Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 536 - 537 

JOHN B. BUSCH, of the firm Busch & Grover, who are proprietors of the Kansas Meat Market, Wichita, have one of the largest and most important establishments of the kind in this thriving city. Besides doing an immense wholesale trade they have the largest private trade in the city. They employ thirteen hands continuously. This important industry has grown rapidly from a small beginning, as it commenced with a business of six cattle a week, and now has a sale of 550 cattle per month, 100 hogs, 125 sheep, and from fifteen to twenty calves per week, having besides a large wholesale business, shipping from Kansas City about 6,000 pounds of ham every week. John B. Busch, the founder of this enterprise, was born in DuPage County, Ill., on his father's farm, July 1, 1857. His parents were John and Barbara (Stark) Busch.

            Our subject was educated in the common schools of his native State, and in early life received a practical training in the labors of be farm. At the age of eighteen he started out in life for himself, and at the long established market at the corner of State and Polk streets, Chicago, Ill., gained a thorough knowledge of how to conduct a large meat market successfully in all its details. He remained in that market two and one-half years, and continued in that city in other markets some years longer, gaining a good deal of valuable experience. In 1879 he went to Denver, Col., where he became employed by C. Starkloff & Co., one of the principal firms in that city, remaining in their establishment for three years. He then went into company with Mr. Grover, and they bought a lot on which they erected a building, which, as soon as completed, they occupied as a meat market. They remained in that place two years, and then organized the Denver Packing Company, conducting a very extensive business. They sold their market and went into company with Mr. Charles Buckhardt, and continued to be associated in business with him the succeeding two years.

            June 24, 1885, at Denver, Col., Mr. Busch was united in marriage with Miss Lucy Mayer, daughter of George and Salma Mayer. Of this union there have been born two children - George and Albert.

            In 1886 Mr. Busch disposed of his interests in Denver and came to Wichita in July, where he immediately established himself in his present business. In 1887 Mr. Grover came from Denver and entered into partnership with him. They have a capital of $18,000 invested in this enterprise, and their business, as before stated, has become very extensive under their successful and energetic management, and constitutes one of the leading establishments in the city. During the Christmas holidays last season, Messrs. Busch & Grover had a very fine display, embracing some of the finest beef ever seen in Wichita; it was dressed by the most skillful butchers, and was as well dressed a lot of beef as was ever shown. The central decorative display of the market consisted of mutton, calves and hogs dressed by George Bowers and other employes of the firm; the sheep tastefully trimmed with evergreens, well lettered and pictured by hand work, and then the skin cut away, making a fine show. One could hardly credit it that so artistic a display could be made from such materials. The whole arrangement was one calculated to impress the beholder with the fact that this firm has very expert and skilled men in its employ.

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