Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 225 - 226

THOMAS JEWELL, capitalist, has been identified with the business interests of Wichita since the early years of its settlement, and has taken an active part in promoting its growth. His home, at No. 223 South Main street, is one of the most attractive in that part of the city. He was born in Canada, June 4, 1836, being a son of Richard and Jane (Luke) Jewell, natives of England. They left their English home in 1832, and crossed the ocean to Canada; the mother's parents and family also migrated to Canada, where they passed the remainder of their lives. Mr. Jewell became engaged in the brewery business, which he conducted through life. He was a man of good financial ability, and acquired wealth in his calling. He died in his Canadian home in the year 1848; his good wife survived him until the year 1884. To these worthy people were born seven children, five of whom are now living; the following is their record: Mary J. is now Mrs. Galley, of Toronto, Canada; Thomas; Henry, a merchant of Victoria, Vancouver's Island; Maria is Mrs. Wilkinson, of Toronto, Canada; Rachel is Mrs. Galley, of Toronto, Canada. The father volunteered as a soldier in 1836-37, to help put down the Rebellion in Canada; he belonged to the Tory party. He and his wife were influential and active members of the Episcopal and Methodist Episcopal Churches.

             The subject of this sketch acquired an excellent education in his native country, being in attendance at school until he was seventeen years old. After his education was completed he learned the trades of bricklayer and plasterer, in which he afterward acquired great proficiency as a skillful workman, and as a contractor he has been noted for the durability of his work, and has erected many important buildings in different parts of the West. He remained at home until he was twenty-four, working at his trade, but in 1859 he went to New York, and followed it there for one year. In 1860 he went South, where he was employed at his calling until 1864, and then returned to Canada, where he obtained the position of foreman to superintend the work on the Parliament buildings at Ottawa. After that he turned his attention to hotel-keeping at Pembroke, Kan., where he was thus engaged until 1867. In that year he returned to the southern part of the United States, and in Texas resumed his old trade. In 1868 our subject went to Missouri to work at St. Louis. Subsequently he became a contractor, and carried on business at Kirkwood and Boonville, and in 1869 was so engaged in Kansas City for a short time. He then established himself in Lawrence, this State, and was employed to construct the gas-works and quite a number of other buildings. From there he went to St. Mary's Mission in the Pottawatomie Reservation, and helped to build the colleges. Afterward he returned to Lawrence, and was actively engaged at his trade until 1872, when he removed to the embryo city of Wichita, which he shrewdly foresaw was destined to become a great and important metropolis, and he wisely decided to cast his fortunes in with it, and since that time his prosperity has kept pace with the growth of the city. He engaged first in the wholesale and retail liquor trade, continuing in it until 1882. He then engaged in the boot and shoe business for a year, and since then has been extensively occupied in the business of superintending the erection of buildings, and in the last two years has superintended the erection of some of the finest buildings in the city. He has also dealt largely in buying and selling real estate, and has erected two business houses and a fine private dwelling.

             Mr. Jewell was married to Miss Cordelia V. Thayer, of Leamington, Canada, in 1879. She is the daughter of John and Margaret (Beaubier) Thayer, natives of Canada, where her father was engaged in farming until his death in 1867. Her mother died in 1884. They had a family of five children, three of whom are now living: Louisa, Mrs. Imerson, of Canada; Elmira, Mrs. DeLair, of Comanche County, Kan., and Mrs. Jewell. 

            Mr. Jewell is a Democrat in politics; socially, he is a Mason and a Knight of Honor. He is a man of recognized ability, and, with his amiable wife, stands high in this community.

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