Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 177 - 181

 NATHANIEL A. ENGLISH. The wealth and prosperity of the city of Wichita are wholly due to the men whose judgment singled it out as an eligible point for business in the midst of a country possessing vast resources ready for development by master hands and minds.  Prominent among these was the subject of this history, now one of its leading business men, an extensive land-owner and large real-estate dealer of Wichita.  He has been closely identified with the interests of Sedgwick County for a period of nearly twenty years, and among the remarkable men developed here none has evinced greater ability or possessed greater faith in the future prosperity of the county.

      Mr. English is of Virginia ancestry, although his birthplace was at Newark, Ohio, the date thereof March 12, 1830.  His parents, Joseph and Mary (Hupp) English, were natives of the Old Dominion, but were living in Licking County, Ohio, at the time of their marriage, which occurred in Newark, in 1821.  Joseph English operated both as a farmer and contractor, but after a few years left Ohio and took up his abode in Jacksonville, Morgan Co., Ill., where he was engaged in farming and stock-raising until his death, in 1868.  The wife and  mother survived him ten years, dying also at Jacksonville, in 1878.

      The father of our subject was a man quite prominent in public affairs, and while in Ohio served as Poor Commissioner.  Wherever stationed he was uniformly active in educational matters.  Politically, he was a warm supporter of the Democratic party.  He and his wife during the long period of their married lives were firm and conscientious members of the Baptist Church.  Their union was blessed by the birth of eleven children, eight of whom lived to maturity, and six are still surviving.  These are, Elizabeth, Job W., Joseph M., Nathaniel A., George H., and Sarah V., now Mrs. Daniels.

      Nathaniel A. English was a bright, active lad, and in the common schools acquired the foundation of a substantial education.  When not attending school he did good service on the farm at home until he was twenty years of age.  He then engaged as a contractor in stone work, continuing two years.  Afterward, resuming his studies, he, in his attendance for the next two years at the Newark Academy, completed the education which amply fitted him for his future career.  Not long after leaving school he was appointed Deputy Sheriff of Licking County, and though so young to occupy that position, he discharged its duties for two years with credit and satisfaction.

      Mr. English, in 1856, joined his parents in Jacksonville, Ill., and there was engaged as a farmer and railroad contractor until 1860.  During that year he made his way to Clinton County, Mo., and was there engaged in railroading for a year.  In 1861 he left Missouri and came to Kansas, taking up his abode in Leavenworth for a short time, then went out on the plains to Jarvis Creek, and purchased a ranch on the overland route, for the purpose of engaging in trade with the Indians.  He only remained there six months, however, when, disposing of his property, he returned to Ft. Leavenworth, and made a contract with the Government to deliver horses at Denver for cavalry purposes.  Upon his return to Ft. Leavenworth he engaged to deliver Quartermaster's supplies from Westport to Ft. Leavenworth.

      In 1865 our subject went to Ft. Parker to take charge of the Government stone quarries, and five months later, still in the same employ, he was sent to superintend the building of the block-house at Ft. Zarrah.  Afterward he turned his attention to his private business.  Going into McPherson County he engaged as a stock dealer, in which business he operated with much success until 1869.  He then established himself in his present business at Wichita, where he, with his family, has since resided and been greatly prospered.

      The location of Mr. English in the young city of Wichita resulted in giving great impetus to its growth, as he laid out twelve additions to the city and put up several buildings, besides being uniformly the supporter of the various enterprises which served to develop its business interests and attract within its borders an intelligent and energetic class of men.  He is President of the Street Railway Company, in which he owns a generous amount of stock, and also has stock in the ice works, the Brunswick Stone Works, the stockyards and hotel, and the Fourth National Bank of Wichita, of which he is a Director.  He is also President of the Arkansas Valley Fire Insurance Company, a stockholder in the soap factory, and a Director of the Ft. Scott & Wichita Railroad, now operated by the Missouri Pacific Railroad Company.  He has real estate in Butler, Chase, McPherson, Sumner and Kingman Counties.  Mr. English is prominently identified with the Democratic party in Sedgwick County, takes a lively interest in political affairs, and has done good service as an office-holder, being County Commissioner two years and is now a Councilman from the First Ward. 

     In 1864 Mr. English was united in marriage with Mrs. Osie A. McEwen, daughter of Judge Foye, of Leavenworth.  To Mr. and Mrs. English there were born eight children, namely: William A., George A., Mary E., Maude, Emma K., Margie, James M. and Gladys.  They occupy a beautiful home and a high social position among the cultivated people of the city.  We place among the introductory portraits of Sedgwick County that of Nathaniel A. English, whose name will be handed down generations hence as one of its pioneers in enterprise, and as a man possessing that broad and liberal spirit which ever delighted in the welfare and prosperity of the community at large, and to this end was willing to labor and make sacrifices, invest his capital, and wait patiently for returns.

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