Anthony Philip Sauer

ANTHONY PHILIP SAUER. - Many of the men who were prominent in the upbuilding of Kansas, coming here in pioneer days, were of foreign birth and breeding, Germany having contributed liberally of her stanch and sturdy young men. Among the number especial mention should be made in this volume of Anthony Philip Sauer, who was for many years identified with the growing prosperity of Kansas City. He was born March 10, 1826, at Hessen-on-the-Rhine, where he acquired a practical education. Inheriting the habits of industry, thrift and enterprise characteristic of his German forefathers, he began his business career when quite young, investing his money in a stock of merchandise, which he took to Australia, intending to there engaged in mercantile pursuits. Disappointed and discouraged with the outlook, he made an entire change of plans and immigrated to the United States, the land of great promise, landing in New York City in 1853.

Embarking in the leather business in that city, he remained there ten years, meeting with satisfactory success. His health failing, Mr Sauer, sold out his business in New York and came west in search of renewed vigor. Going to the Rocky Mountains, he, with his two sons, Gus William and Anthony P., Jr., were engaged in freighting during a part of the time the Civil war was in progress, operating a large train of teams. Subsequently locating in Kansas City, Kansas, Mr. Sauer established a tannery, and for a while was prosperously employed in the tanning and sale of leather. Disposing of his interests in that line, he embarked in the real-estate business. About 1871 Mr. Sauer purchased sixty-three acres of land on the Shawnee Road, and in the improvement of the property invested about sixty thousand dollars, putting twenty thousand dollars into the spacious brick mansion which he erected. His intentions were to create a large fruit farm and to raise grapes for the manufacture of wine. Before his plans were all complete, however, he was called to the life above, his death occurring at his beautiful home August 16, 1878. He was a man of sterling integrity and worth, and adhered through life to the Catholic faith.

Mr. Sauer married, in Kansas City, Kansas, Mary (Einhellig) Messersmidt, who was born in Bavaria, Germany, November 22, 1840, a daughter of Anthony and Mary (Kabaerl) Einhellig. Her parents emigrated from Germany to the United States in 1848, and after living in Erie, Pennsylvania, for a few years came, in 1856, to what is now Kansas City, Kansas, arriving here at the time of the sale of the Wyandotte and Delaware lands, journeying by rail from Pennsylvania to St. Louis, thence by boat to Kansas City. Here Mr. Einhellig died in 1855, aged fifty-six years, and his wife died in 1867, aged fifty-two years.

Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Sauer seven children were born, namely: Gus William; Anthony Philip, Jr.; Eva, who married first William Van Fossen, and is now the wife of Mr. Perkins, of Kansas City, Kansas; Marie Antoinette, wife of George McLain, of Kansas City, Kansas; Josephine Theresa, wife of Thomas Kinney; Clara, living at the old home; and Helen, who died in 1865, aged fourteen months. Mrs. Sauer married first, when she was but nineteen years old, George Messersmidt, a native of Germany, and of that marriage she became the mother of two children, namely: Anna, wife of Theodore Votigtle, a civil engineer; and Mary, wife of Luther Klotz, living in Germany.