Wyandotte County Biographies
"Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas--Historical and Biographical"
Goodspeed Publishing Co., Chicago, 1890
Dr. Chauncey K. Fairchild, of Kansas City, Kas., was born in Chenango County,. N Y., February 4, 1818, being the second of three
children born to Agur and Betsey (Hodge) Fairchild, the former of
whom was born in Derby, Conn., December 9, 1782, and the latter in
New Haven County, Conn., in 1792, their union taking place April 6,
1814. They died on October 18, 1840, and in June, 1849, respectively,
after having passed long and useful lives. The paternal grandparents,
Dr. Joseph and Hannah (Wheeler) Fairchild, were also born in the
"Nutmeg State," and the great-grandfather, Joseph Fairchild, was
born in England, and came to America when he was a young man. His
wife, whose maiden name was Hannah Porter, was a sister of Dr. Preserve Porter, a prominent physician of New Haven County, Conn.,
who has five sons, all of whom became physicians. She lived to be
one hundred and two years old, and her son, Dr. Joseph Fairchild,
reached the advanced age of ninety-six, his wife attaining her ninety-first year. The maternal grandparents of the subject of this sketch,
Chester and Hannah (Riggs) Hodge, were born in Connecticiit, and
the name of the great grandfather was Philo Hodge. The children of
Agur and Betsey (Hodge) Fairchild are: Harriet (who is the widow of
John R. Adams, and resides in Lorain County, Ohio), Chester S.
(who died on December 13, 1884; his wife, formerly Miss Caroline
Mann, being also dead), and Dr. Chauncey R. The latter accompanied
his parents to Lorain County, Ohio, when he was ten years of age,
and in early life, took up the study of medicine, which has received
his almost undivided attention ever since. He is a graduate of the
Pittsfield Medical College, of Massachusets, and in 1844 he began the
active practice of his profession in Hancock County. After remaining
there eight years he spent one year in New York City, and in 1853 located in Clinton, Ill., but in 1858 removed to Providence, La. He
was there practicing the "healing art" at the opening of the Rebellion,
but he immediately returned to Illinois, and in 1866 came West and
located in St. Joiseph, Mo., in which place he remained four years. In
1870 he removed to Seneca, Kas., in which place and vicinity he
practiced for fifteen years. Since 1885 he has been a resident of Kansas City, Kas., and has built up a lucrative practice among the best
class of people of this section. He is the proprietor of a sanitarium in
Kansas City, which he conducts in connection with his practice. He
is popular, both professionally and socially, and since taking up his
abode in Wyandotte County, he has proved to be a public-spirited citizen. He was married on August 10, 1839, to Miss Almira Paddack,
who was born in Essex County, N. Y., January 28, 1822, and to them
have been born six children, of whom four sons are living.
E. H. Farrell, contractor and builder, Kansas City, Kas. Mr.
Farrell was born in Rochester, N. Y., in 1854, spent his boyhood and
youth in Menekaunee, Wis., and received a good practical education
in the country schools and at the fireside at home during long winter
evenings. He learned his trade in Milwaukee, serving a three years'
apprenticeship, and afterward worked for nine years for the man with
whom he learned his trade. After this he came to Atchison, Kas.,
remained there four years working at his trade, and then went to
Leavenworth, where he carried on his trade for six years, contracting
and building houses. While a resident of Atchison he was in the
grocery business for some time, and after his residence in Leavenworth
he came to Kansas City, Kas. Here he has followed his trade of contractor and builder ever since. He built the Douglas School Building,
Gazette Building, woodwork on county jail, remodeled Northup's
place, woodwork on stores for Dahlgren and stores for Bryson Bros.,
electric building, flats for Mat Harris, and many small residences in
the town. He had as many as fifteen to twenty-five men working for
him last year, and finished over $60,000 worth of work. He is a skilled
workman, is seldom or never out of employment, and his promptness
and reliability must mark him as a most desirable man with whom to
establish business in this line.
James Ferguson is a prominent and honored pioneer citizen of
Kansas City, Kas., and is at present license inspector of that place.
He was born in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Penn., January 29,
1840, to Bijah and Susan (Palmer) Ferguson, both of whom were
born near Chambersburg, Penn., the former being the son of Hugh
Ferguson, a native of Scotland. Bijah Ferguson and his wife became the parents of six children, their names being as follows: Benjamin, Belle, Sarah, John, James and William. The father in his
early life followed the pursuit of a farmer, but subsequently located
in Allegheny City, Penn., where for several years he served as chief
of police. Upon the opening of the Mexican War, he enlisted in
Company A, First Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and served
throughout the whole war, returning home as first lieutenant of his
company. He subsequently held different official positions in Allegheny City, and later removed to Pittsburgh, where he spent the remainder of his life, his wife having died a few years prior to this
removal. James Ferguson, the immediate subject of this memoir,
was reared to manhood in Pittsburgh and Allegheny City, and he was
fortunate enough to secure an excellent early education. At the
age of eighteen years he began to learn the carpenter's trade, and
after serving three years under James Graham, of Pittsburgh, he
followed his trade in Pittsburgh, until the war broke out. Early
in April, 1861, he responded to his country's call and became a volunteer in Company D, Twelfth Pennsylvania Regiment, with which he
served out the time of his enlistment, three months, being mustered
out at Pittsburgh on August 8. He then followed the carpenter's
trade in Pittsburgh until the fall of 1863, when he came West and
located in Wyandotte, Kas., and for a number of months following
worked at his trade in Kansas City, Mo. In May, 1864, he removed
to Leavenworth, Kas., working at his trade there also. In August,
1864, he in company with some other workmen, went to Harmicello,
Colo., for the purpose of erecting a store-room and dwelling-house for
Col. William Craig, and when that work was finished in the summer
of 1865, he returned to Kansas and again took up his residence in
Wyandotte. In November, 1866, he returned to his old home in
Pittsburgh, Penn., where, on December 5, following, he was married to
Miss Catherine Gardner, returning with her to Wyandotte, Kas., in
the spring of 1868. He has resided here ever since, and has followed
the pursuit of a carpenter and contractor, several years being spent
as a car-builder in the shops of the Union Pacific Railway, holding
for as much as six years the position of foreman. In the fall of 1883
he was elected to the position of sheriff of Wyandotte County, on the
Republican ticket, and during his term of service proved himself to
be an efficient, punctual, industrious and honest official. He entered
upon his duties in January, 1884, and served until January, 1888,
having been re-elected in the fall of 1885. Upon the occasion of his
second election he received the largest majority ever accorded a candidate for county office, it being over 1,900, and would have undoubtedly received a second re-election had it not been owing to the fact
that the office is limited to two terms. In the spring of 1889 he
was appointed license inspector by Mayor Coy, and he is now serving in that capacity in a very efficient manner. His marriage has
resulted in the birth of seven children: Mollie B., Charles S., William G., Albert, Belle, John and James. Of these Charles, Albert
and John are deceased. Mr. Ferguson is a member of the K. of P.,
Fellowship Lodge No. 2, the I. O. O. F., Summanduwat Lodge No.
3, and attained to the Encampment, and he also belongs to the Union
Veterans. Throughout his entire life he has been a devoted member
of the Republican party and personally, and in every private relation
and duty of life, too much can not be said in his praise. He has
always been liberal, honorable and high-minded, and although he has
most emphatically a "will of his own," yet he is not aggressive nor
disputatious. His career has been marked by kind deeds, and it can
be truly said of him that he never violated a friendship nor forgot a
kind action done him. He is extensively known throughout Wyandotte County, and no one of her citizens possesses a higher degree of
public esteem.
L. G. Ferguson, contractor and builder, Kansas City, Kas. Were
it necessary for us to include in the sketch of Mr. Ferguson's life
some items pertaining to his ability and skill as a builder, perhaps the
greatest compliment that could be paid him would be for us to point
out those monuments of his handiwork scattered far and near. He
came to Kansas City, Kas., from Ottawa, Ill., in 1880, and here he has
since remained, engaged in his chosen occupation. He makes a specialty of school-houses and brickwork as follows : Two on Wood
Street; Eiverview; two in Armourdale, Boston Place, High School;
two in Long Addition; two school buildings in Argentine; the brick
block of Seventh at 123 James Street, and a large number of
frame dwellings, one and two stories high. Mr. Ferguson was
born in Wells County, Ind., on October 21, 1844, and is a son of
John and Sarah (Meyers) Ferguson, natives of Ohio, the father born
in 1818 and the mother in 1819. The father was of English-Irish
descent, and was a carpenter and builder by trade. He moved to Illinois in 1850, and there resided until 1880, when he came to Kansas
City, his death occurring here in December, 1887. The mother was
of German extraction and died in 1889. L. G. Ferguson learned his
trade in Illinois with his father, received a good common school education, and was married on April 12, 1883. to Miss Maggie Dawall, a
native of Michigan. To this union were born three children: Walter
I., Edith L. and Alice M. In his political views Mr. Ferguson affiliates with the Republican party. Socially he is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Wyandotte Lodge No. 247, the A. O. U. W., Riverview Lodge, and is a member of the A. O. F., Kansas City, Mo.,
Lodge No. 6351. Mr. Ferguson is a capable and persevering business man, and deserving of the success he is achieving.
Prof. John W. Ferguson, who, for the past eight years has been
identified with the public schools of Kansas City, Kas., and who has
acquired a widespread reputation as a disciplinarian, educator and
school manager, was born in Oxford, Benton County, Ind., August 11,
1850, being a son of John and Sarah (Meyers) Ferguson, both of
whom were born in the State of Ohio, the former in 1819 and the
latter in 1818. Paternally Prof. Ferguson is of Irish-English descent,
but from his mother inherits German blood. His parents were married in 1839, and of a family of seven children born to them, four
still living and reside in Kansas City, Kas. The father of these children, who was a contractor and carpenter by occupation, died on November 20, 1885, his widow passing to her long home March 5, 1887.
When the subject of this sketch was but two years of age his parents
removed from Oxford to Bluffton, Ind., and at the age of six years he
was taken by them to Morris, Grundy County, Ill. Two years later
La Salle County, Ill., became their home, and there John W. spent
his youth. In his early life when not in school, his time was divided
between assisting his father at the carpenter's trade and laboring upon
a farm. At the age of fourteen, he with his parents located in Marseilles, Ill., and he attended the schools of that place until he was
seventeen years of age, after which he began following the occupation
of teaching, and with the exception of two years, his entire attention
has been devoted to educational work. During the first eleven years
of his professional career his entire services were performed in La Salle
County, and the fact that his operations were confined to four different districts is evidence of his success as a teacher. He taught his
first school for $26.25 per month, but as the work he did was appreciated his salary was raised accordingly from time to time, until he
at last received 165 a month. In 1880 he removed to Kansas City,
Kas., and for two years thereafter gave his attention to the carpenter's
trade. In the spring of 1881 he was elected a member of the school
board in Old Kansas City, Kas., but this position he resigned in the
spring of 1882, and two weeks later he was elected superintendent of
the schools of that city, and held the position until 1886. In that
year he was elected superintendent of the schools of the consolidated
cities of Wyandotte, Kansas City and Armourdale, and has since discharged the duties of this position to the satisfaction of all concerned.
He has made an able and efficient superintendent, and under his management the schools have experienced a career of prosperity and
growth almost phenomenal. During his first year, four years ago, he
had forty-three teachers and 2,005 pupils, and during the school year
just closed he had under his charge 104 teachers and 6,000 pupils,
which is a showing, perhaps without a parallel in the country. It
adds much more to the credit of Prof. Ferguson, too, when it is remembered that all the strifes and jealousies, which naturally existed
between the schools of the three cities at the time of their consolidation had to be overcome, and the fact that he succeeded in harmonizing the work and uniting the schools under one system is evidence of
his superior tact and skill as a school manager. He has devoted
twenty-three years to his present calling, and now ranks among the
leading educators of the State. His marriage, which occurred on
September 19, 1876, was to Miss Ella M. Harley, a former pupil.
She died on February 20, 1890, leaving, besides her sorrowing husband, a family of four children to mourn their loss, their names being
Harley L. (born June 19, 1877), Sarah J. (born February 22, 1879),
William A. (born July 15, 1882), and Gertrude (born March 18, 1887).
Prof. Ferguson is a stanch supporter of Republican principles, and
socially belongs to the A. O. U. W., and since the age of twenty- one
has been a member of the Masonic fraternity. He was a charter member of Kaw Lodge No. 272, and served as its first master for two years.
He is at present high priest of Wyandotte Chapter No. 6, and belongs
to Ivanhoe Commandery No. 20. He has always led a strictly temperate life.
W. S. Ferguson is in the real estate, loan and insurance business
in Kansas City, Kas., and is one of the prosperous and successful
business men of the city. He was born in Gallatin County, Ky., in
1861, and in 1865 was brought by his parents to Kansas, and was
reared in the southern part of Leavenworth County, near Glenwood.
He received no advantages for acquiring an education, but after he
attained his twenty-first year he determined to improve his knowledge
of the "world of books" and during his leisure moments devoted his
time to studying such books as came in his way. At the age of twenty-two years he first left the farm and began working by the month,
at $27 per month, and in time succeeded in saving 150. As his salary had been increased to 150, he concluded to erect him a house in
Leavenworth, and his mornings and evenings were devoted to completing his home. He never had more than 11.75 in money until he
began working for himself, and it is owing to this that he knew the
value of every cent, and saved his money, instead of spending it foolishly. After a time he was enabled to purchase a half interest in the
furniture establishment in which he had worked as a clerk, but made
the purchase on credit and was so unfortunate as to be burned out
June, 1885, the loss being $7,400. They then went to Wichita and
entered the coal and feed business, but this business proved to be a
failure, and seeing the depression of the times, he traded his interest
in the coal and feed business for vacant property in the town and then
traded that for property in Kansas City, Kas. Here he moved in 1886
and opened a real estate and loan office. He took hold of the London
Heights, loaned money for the New England Loan & Trust Company,
and after the first four months began doing a paying business. From
March 1, 1889, to March 1, 1890, he loaned $122,000. He has been
very successful in real estate, and in June, 1881, bought 131,000 worth
of property and had disposed of it all before January 1, 1890.
He bought seventy-four lots in January of the last-named year,
and now has only twenty-eight left, and although he lost 14,800 by
going security for an acquaintance, he still continues to pursue the
even tenor of his way. He was married at the age of twenty-three
years to Miss Bertha E. Gates, by whom he has three children: Win-
field, Myrtle May and Florence Fay. Mrs. Ferguson was educated
in Leavenworth, Kas., and is a woman of more than average attainments, and her husband says that much of the success that has attended
his efforts has been due to her counsel and advice. Both are members
of the First Presbyterian Church of Leavenworth, and he is a member
of the K. of P. In addition to his real estate business he is the owner
of one of the finest grocery establishments in the town, but leaves it
principally to the management of others.
Return to
Wyandotte Co. KHHP
|
� 2011-2012 Kansas History and Heritage Project
|