Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 406 - 409 

FREDERICK P. STACKMAN is a capitalist and a prominent citizen of Wichita, where he has a home beautifully situated in Riverside Addition, between the Big and Little Arkansas Rivers.  He is a native of the German Empire, having been born in Prussia, in the year 1843.  He was the son of Carl and Anna (Hurke) Stackman, natives and life-long residents of Prussia.  Their three children, Frederick P., Albert and Charlotte (Mrs. Schonemann), all live in America.

      The subject of this biography was well educated in his native land, attending school until he was fourteen years of age, in accordance with the strict laws of Prussia.  He then served an apprenticeship of three and one-half years to learn the tailor's trade.  Subsequently he traveled throughout Germany, plying his business in different towns, besides having a good chance to see many of the famous and historical places in the land of his birth.  He was an intelligent and wide-awake young man and finally ventured to the United States, in the belief that this country possessed superior advantages for him over his own.  This was in the year 1866.  He soon left New York, where he had first stepped on  American soil, and went to Missouri, where he established himself in business as a merchant tailor.  He built up quite a trade, but still he was not satisfied, feeling convinced that he could do still better, and leaving the town of Louisiana, which was the place of his residence while he was in Missouri, he came to Topeka, in this State.  He there opened a merchant tailor's establishment, and was soon doing a comfortable business.

      During the same year above mentioned Mr. Stackman paid a visit to Wichita, which then gave no indications of becoming a thriving city, as its small population was lodged in about twenty rough board shanties.  But Mr. Stackman was pleased with its beautiful location in the valley of the Arkansas River, and shrewdly foresaw that, possessing so many advantages, it was destined to be the metropolis of a great agricultural region.  However, he did not then decide to locate here, but still continued in business in Topeka for some time until the spring of 1873.  He then closed his establishment and disposed of his interests in the State capital and came to Wichita.  Here he purchased a lot, adjoining the one on which the court-house is built, paying therefor and for the shop that stood on it, $800, and established himself as a merchant tailor, continuing in that business until 1883.  In that year he retired, having built up a large trade, employing seven men to fill his orders, and acquiring quite a fortune.  Two years subsequent to his first purchase Mr. Stackman bought a lot adjoining his on North Main street, on which he built a frame storehouse.  In 1881 he bought 130 acres of land in the Riverside Addition, and has since made his home there.  He has built a fine brick residence and other buildings, and has laid out the grounds with numerous fruit and ornamental trees;  it is delightfully situated and has plenty of natural shrubbery.  He will plat a part of it this year, 1888.

      Mr. Stackman has paid frequent visits to his native land, crossing the water in 1884, 1885 and 1886, and on his return in 1887 from his last trip he brought with him a wife to preside over his pleasant home.  Her maiden name was Marie Hahn.  She was born in Strasburgh, Germany, Aug. 6, 1866.  She is very finely educated, having graduated from Strasburgh College in 1880. Her parents are Charles and Josephine (Antonie) Hahn.  Her father is cashier in a bank; to him and his wife have been born four children-Charles, Maria, Bertha and Mathilde. 

     Mr. Stackman is an intelligent, well-informed man, possessed of superior business tact and sound common sense, which make him an invaluable member of this community.  He has the courage of his convictions and is an independent thinker, especially in political matters, always voting for the best men and measures irrespective of party or creed.

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