Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 802 - 803

JOHN B. MILTNER, dealer in real estate, office No. 410 East Douglas avenue, is an old and honored resident of Wichita, and occupies a prominent position among the business men of Sedgwick County. He was born in Cassel, Germany, June 7, 1836, and is the son of John and Martha (Ross) Miltner. They were honest, worthy people, enjoying the respect and affection of their neighbors. The father was an extensive farmer and followed that occupation through life. They were the parents of six children, of whom only three are now living -- Adam, Henry and John B. Adam came to America in 1886, and is now engaged in farming in Ohio.

             The subject of this sketch obtained an excellent education in the schools of his native land, which he attended until he was fourteen years old. He then remained on his father's farm and assisted him in the work until he was seventeen. He then started out in the world for himself, and from that time made his own way unassisted, never looking back, but pushing steadily ahead, with all the energy and persistence of his strong nature, to a sure success. When he left his old home in the Fatherland he turned his face toward the United States of America as a country where his labors would receive a better reward. He landed on these shores in 1853, and proceeded to Chicago, Ill., and thence to Hancock County, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1864. For several years after that he acted as clerk in a dry-goods house. Subsequently he entered into the mercantile business at Warsaw, Ill., and was very prosperously engaged in that for some time. In the fall of 1875 he disposed of his interests in that city and came to Wichita, where he established himself as a grain dealer, and in the ensuing years, by his active industry and shrewd capability, became one of the leaders in that business. He owned the Arkansas Valley and Wichita elevators, and handled millions of bushels of wheat and other grain in this city and Southwestern Kansas. At the end of ten years he had built up a large fortune and retired from the grain trade. He then turned. his attention to his present business, and laid out the Miltner Addition, containing ten acres of land, finely located in the southeastern part of the city. He built his present handsome residence, No. 931 Laura avenue, in 1884.

             Mr. Miltner was married, in 1857, to Miss Sophia Wilkie, of Hancock County, Ill., daughter of Henry and Catherine (Coleman) Wilkie, natives of Germany. They emigrated to this country, and Mr. Wilkie was engaged in farming. Their daughter was born in St. Charles, Mo. She is a woman of amiable character, is a worthy Christian, and a devoted member of the German Methodist Episcopal Church. To her and her husband have been born four children - J. George, Henry F., Annie L. and Mary L. Annie is now Mrs. Findeiss; George is engaged in the real-estate business in Wichita; he married Miss Clara Steinmeier, and they have one child, Charles.

             Mr. Miltner is numbered among the wealthy and substantial citizens of Wichita, and wherever known is recognized as a man of sterling qualities of mind and heart. He is extremely public spirited, and has contributed thousands of dollars out of his fortune toward founding and maintaining the various institutions of the city. He is a true Christian gentleman, and since 1855 has belonged to the same church of which his wife is a member. In politics he is an earnest supporter of the Republican party.

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