Wyandotte County Biographies
"Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas--Historical and Biographical"
Goodspeed Publishing Co., Chicago, 1890
Whit Moran, mechanic, Kansas City, Kas. Mr. Moran, the subject
of this mechanical sketch, is foreman of the blacksmith shops in the
great plant known as "The Keystone Iron Works," Kansas City, Kas.,
and in this capacity his superior is not to be found. He was born in
Charleston, W. Va., on July, 1, 1855, and of the eight children born
to his parents he was fifth in order of birth. His father was a native
of Monroe County, W. Va., and was a carpenter and joiner by trade.
His death occurred in 1873. The mother, also a native of the Panhandle State, is now sixty-two years of age, and resides in Cole Valley, W. Va. Whit Moran obtained an early education in the common
schools, and commenced life for himself at the early age of fourteen
years as a blacksmith with his brother. He remained with his brother
two years, became a skilled mechanic, and then went to Huntington, W.
Va., where he remained over six years as blacksmith in the Chesapeake &
Ohio Railroad shops. From there he moved to Kansas City, Mo., in 1879,
went to work for the Fort Scott & Gulf Railroad shops, but only remained there a short time. He then entered the rolling-mills at Rosedale, Kas., continued there two years, and then went to Kansas City,
Mo., where he entered the employ of "The Keystone Iron Works"
in 1881, and has been closely identified with the same ever since. He
entered the shops as foreman of the blacksmith shops, and he has a
force of expert smiths and helpers from eighteen to twenty in number.
He oversees all large contracts for distant States and Territories which
are sent to the Keystone Iron Works. Mr. Moran is a gentleman
who has the entire confidence of his employers, and the perfect goodwill of his men. He receives a large and lucrative salary, which
stamps him as a man who is well qualified to take full charge of any
place or calling in his trade or profession. Mr. Moran was married
on August 21, 1889, to Miss Maggie Clarkin, a native of Ireland,
their marriage being solemnized in Wyandotte, Kas. Mrs. Moran
was educated in the graded schools of Kansas City, Kas. Mr. Moran
adheres in principle and precept to the Democratic party, is an ardent
admirer of Hon. Grover Cleveland, and his first presidental vote was
for S. J. Tilden, of New York. He has been an active politician, and
has endeavored to support men of principle and honor. Mr. and
Mrs. Moran reside on Lyons Avenue, Wyandotte, Kas., and here
they expect to make their future home. Mr. Moran is a young gentleman whose future is bright before him, and he commands the true
respect of all with whom he comes in contact. He is skilled in his
profession, and at any time can find employment. He is an exemplary young man in his habits, or he could not hold the responsible
position he tills at the present time. His record shows that he has
not lost a week's time in five years. When he first came to Kansas
City, Mo., it was a straggling city of perhaps a population of 60,000,
and he has seen the wonderful changes and developments which have
taken place since then. He has known Kansas City in all her changes,
and many fortunes have been made out of real estate. The city has
a population now of 138,000.
Frederick Morasch, fruit-grower, Kansas City, Kas. Mr. Morasch
was originally from Germany, his birth occurring on April 21, 1819,
and is a son of Jacob and Marguerite Johanna (Miller) Morasch, the
parents also natives of Germany. The father was gamekeeper for
the Duke of Nassau. He reared a family of four children - two sons
and two daughters -the daughters being the elder and born in 1812
and 1816. The father died November 2, 1845, and the mother on
March 20, 1841. Frederick Morasch attended school from the age of
six to fourteen years, and then worked with a paper and window blind
hanger. Later he learned the stone mason's trade with his father's
brother, and remained working with him for about ten years, working
on one building for two years. When about twenty-five years of age,
he selected for his life companion Miss Christina Herrmann, a native
of Germany, who died on July 9, 1881. Mr. Morasch was the father
of seven children by this union, only two now living: Christina Philbina Lena (was born on January 17, 1846, and died when quite
young), Johann Christian Karl (born on September 18, 1848, and died
in 1850), Maria Barbara (was born March 9, 1851, and died when
young), John Phillip W. (was born on December 10, 1852, and is now
living with his father; he was married on July 28, 1878, to Miss
Mary Moerer, and they have four children, one, Charles H., died on
May 22, 1890, at the age of seventeen months), Johannatha P. (was
born on January 27, 1855, and is the wife of John Kern, residing in
Denver), Francis P. (was born on April 27, 1857, and died in November, 1877), and Mary Louisa (was born on March 2, 1860, and died
on September 13, 1865). After his marriage Mr. Morasch worked at
his trade in his native country until 1848, and at that time the Revolution caused him to seek more congenial climes. He emigrated to
America, landed in New York on March 19 of that year, and then
moved to Jackson County, Ind., where his brother and some old
friends were living. He resided in Brownstown, Ind., until he came
to Kansas, and worked at his trade for two years. He then went on
the farm, and at one time owned 240 acres of land, which he sold
when contemplating to remove to this State. While in Indiana he
was a member of the Lutheran Church, and an active worker in the
same. Politically he is a Republican, and socially he is an honorable
member of the I. O. O. F., having been a member of the same for
twenty-five years.
Charles Morasch, a prominent old citizen of Quindaro Township,
and another of the many enterprising men of foreign birth now residing in Wyandotte County, was originally from Germany, born in a
portion that now is a part of Russia, in 1822. He received a good
education in Germany, learned the stone-mason's trade, and worked at
this until 1840, when he came to America, locating first in New York
City, but his first work was done in Buffalo. He first received $10
a month with board but soon tired of this, and went to Sandusky,
where he obtained no employment, and he then went to Lower
Sandusky. From there he went to Toledo, then on the canal to Cincinnati, and only had enough money to pay for a week's board in Cincinnati. After this he experienced some pretty hard times, until he met
some friends who assisted him. He afterward went to Madison, Ind.,
and secured work on the strength of being a finished workman, having
served three full years as an apprentice. He would not work under
wages, and as a result was obliged to go to Brownstown, Ind., where
he received $4 per month for six months. He then went to a fellow-countryman, and got $1 per day for putting up hay, after which he
got work at his trade. As soon as his skill manifested itself, he received from $2.50 to $3 per day, and remained in the vicinity for nine
years. He was married to Miss Sarah Winkler, a native of Virginia,
born in 1833, and eight living children are the fruits of this union:
Charles, Jennie, William, Louise, Fred N. (a merchant of Wyandotte),
Otto, Frank and Teenie C. After his marriage Mr. Morasch bought a
farm and worked at his trade in Jacksou County, Ind., until 1855.
He then emigrated to Wabaunsee County, Kas., Mill Creek, where he
expected to l)e in a German settlement, but seeing the necessity of a
mixed population he came to Quindaro, Wyandotte County, in 1857. He
worked at his trade here until 1859, speculated in Quindaro and elsewhere, and lost about $3,000 on property and grocery business, and
at the same time carried on his trade. He resided in Quindaro, from
1857 until the fall of 1860, when he purchased his present farm consisting of seven hundred acres. He improved the same, built a
good house, and prospered very finely until 1877, when his house
burned down. Not discouraged, he went to work and erected a line
brick house, in which he now resides, and which is an ornament to his
place. There are eleven rooms in the house, all heated by a good
furnace, and he also has a good cellar. He has earned the right to be
comfortable in his declining years, and can now pass his days in ease,
and even in luxury. In politics Mr. Morasch is a Democrat. He
was a member of the State militia one month, and during Gen. Price's
raid through Missouri, had two horses and a cow stolen. Mr. Morasch
is one of the substantial men of the county, is the owner of property
in Wyandotte, Argentine, Armstrong and in the Missouri River
bottom. He was the son of J. J. and Mary (Mieller) Morasch, both of
whom died in Germany. The father was game-keeper for the Duke
of Nassau, and our subject has a spoon that belonged to his grandfather, on the handle of which is the date "1768." Mr. and Mrs.
Morasch visited Germany in 1883 and 1887, and very much enjoyed
their trip, to their old country. Mr. and Mrs. Morasch lost two children, both about eight years of age, and both bright children. They
were named Mary and George.
Joseph Moreland, one of the prominent dairymen of this city, has
been engaged in this business for the past twelve years in this and
Jackson County, Mo., and has been unusually successful in this occupation. He owes his nativity to Butler County, Ohio, where his birth
occurred on February 19, 1847, and is the fourth in a family of eleven
children, born to Thomas and Sarah A. (Horl) Moreland, natives of
Pennsylvania and Ohio, respectively. The father passed his youthful
days in the Keystone State, and there followed the occupation of
farming until his removal to Ohio, where he was married. He remained in the last- named State but a short time, and then took a trip
to Indiana, Western Iowa, Western Missouri, Johnson County, Kas.,
and Jackson County, Kas., where he located. The mother died in
Northern Missouri in 1867, and the father in Kansas in 1887. Joseph
Moreland began the dairy business, and met with such good success,
and enlarged his stock to such an extent, that in 1881 he moved on a
farm, remaining there but one year. He then returned to the dairy
business, which he has since followed. In 1881 he lost fourteen of
his best milch cows, bat not discouraged he still continued to carry on
the business. He moved over the State line in 1884, and in this State
he has resided ever since. He purchased a good patch of land southwest of Argentine, and has built a nice cottage, good barn and has a
line stone spring house in which he cares for his milk. He has twenty-eight good milch cows, consisting of Holstein, Short-horn and Jersey stock, all acknowledged to be the best in this section of the State.
He handles about sixty-five or eighty gallons of milk per day, and has
routes in Armourdale and Argentine. Mr. Moreland was married in
1875 to Miss Mary E. Bruce, daughter of Andrew and Ellen R. (Fuller) Bruce, natives of Vermont and New York, respectively. Mrs.
Moreland was born in Dodge City, Wis., on November 28, 1857, and
by her marriage became the mother of three children: Florence B.,
Ella E. and Lotta M. Mr. Moreland is a Republican in politics, but
does not aspire for office. He is an enterprising man, and extends a
helping hand to all worthy movements.
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