Kansas History and Heritage Project-Wyandotte County Biographies

Wyandotte County Biographies
"Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas--Historical and Biographical"
Goodspeed Publishing Co., Chicago, 1890


John Patterson is superintendent of the Fifth Street division of the Metropolitan Street Railway in Kansas City, Kas., but was born in Logan County, Ill., February 15, 1858, and at the age of eight years was taken to Southwest Missouri, but two years later went to the "Lone Star State" on his own hook and remained in that State for about one year. He then returned to his native State, where he resided for some four or five years, following various employments during this time, after which he returned to Missouri, but this time located in the northeastern part of the State, and began breaking on the Wabash Railroad from Moberty to Ottumwa, Iowa, but in time was promoted to the position of conductor, which he filled for about five years, then held the same position on the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad, but gave up this position and came to Kansas City, Kas., where he was sick for some time. Upon recovering, he entered the employ of the Metropolitan Street Railway Company, as a conductor on a horse-car, afterward becoming gripman, and some time later was appointed to the position of superintendent of the Eighteenth Street line, and was given his present position on August 20, 1SS9. He has general charge of the division and every man, and all the works are under his control, and by able and efficient management he has won the liking of all the men under him as well as the respect and confidence of the company. He has always taken a front place in every enterprise in which he has been engaged, and that quickly, and fully deserves the esteem which is accorded him. He is quite well to do, and has a pleasant residence at No. 1833 Minnesota Avenue. He was married in Knox County, Mo., to Miss Helen Riley, a native of Illinois, and by her had one child, Aggie. Mr. Patterson is a Republican in polities, and is a member of the National Union Benefit Association.


J. K. Paul, merchant and police, Armourdale, Kas. Mr. Paul is a native of Bristol County, Mass., born on January 22, 1848, and is of English-Scotch origin. He was reared in his native State, probably on the farm, and received an ordinary education in the common schools. He followed the sea for some time, and at the age of sixteen, or on January 4, 18G4, he enlisted in Company B, Fifty-eighth Massachusetts Regiment, and served until the close of the war. He was in all the engagements of the Army of the Potomac, and was wounded through the body in front of Petersburg, on July 30, 1864, when blowing up the Rebel fort. He was in the hospital after this for about four months. Returning home after the war, he remained there until 1868, when he came West and located at California, Mo., going, in 1871, to Jefferson City. There he remained for about nine years, occupied in the foundry and tin business, and in 1880 came to Kansas City, Mo., where he worked at the same calling. He established a foundry on Broadway, ran it for a short time, and then sold out. In 1882 he removed to Armourdale, where he was in the foundry, and also in the tin business for some time. Subsequently he was city treasurer of Armourdale one term, and councilman one term. He was appointed chief of the fire department of the consolidated cities of Kansas City, Kas., Armourdale and Wyandotte, in 1886, holding the position for two terms, or three years. In 1865 he was married to Miss Maria E. Tripp, and became the father of one child, Sarah, who became the wife of John A. Kerr. Mr. Paul's second marriage occurred in 1877, to Miss Nora E. Hillis, and his third in 1880, to Miss Samantha Hillis, who bore him two children: Victor Arthur and Watson. Mr. Paul is a member of the I. O. O. F., the K. of P., the A. O. U. W. and the G. A. R. He has represented both the K. of P. and the A. O. U. W. in the Grand Lodge, and takes a great interest in these societies. His parents, Jobe and Cordelia (Wascott) Paul, were natives of Massachusetts, and their ancestors came over from England and Scotland at an early day. The paternal grandfather served in the Revolution, lost a leg, and wore a wooden leg after that. He was a farmer. The father of our subject was a stone-mason, also a farmer, and died in Massachusetts, as did also the mother. They had a large family.


Thomas J. Payne, retired, Argentine, Kas. Mr. Payne, a substantial and much esteemed citizen of Wyandotte County, owes his nativity to Van Buren County, Iowa, where his birth occurred on February 16, 1842. He is the son of Stephen J. and Mary E. (Seward) Payne, the father a native of Kentucky and the mother of Schuyler County, Ill. The paternal grandfather, Stephen J., was a captain in the War of 1812. He was among the early settlers of Indiana, and there received his final summons. The father of our subject was born in 1817, grew to manhood in Indiana, and moved from there to Illinois, thence to Iowa, thence to Missouri, and in 1856 to Wyandotte County, Kas. He located near Rosedale, where he received permission of an Indian chief, Capt. Joe Parks, to move on his land and to help him farm. He remained with the chief for about two years, and then moved to within about a mile west of Armourdale, where he entered forty-eight acres of Government land. He subsequently sold out and purchased a larger farm where he resided until assassinated by bushwhackers on July 31, 1863, in the night time. He was a very prominent man, and well liked by all who knew him. He was an intimate friend of James Lane. His widow died on January 4, 1889. They were the parents of twelve children, seven sons now living: John S. (who was in Company B, Second Kansas Cavalry, held the rank of deputy sergeant, and was accidentally wounded), Dorastus P. (in Company B, Second Kansas Cavalry), Henry B. (in the Fifteenth Kansas Regiment), Lewis V., William J. and Alfred E. Thomas J. Payne became thoroughly acquainted with the duties of the farm at an early age, and received his education in a little log school-house with slab seats. On August 15, 1862, he enlisted in Company A, Twelfth Kansas Volunteer Infantry, and served over nineteen months. After this he was commissioned by the governor of Kansas as first lieutenant of the State Militia, and served in that capacity during Price's raid. Returning home after the war, he resumed farming, thoroughly satisfied and having quite enough of army experiences, although he never received a scratch. When Mr. Payne first came here this was known as Westport Landing, and there were but few inhabitants, except Indians, who were friendly. The Payne family was the first white family in Shawnee Township, and have witnessed all the developments of the county and growth of Kansas City. Mr. Payne held one term of township constable and filled that position in a creditable and satisfactory manner. He is the owner of about ninety four acres of good farming land, and has also about 270 lots in what is known as Gibbs & Payne's Addition to Argentine. Mr. Payne has the finest residence in Shawnee Township, constructed at a cost of about $22,000, besides barn and outbuildings worth $3,000 more, all erected on a natural site with a magnificent view of the surrounding country and city. He was married, on May 26, 1868, to Miss Sarah Stover, a native of Illinois, but who was reared in Jackson County, Mo., and the fruits of this union were eight children, four now living: Lydia B., Lizzie J., Maggie L., and Charles Lewis. Mr. and Mrs. Payne are members of the Baptist Church, and socially he is a member of the A. F. & A. M., the I. O. O. F. and the G. A. R.


John A. Pearson. A representative grocery house of Kansas City, Kas., is that of Mr. Pearson, who conducts a live and extensive business as a dealer of groceries and general provisions. The house was established January 20, 1890, and such was the rapid increase of his trade that March 26, 1890, he moved into more commodious quarters, his present place of business being No. 1946 North Third Street. He was born in Sweden, September 21, 1858, his father being Per Borgeson and his mother Johanna Borgeson, their marriage taking place in 1851. The subject of this sketch was the fourth of their ten children, and five sons and one daughter are now living. Both parents are living, their home being in Halland, Sweden. John A. Pearson was reared upon a farm, and attended school between the ages of seven and fifteen, acquiring during this time a fair education. When twenty-one years of age he entered the military service, but after one year's service he emigrated to America, embarking at Gothenburg March 29, and landed at New York April 20, the vessel in which he sailed being the City of New York. On reaching this country he made his way to Houtzdale, Penn., where, for a short time, he worked in a coal mine. He next went to Youngstown, Penn., and during the rest of the summer he helped to build a railroad in that vicinity. During the winter of 1880-81 he worked in a coal mine at Dunbar, Penn., and remained thus employed in different parts of the State until 1884, in which year he returned to his native land. After farming on the old Swedish homestead for two years, he, in 1886, again came to the United States, starting August 26 and landing September 16. He at once came to Kansas City, Mo., where he secured a position as clerk in a grocery store owned by the Larson Brothers, remaining with them for about three years, then purchased his present establishment, as above stated. He is an industrious and enterprising young man, and that which has materially contributed to his success has been his constant efforts to accommodate the demands of his numerous customers with the very best of goods procurable, and to dispose of them at reasonable rates. He has one brother in this country, who came here in 1889, and is now clerking in his grocery. His name is Julius Pearson. John A. was married, September 1, 1887, to Miss Olivia Pearson, she having come to this country in the spring of 1887. One child has been born to them, John Hermann, born February 13, 1890, and died June 24, 1890. Mr. and Mrs. Pearson are members of the Lutheran Church, and are now worthy and honored residents of the city in which they reside. Mr. Pearson's brothers and sisters are as follows: Severina, Bengt J., Severin, John A., Alfred, Otto, Julius, Alfred, Olivia and Tilda. Those deceased are: the two Alfreds, Olivia and Tilda. Four of the family still reside in Sweden, the three brothers being farmers, and the husband of Severina, whose name is Bengt Swanson, is also a tiller of the soil. All are married, with the exception of Otto and Julius. The wife of John A. Pearson was born in Halland, Sweden, September 6, 1862, she being the third of seven children born to Per Benson, her mother being Charlotte Benson. They are still residing in Halland, Sweden. Their children are: Elof, Olivia, Alfred and Amanda, and three deceased. The living members of the family came to America, but Elof has since returned to Sweden. Alfred resides in Bradford, Penn., and Amanda in Kansas City, Kas. All are single, except Olivia. One of the three children that are dead was Elof, and the other two were named Amanda. When Mr. Pearson returned to Sweden, in 1884, he left New York May 20, on the steamer "Britanic," and reached Gothenburg June 10, after a very pleasant voyage. He took his parents by surprise, not having notified them of his coming, and for two years farmed on the old homestead, near the Cattegat Channel. Upon his return to America, in 1886, he started from his home August 26, going on the vessel "Romeo" to Hull, England, thence by rail to Liverpool, and August 31, sailed on the steamer " Celtic," for New York, which place he reached September 12. On that trip he accompanied John B. Larson and wife to Kansas City, Mo., they having been on a visit to Sweden.





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