George Hafner

GEORGE HAFNER. - In view of the great "wander-lust" which is gradually growing to animate all classes of American citizens to roam about from one place to another, it is particularly gratifying to here accord recognition to a citizen who has passed practically his entire life time in the county in which he was born. George Hafner is accorded the unqualified confidence and esteem of people who have been familiar with his career from early youth and during his period of residence at Bonner Springs, Kansas, he has won an enviable name for himself as a capable and successful business man.

A native of Wyandotte county, George Hafner was born in Kansas City, the date of his nativity being the 1st of March, 1865. He is a son of Melcher and Anna (Grubel) Hafner, both of whom were born and reared in the great Empire of Germany. The father immigrated to the United States about the year 1860 but previously to his coming hither he had entered upon an apprenticeship at the brewer's trade, with which line of enterprise he was thoroughly familiar. After disembarking in the harbor of New Orleans, he proceeded directly to St. Louis, Missouri, where he remained for two years, at the expiration of which he came to Wyandotte, now Kansas City, Kansas. Here he opened and operated the first brewery ever here conducted, continuing to be engaged in the operation thereof until his death, in 1868. His marriage to Anna Grubel was solemnized in old Wyandotte and this union was prolific of four children, concerning whom the following brief data are here incorporated: Charles is mail carrier at the Stock Yards; George is the immediate subject of this review; Rudolph was summoned to the life eternal in 1869, at the age of one year and eight months; and Gussie is the wife of G. A. Peters, of Bonner Springs, a sketch of whose career appears elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. Melcher Hafner passed to the Great Beyond in the year 1901, at the venerable age of sixty-six years.

George Hafner was reared to adult age in old Wyandotte, where he early availed himself of the privileges afforded in the public schools. After reaching years of maturity he was employed at a number of different packing plants in Kansas City, where he continued to maintain his home until 1910. In that year he came to Bonner Springs, where he has since resided and where he is held in high esteem by all with whom he has come in contact. At the present time, in 1910, he is associated with his brother-in-law, George A. Peters, in the poultry business, their thriving concern being well known under the firm name of the Bonner Springs Poultry Company. Splendidly equipped coops and yards are maintained and they have on hand regularly as many as three hundred fowl, their principal market being Kansas City, Missouri. Just prior to his advent in Bonner Springs, Mr. Hafner was bookkeeper for the George Grubel Bottling Works, at Kansas City, Kansas. He and his brother-in-law now control a splendid business and they are constantly extending the scope of their operations.

In politics Mr. Hafner is aligned as a stalwart in the ranks of the Democratic party and while he has never manifested aught of ambition for the honors or emoluments of public office of any description he is ever on the alert to do all in his power to advance the general welfare of his home community. He is affiliated with a number of representative fraternal and social organizations of a local nature. He is genial and kindly in his associations, is fair and honorable in his business methods and is everywhere esteemed and respected for his exemplary life. Mr. Hafner is not married.