, 24x60 feet, at a cost of 13,200, and since it has
been completed has occupied the upper portion of it as a dwelling,
the lower floor, since November, 1889, being devoted to groceries, of
which his son, Andrew C, has charge, the room for four months after
its completion being used as a drug store. Mr. Brotherson's marriage
has resulted in the birth of five children: Andrew C, Mary (deceased),
Matilda, Milford P. (who died in infancy), and Milford P. (named for
the former). Mr. and Mrs. Brotherson are members of the Methodist
Protestant Church, and the former belongs to the A. O. U. W. and
K. of P.
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