Wyandotte County Biographies
"Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas--Historical and Biographical"
Goodspeed Publishing Co., Chicago, 1890
Allen Chadwick, postmaster, Armourdale, Kas. Mr. Chadwick,
one of the esteemed and highly respected citizens of Armourdale, was
born in Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio, on October 5, 1836, and
is the son of Cyrus and Elizabeth (Walker) Chadwick, the father a
native of Vermont and the mother of Ohio. Both families are of
English descent, and the Walker family was among the first settlers
of Hamilton County, Ohio. The paternal great-grandfather was a
captain in the Revolutionary War, and the grandfather, Bartholomew
Chadwick, was born in Massachusetts and was a member of the Vermont Legislature. The latter emigrated to Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1820,
was a farmer by vocation, and died in Hamilton County, Ohio. The
father of our subject was also a farmer and also passed his last days in
Ohio as did the mother. Their family consisted of six children - three
sons and three daughters: W. W. (resides in Leavenworth County),
Cynthia (deceased), Rebecca (wife of J. T. Williamson), Mary J. (deceased), and D. J. Allen Chadwick, the second in order of birth of the
above-mentioned children, received his education in the common schools,
and assisted his father in cultivating the soil. In August, 1862, he was
filled with a patriotic desire to aid his country, and was shipped as a
seaman or a navy member, serving on the gunboat, the United States
steamer "Cincinnati." He was on this boat when she sank at Vicksburg. having thirteen shots though her hull. He was then transferred to the
"Monitor" boat at the siege of Vicksburg, and the concussion of the same caused a deafness in his right ear, the effects of
his tiring the gun. He was also on the gunboat, "Lexington" in the
service. He was discharged from the hospital Pinkney at Memphis,
Tenn., in 1863, and after returning home resumed his farming. Subsequently he was appointed clerk in the post office at Cincinnati, Ohio,
and held the position for eight years and fifteen days. In 1886 he
came to Kansas City, Kas., engaged in the real estate business, and
this carried on until appointed to his present office in May, 1889. Mr.
Chadwick was the first postmaster appointed in Kansas after Harrison's election. He was married in 1857 to Miss Emma Compton, a
native of Ohio, by whom he has two children: Alice (wife of Hon. G.
L. Coates), and Clara (wife of Ira D. Washburn, of Cincinnati, Ohio).
He is a Thirty-second Degree Mason or a Scottish Rite, and a charter
member of Israel Ludlow Post, of Cincinnati, Ohio.
Edwin H. Chandler is a member of the firm of Teufel & Chandler,
proprietors of a planing-mill at the northeast corner of Fourth Street
and Oakland Avenue, Kansas City, Kas., and was born in St. Lawrence
County, N. Y., February 18, 1856, being a son of Nelson M. and
Harriet E. (Wilkinson) Chandler, the former of whom was born in St.
Lawrence County, N. Y., and the latter in England. She cam� to
America with her mother when a very small child, her father having
come a few months before, and here she was reared to womanhood.
Her marriage with Mr. Chandler took place in 1852, and to them a
family of five children was born - four sons and one daughter: Charles
W., Edwin H., John L., William W. and Harriet E., of whom the
eldest and the youngest are deceased, three sons being now alive. The
parents are still living, their home being in Ottawa, Kas., where they
settled on May 12, 1869. Edwin H. Chandler resided in his native
county until he was thirteen years of age, at which time he accompanied
his parents to Kansas, and until twenty-two years of age he assisted
his father on the farm and attended school alternately. He thus
acquired an excellent education and at the above mentioned age began
teaching school, a calling he continued to follow for two years, a portion of his vacations being spent in attending normal school. Besides
a thorough knowledge of the common branches, he acquired an excellent
insight into algebra, physical geography, botany, drawing and book
keeping. When examined for a certificate to teach he received a first
class certificate. In the spring of 1880 he went to Chicago, where,
from April 17, 18S0, until August 1, 1880, he was employed in a hardwood lumber-yard for P. G. Dodge & Co., and from that time until
April 16, 1888, was an employee of O. D. Wetherell, a lumber dealer
and the proprietor of a planing-mill. In the spring of the last-named
year Mr. Chandler went to Clear Water, Mo., where he bought a one-third interest in the Wayne Lumber Company, of which he was treasurer one year, at the end of which time he disposed of his stock, taking
as part pay, a stock of general merchandise at Clear Water, which he
owned and conducted seven months and a half. In August, 1889, he
disposed of his stock and returned to Ottawa, Kas., and after a visit
of one month with his parents he came to Kansas City, Kas., and on
October 1, 1889, purchased a half interest in his present establishment
which is now netting himself and partner a good annual income. He
is a pushing, enterprising and intelligent gentleman, and is doing exceptionally well, financially. He was married on June 2, 1890, to Miss
Emma Lynch, of Chicago, and although he and his wife have only resided in Kansas City for a short time, they have made many warm
friends.
Eli H. Chandler is the American manager of the English and
American Mortgage Company (limited), and has been such since 1886.
He was born, reared and educated in Delaware, receiving the advantages of a high-school training, afterward graduating in law, and was
admitted to the bar in December, 1877. He came almost immediately
to Kansas and first took up his abode in Topeka and for a number of
years was engaged in practicing law there, after which he went to London, England, and organized the present company of which he has
since been the efficient manager. He is one of the stockholders and
directors of the same, and the business of the company could be in no
more efficient hands than his. He is wide-awake, enterprising and
thoroughly honorable in all his dealings and has built up a reputation
that goes far toward making him successful. He has always supported
the men and measures of the Republican party, and has always been
interested in local politics in the different communities in which he has
resided. His ancestors came from England about 1688, and are of old
Quaker stock. The most of the male members of the family have
been worthy tillers of the soil, but some have become eminent professional men. Mr. Chandler has recently received the appointment of
vice consul for Great Britain at Kansas City, an honor that is rarely
accorded to other than English subjects.
Dr. J. W. Charles, physician and surgeon, Armourdale, Kas. Dr.
J. W. Charles is one of the most talented physicians in Kansas, and
especially in the branch of surgery, has he obtained a reputation placing
him in the front rank of the medical fraternity. He is a native of
Illinois, born in Randolph County, on December 16, 1844, and is the
son of William B. and Elvira (Cruther) Charles, natives of Virginia
and Kentucky, respectively. In 1837 the parents emigrated to Illinois,
coming by water, and located on the Mississippi River in what was
known then as Liberty, but is now called Rockwood. The father was
a captain on a steamboat the greater part of bis life, but his last days
were spent in retirement. He died at Litchfield, Ill., in December,
1864. The mother died in 1844. They had thirteen children, eight
now living, of whom Dr. Charles is the youngest. He was principally
reared in Montgomery County, Ill., where he received a common-school education, and at an early age began the study of medicine.
graduating at the St. Louis Medical University in 1865. He was a
hospital steward during the war. After graduating in medicine he
went to Mason County, Ill., and after practicing here one year returned to St. Louis, where he remained five years. From there he
went to Sedalia, Mo., back to Centralia, Ill. and purchased a drug
store which he conducted for about one year. He then went to Maryville, Mo., thence to Brookfield, Mo., where he remained four years,
from there to McPherson City, Kas., where he tarried until 1883, and
then traveled south for some time. In 1884 he came to Armourdale,
Kas., where he has since been in active practice. He is classed among
the best physicians of the city and has an extensive practice. He was
married in 1873, to Miss Mary H DeWitt, a native of Wisconsin, and
to them Lave been born three children: Elvira M., William W. and
Mary H. The Doctor is a member of the Masonic fraternity, being a
K. T., is an Odd Fellow and also a member of the encampment of Odd
Fellows. He is medical examiner of the A. O. U. W., and was a member of the Missouri State Medical Society and also District Society of
Southwest Kansas. He is a member of the Armourdale Medical Society, and has held nearly all the offices in his secret societies. He is
progressive in his views, and is always ready to advance the interest of
his city.
William B. Cleveland. The history of a country, State or county
must depend in a great measure upon the lives of "great men" for
the interest with which it inspires the general reader. Because of this
fact, a history of Wyandotte County, Kas., would be in no measure
complete without a sketch of the life of he whose name appears above.
Mr. Cleveland is a native of Indiana, his birth occurring April 1, 1829.
He was the seventh of a family of eleven children born to his parents,
and even in early childhood evinced unusual ability and judgment.
The father of the subject of this sketch was a native of the Blue-Grass
State, and through life was a cooper and farmer. The mother was
born in the State of West Virginia, and at all times manifested a great
interest in the future welfare of her children. Both parents are now
dead. Mr. Cleveland received his education in the common schools,
but like many bright boys managed to acquire quite an amount of
knowledge there. At the early age of eighteen the subject of this
sketch ventured out to face the world alone, turning his attention to
farming, and also to coopering, though he loved the business of farming more than any other. He commenced his business career with
out a dollar in his pocket, having only a pair of willing hands and an
industrious nature to assist in the struggle for fortune and fame. Mr.
Cleveland married Miss Sarah Glass Cook, of Tennessee, a lady of
excellent talent, and highly educated. Their marriage took place in
Missouri in the year 1856, and to them have been born nine children,
but of these only one is living at the present writing, viz., Noah, who
resides in Missouri, and who married Miss Mary Dudley. His vocation is farming. During the war Mr. Cleveland enlisted in Company A,
Second Missouri Cavalry, under Col. A. J. Nugent. This was in 1862,
and he figured in the following battles: Harrisonville, which was a
very hard battle; Lone Jack, where his regiment lost fifty-eight by
death and had 250 wounded. Besides these Mr. Cleveland took part
in many desperate skirmishes, and he experienced all the hardships
and deprivations incident to a soldier's life. In his faithful service to
"Uncle Sam" the subject of this sketch lost his right forefinger. In
fact, to sum up the matter briefly, Mr. Cleveland was one of the brave
boys who wore the blue blouse, and really deserves a pension, having
been honorably discharged by special order No. 70, after which he returned home. He has at all times and under all circumstances supported the Republican party, having cast his first vote for James K.
Polk, of Tennessee, and besides, he has always voted for men of honor
and high principles. Mr. Cleveland is a firm believer in the Farmers'
Alliance, and thinks that if they work together much good may be
accomplished for the farmers generally. He and Mrs. Cleveland are
members of the Christian Church, and both delight to assist in worthy
causes and promote the strength of religious matters. The subject of
this sketch has traveled quite extensively. He moved from Indiana to
Independence, Mo., in the year 1849, and from that point to Harrisonville, Mo., where as a carpenter he met with great success in company with his partner, Sanford Morris. In the spring of 1850 he
journeyed over the Pacific slope to California, where he sought to
amass a fortune in gold digging. This journey lasted three months,
and caused them many hardships. After remaining in California one
year and meeting with marked success, Mr. Cleveland sailed from San
Francisco on August 1, 1857, for San Juan, Central America, which
point he reached after a period of forty-eight days. He remained in
Central America about two years, and while there engaged in numerous occupations, among which numbered those of waiter, salesman,
and finally worked on the Vanderbilt line of steamers. At a later date
he lived in New Orleans, then in Harrisonville, Mo., in 1855 he went
to Salt Lake City, and in 1869 landed in Wyandotte County, Kas.,
while the country was still a wilderness and the "red man" roamed
at will. Land then was worth only $2. 50 per acre, and at the present
writing the same land sells for from $125 to ^300 per acre, figures
which give an idea of the immense growth of this place and the wonderful development of the soil. Since settling here Mr. Cleveland
has constantly devoted his attention to farming, and so pleased is he
with the success that crowned all his efforts that he fully intends to
remain here for the rest of his life. Both Mr. and Mrs. Cleveland
are popular in this county, and live happily, surrounded by a host of
dear friends and admiring neighbors, who esteem them for their sterling worth and strict integrity of purpose and deed.
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