Charles N. Leinbach

CHARLES N. LEINBACH. - The fine old Keystone state of the Union has contributed its quota to the sterling citizenship of Kansas, and among the representative business men of Kansas City, the metropolis of Wyandotte county, who can thus claim Pennsylvania as the place of their nativity is Mr. Leinbach, whose well equipped establishment is located at 527 Minnesota avenue, where he handles wall paper, paints, oil, glass, etc., and where he has built up a large and substantial enterprise.

Mr. Leinbach was born in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, on the 8th of September, 1863 and is a son of Ephraim and Mary M. Leinbach, both of whom were residents of Kansas City, Missouri, at the time of their death. The father was born in Pennsylvania in the year 1833 and was a scion of one of the old and honored German families of that commonwealth, where he continued to be identified with agricultural pursuits until 1872, when he removed with his family to Constantine, St. Joseph county, Michigan where he was engaged in farming until 1879, when he removed to Belmond, Wright county, Iowa, where he was identified with the same line of enterprise until the spring of 1885, when he removed to Kansas City, Missouri, where he was engaged in the general merchandise business until his death, about three years later, in 1888. Of the four children three are living and the eldest of the number is he whose name initiates this review, Samuel U. is a resident of Odessa.

Charles N. Leinbach was about nine years of age at the time of the family removal from Pennsylvania to Constantine, Michigan, where he attended the public schools, as did he later those of Belmond, Iowa. This discipline was supplemented by a course in the Spaulding Commercial College, in Kansas City, Missouri, and from 1886 until September 1, 1899, he was in the employ of G. M. White, who was engaged in the wall-paper and paint business in that city. He became familiar with all details of the business and was a trusted and valued employe at the time when he severed his association therewith. He forthwith came to Kansas City, Kansas, and established his present enterprise, which, through careful and progressive policies and fair dealings he has developed into one of the most important of its kind in the city, with a patronage of distinctively representative order.

Though never imbued with any desire for public office Mr. Leinbach takes a loyal interest in all that tends to further the general welfare of the community, and his political allegiance is given to the Republican party. He is one of the prominent members of Summunduwot Lodge, No. 3, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is past noble grand and in which he has passed all of the official chairs. He has been treasurer of the lodge since 1907. He is also identified with the Fraternal Aid Society and the Knights of the Modern Maccabees. In his church relations he is a Presbyterian.

The 6th of December, 1887 witnessed the marriage of Mr. Leinbach to Miss Carrie Justus, who was born in the state of Illinois, and they have two sons and two daughters, namely: Leeta M., Grace M., Barto J. and C. Elton.