Henry J. Nicholas

HARRY J. NICHOLAS. - A young man of tireless energy and of keen mental vigor, an active brain, Harry J. Nicholas has made good use of the mechanical talent and ability with which he was by nature endowed, and as manager for the Phelps Stone Company, one of the largest concerns of the kind in Kansas City, Missouri, is filling a position of much importance. A native of Nebraska, he was born April 25, 1883, in Madison county, being a son of Albert Buffum Nicholas, who married Emeline Frances Miller, the adopted daughter of a Mr. Douglas.

When he was a lad of seven years his parents moved from Nebraska to Missouri, and there Harry J. Nicholas received a public school education. As a young man he was variously employed, first becoming acquainted with the details of the stone business while working a year with the Eagle Contracting Company, of Kansas City, Missouri, who sold out to the Parker, Washington Paving Company, with which he was identified the following year. In March, 1905, Mr. Nicholas became bookkeeper for the Phelps Stone and Supply Company, and likewise cashier, and while thus employed displayed such rare ability and judgment that on March 1, 1908, he was promoted to his present high position as manager of the firm. Through his wise management of affairs Mr. Nicholas has largely increased the business for the company, having been instrumental in securing some very large contracts in the supplying of building material used by the Street Railway Company in the construction of viaducts, bridges and other concrete works. He has a good deal of constructive ability, and by the use of his mechanical talent succeeded in solving some of the problems connected with the rebuilding of the Phelps Stone and Supply Company's plant, (which he superintended) that the engineers employed in the work were unable to decipher.

Mr. Nicholas is known far and wide as a man of upright principles, fair and square in his dealings. He is unmarried, and is living with his parents at No. 2708 Bell street.