Charles E. Kearney

Civilian

Charles E. Kearney

Note: The following biography was written by Carrie Westlake Whitney in her book, History of Kansas City, Missouri.

Charles E. Kearney, deceased, was one of the pioneer wholesale and retail merchants of Kansas City, and belonged to that class of representative American men who, while promoting individual success, also contribute to the substantial upbuilding and prosperity of the community in which they live. He was a native of Ireland, born March 8, 1820. His parents both died on the Emerald Isle when their son Charles was comparatively young. He was a youth of nine at the time of his mother’s demise and at the age of sixteen he determined to seek a home in America, for he had a brother residing in Texas. His father had been an army officer and Charles E. Kearney had been afforded good educational advantages in Ireland. On the day that Queen Victoria was crowned he sailed for the United States, landing in New York city, whence he made his way direct to his brother’s home in Texas. There he was engaged as a Mexican trader and continued there during the period of the Mexican war. He afterward began making trips to the west, carrying on business, however, as a trader all the time. He crossed the plains on fourteen different occasions and was familiar with all of the experiences of freighting and of pioneer life in the west when the seeds of civilization had hardly been planted. The first few times he made the journey across the plains he traveled with burros, or mules, and later with wagons. In 1852 he settled at Westport, now a part of Kansas City. Tlie now populous metropolis of western Missouri was then a small town of little industrial or commercial importance and Mr. Kearney became identified with its business interests in pioneer times and advanced with its development as the years passed by. He began merchandising here, selling goods to the Mexican traders. There were still many evidences of pioneer life, with its dangers and hardships and also its picturesque elements.

In the same year (1852) Mr. Kearney was married in Westport to Miss Josephine Harris, a native of Kentucky and a daughter of John and Henrietta (Simpson) Harris, both of whom were natives of the Blue Grass state, whence they came to Kansas City in 1832, when Mrs. Kearney was only two months old. Mr. Harris settled in what is now Hyde Park, a part of Westport. The district, however, was then all farming country, and purchasing much of this farm land he carried on general agricultural pursuits for a few years. He afterward bought from Mr. McGee, the first settler here, a hotel, changing the name to the Harris House, by which it is still known. It is located at No. 430 Westport avenue and hero Mr. Harris engaged in the conduct of his hotel through the period of the war. it becoming the soldiers’ headquarters. In early days he also invested in land in various parts of Westport. The price of the goods advanced through the growth and development of the country and added much to his financial resources and assets. He continued in the hotel business until, on account of ill health, he was obliged to retire from that field of activity. During his remaining days his time and energies were given only to the supervision of his property which had become quite valuable. He continued to reside with his children until called to his final rest, and his wife also died in this locality. Of the children born unto Mr. and Mrs. Harris four are now living and are residents of Kansas City, namely: Julia, who is the widow of John J. Mastin and resides at 3500 Main street; Elizabeth S., who is the widow of Thomas II. Mastin and is also living at 3500 Main street; Mrs. Seth Ward, of Kansas City: and Mrs. Kearney.

There were six children horn unto Mr. and Mrs. Kearney, of whom four yet survive: Mary L., the eldest, is a teacher in Allen school and resides here with her mother and sister. Julia is the wife of Frank C. Wornall, a traveling salesman living at No. Ill East Thirty-ninth street. Lizzie Iv. is the widow of Joseph L. Nofsinger, who was horn in Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1864, and came to Kansas City in 1880. He was a leading business man here and for several years served as assistant postmaster, after which he engaged in the real-estate business for some time. Subsequently he began dealing in men’s furnishing goods at No. 803 Walnut street, where he carried on the business successfully and continually until liis death, which occurred on the 27th of February. 1906. He was a man well known and highly respected in business circles and in private life, and his loss was therefore deeply mourned by many friends as well as his immediate family. Unto him and his wife were born three children, Elizabeth, Lewis E. and Charles W. Charles E. Kearney, the youngest surviving member of the Kearney family, married Rollena Gilluli, and is a traveling salesman for the Central Coal & Coke Company, residing in Kansas City. The two sons of the family now deceased are Francis E. and William Bernard, both of whom died at the age of two years.

Following his marriage Mr. Kearney engaged in merchandising at Westport for several years, after which he sold out and made a trip back to Ireland to visit his sister. When he returned to the new world he embarked in the wholesale grocery business on what is called the Levee in Kansas City, selling to the Mexicans and others. lie continued in trade for some years, after which he disposed of his wholesale grocery house and went to New York city, where he conducted business interests for a few years but was not very successful there and again came to Kansas City, where he began operating in real estate. He was thereafter connected with the real-estate business up to the time when his health failed and he abandoned all business interests, practically living retired until his death. lie, however, owned a considerable property and gave personal supervision to this.

Mr. Kearney did much for Kansas City’s improvement and upbuilding. He was instrumental in the extension of the Cameron Railroad through Kansas City, this being the first line here and in it he invested much capital. He was chosen its first president and continued as the chief executive of the company for several years. Ha was likewise a member of the Board of Trade here for a considerable period and acted as its vice president for some time. His political views accorded with the principles of the democracy and his fraternal relations connected him with the Masonic order, while in his life he exemplified its beneficent and helpful spirit. Both he and his wife were members of the Baptist church but since his death Mrs. Kearney and Mrs. Nofsinger have united with, the Christian Science church. Mr. Kearney passed away January 3, 1898, leaving behind an untarnished name and a record well worthy of emulation. He had attained the age of seventy-eight years. His life was a benefit and stimulus to the many with whom he came in contact and a lesson to all. He achieved success by reason of indomitable perseverance and close application and gained an honorable name because of his fidelity to a high standard of commercial ethics. Beside other property Mrs. Kearney owns a nice home at No. 2019 East Eighth street, where she and Mrs. Nofsinger and the latter’s family reside.

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