Tag: Kansas City History
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Lots 188 and 189 of McGee’s Addition
In June, 1857, pioneering immigrants, Christian and Caroline Tonebohn, purchased a residential lot in the speculative McGee’s Addition in, what was then, the town of Kansas, Missouri. The lot, then Missouri prairie, is now situated in the heart of downtown Kansas City, MO. Here’s how that happened.
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Johann Friedrich Daniel Wendt – Soldier, Immigrant, and Farmer
We know quite a lot about Max and Minnie Wendt after they settle, by 1870, first in Moberly, MO, then St. Louis, MO, finally Kansas City, KS. Before that; before they emigrated from Germany, we have few details about their whereabouts and lives. Here, we present what is known and unknown with a few theories…
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Discovering Lemuel Hopper
Sometimes, while doing genealogy research, you discover a person who you would have wanted to meet in person. Lemuel Hopper is one of those people. His life was brimming with adventure and self-reinvention. Here is his story.
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Anchors Aweigh – the Naval Career of John Baldwin
In this story, the 2nd of two parts, we will set sail on the naval career odyssey of John “Johnny” Baldwin. We will use official US Navy documents to recall his tours of duty. Along the way, we will get to know this man, who joined the US Navy at the tender age of 16.
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Dearest Dorothy – the Love Letters of Johnny Baldwin
Between June 1939 and May 1940, with World War II looming, Naval Signalman, John “Johnny” Baldwin carried on a long distance letter writing courtship with Dorothy Lee Dixon. In all, 35 letters were sent to Dorothy. Before they married in May 1940, they had only met twice.
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Atwood Ice Cream Company – a forgotten history restored
The success of the Atwood Ice Cream Company can be attributed to one person: Ella Atwood-Woolsey. Ella was a pioneer in many ways; woman owner and manager of a manufacturing and retail business, tough competitor, innovator, promotor.
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Lola F Purtee Donahue Interview – growing up along the Kansas River
“… I don’t know how, why, but I was in the car with them, and the police were stopping and inspecting cars. And Paul Lee turned to Irma Craighead (I was in the back seat), Paul Lee turned to Irma Craighead and said, “Get your Bible out, get your Bible out and show ‘em!”
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Ruth Alta Wendt Meyn – a fortuitous life
Little was known of the wife of Fred Wendt Jr (1892-1957). All trees had her listed only as “Alta” with no maiden name and only a smattering of public information. I set about to see if I could find more details about her life. What I found was an extraordinary story.
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The Disappearance of Earl Tobias
On or about Dec 15, 1894 Earl Tobias deserted his wife and their two children in Kansas City, KS. He wrote his wife, stating: “…he had too many mouths to feed and was getting in debt.” Earl then disappeared from all public records. 125+ years later, we found Earl.
Family Stories I've Found 