Harris K. Millspaugh

HARRIS K. MILLSPAUGH. - Prominent among the retired business men of Rosedale, Wyandotte county, is Harris K. Millspaugh, a man of sterling integrity and honor, who is held in high esteem throughout the community. He was born, November 3, 1845, in Washingtonville, Orange county, New York, a son of John S. and Mary Ann (King) Millspaugh, natives of the Empire State. He comes of patriotic stock, his grandfather, John J. S. Millspaugh having served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war, there wearing a pair of spurs which are now in the possession of Mr. Millspaugh. The Millspaugh family of America was founded by three brothers of that name, John, Matthias and Wilhelm, who emigrated from Holland to the United States in 1768, and here reared their families.

Having obtained a practical education in the public schools of Washingtonville, New York, Harris K. Millspaugh began his active career in 1861 as assistant conductor on the Erie railroad, continuing on the Port Jervis division of that road until 1867. The following ten years he was conductor on a passenger train on the Hudson river railway, between Jersey City and Nyack. Resigning that position, Mr. Millspaugh came to Kansas City, Missouri, and on January 18, 1878, in partnership with his uncle, A. W. Millspaugh, purchased twenty acres of land on a hill near Rosedale, and embarked in business as a fruit grower. He was subsequently taken ill, and gave up farming for three years, during which time he was again in the employ of the railway service, being conductor on a Pullman train running between Kansas City and Denver. Regaining his health, Mr. Millspaugh returned to his fruit farm and renewed his agricultural and horticultural labors. Subsequently selling his interest in the ranch to his uncle, Mr. Millspaugh was for ten years state weighmaster for Kansas, and on giving up the position retired from active business, and has since been enjoying his well deserved leisure at his pleasant home in Rosedale.

Mr. Millspaugh married, in New York, Georgia Cadwell, a daughter of Captain H. R. Cadwell, an old time boatman on the Hudson, and of their union two children were born, namely: Harris K., Jr., and James H., who died in 1895, at the age of seven years.

A. W. Millspaugh, referred to above, was born in Orange county, New York, December 28, 1814, and there lived until becoming of age. He was very prominent in railroad affairs, from 1865 until his death, at the age of eighty-six years, being agent of all the railways running out of Kansas City, Missouri. The fruit farm which he, in company with Mr. Millspaugh, bought in 1878, is now owned by his children.