Biographical Sketch of John J. Slattery, Atchison County, KSGenWeb Digital Library

KSGenWeb - The Primary Source for Kansas Genealogy

KSGenWeb Digital Library

Biographical Sketch
of
John J. Slattery
Atchison County, Kansas

Page Design, HTML Coding and Layout - Copyright©1998- by Kenneth Thomas, All Rights Reserved.
The KSGenWeb Project logo Copyright©1996- by Tom & Carolyn Ward, All Rights Reserved.
For the limited use of the KSGenWeb Project. Permission is granted for use only on an Official KSGenWeb Project page.
The Official USGenWeb Project logo designed by Linda Cole.

The following transcription is from a 750 page book titled "Genealogical and Biographical Record of North-Eastern Kansas, dated 1900. These have been diligently transcribed and generously contributed by Penny R. Harrell, please give her a very big Thank You for her hard work!

John J. Slattery has long been prominent in Atchison County, Kansas, and its Irish ring is an index to the character of the men who have borne it. It has always stood for enterprise, progressiveness and patriotism and has never been dishonored. Some account of the career of John J. Slattery and of his father, Michael Slattery, deserves a place in this work.

John J. Slattery was born in Shannon township, Atchison county, Kansas, November 28, 1863, a son of Michael and Catherine (Dooley) Slattery. Michael Slattery was born in county Clare, Ireland, in 1818, one of seven children of John Slattery, and was reared as a country boy. He acquired an education limited but practical. A natural aptitude for penmanship enabled him to become an exceptionally good penman, and his ability in that way aided him materially in after years.

He came alone to the United States, and afterward his father and the rest of his family came also. Soon after his arrival in this country Mr. Slattery went to Connecticut and found employment as a gardener near Hartford. He was not long in that service, however, but entered the employ of Colt, the great gunmaker.

In 1840 Michael Slattery came west as far as Michigan and secured a position at rough work at one of the then prominent railway stations of that state. It was not long, however, before his ability as a penman became known, and he was taken into the office as bill clerk. Later he was promoted to the position of shipping clerk, and held that position until 1857, when he went to Atchison County, Kas.

Soon after reaching the county he located on a claim in the wilds, seven miles northwest of the village of Atchison. He at once began farming, went into stock raising and afterwards in stock shipping, and became a heavy dealer in hogs and cattle. His farming interests increased with the same rapidity as his stock dealing, and there was perhaps no man more prominent in that line in Atchison County. He remained in active business until 1896, when he retired to Atchison.

Michael Slattery is one of the best of the many good men of which Atchison county can boast. He is exemplary in his habits, abhors profanity and vulgarity, is an ideal head of a family and a man whose example is in every way worthy of emulation. He was married to Catherine Dooley, of Detroit, Michigan. She died in October, 1878, having borne him children as follows: Mary, widow of Robert Cleary, one of the prominent farmers of Shannon township; Henrietta; John J.; William C.; Nellie, a teacher in the public schools of Kansas City, Missouri; and Kate.

John J. Slattery, son of the prominent pioneer whose career has been outlined, has lived his whole life thus far in the community in which he was born. After finishing his studies in the country schools he entered Saint Benedict's College and completed a commercial course there in two years, at the age of twenty two. Upon his return to his neighbors and friends, equipped with a good education and ready for the duties of life, he was urged for the office of clerk of Shannon township by a large element of its population regardless of political belief, but was nominated by the Democrats.

He served in that capacity most acceptably for two years, and was rewarded in part by his elevation to the office of township trustee. This place he filled three years, and with such a degree of efficiency that his party was anxious to further reward his faithfulness with an advancement to a county office. He was consequently made Democratic candidate for country treasurer, but was
defeated by the usual Republican majority.

He submitted to the people's will, satisfied with having polled a vote in excess of his party's numerical strength. For the past few years Mr. Slattery has devoted his entire life to his farm. He owns a splendid quarter section on the eastern edge of Lancaster township, and near the Slattery homestead, and he is regarded as one of the intelligent and progressive modern farmers of the county.

In 1892 he bought the old Hiram Parker place, and in February of the same year married Nora Finigan. Mrs. Slattery's father, Thomas Finigan, was born in Ireland and was one of the early settlers in Shannon township. Mr. and Mrs. Slattery have had three children: Willie, who is deceased; Stella and Albert. From the foregoing it will be seen that the Slatterys have been a factor in the settlement and development of Atchison county.

The head of the family has been, and is, just such a man as every community hails with delight and hastens to honor. Such men bequeath their spirit to the generations that follow them and take up their work. Born of honorable parentage and with modest environment, John J. Slattery made the most of his opportunities. He grew to manhood with the confidence of his neighbors, who honored him with public office, twice without opposition, and who rejoice with him in his achievements and his worldly success.

Last update: Friday, August 02, 2024 18:38:52

The Digital Library of the KSGenWeb is a non-commercial entity dedicated to free access to records of genealogical value. All documents contained herein may be freely copied for personal and library use, as long as the KSGenWeb Statement of Use remains attached. These records may not be published in any format, including electronic (web pages or CD's) and print, without prior written consent of the contributor. In order to insure continued free access, violators of this policy will be vigorously pursued.

We invite all contributions of transcribed records with genealogical value. This could range from wills and letters from your personal family records to indexes of your county's marriage records. There are many, many more examples, of course. Anything you have that you are willing to contribute will be gratefully accepted. .

We also accept any non-copyrighted printed materials that you have access to and would like to see transcribed and placed on-line. If the material is copyrighted and you are the copyright holder, please include written permission for use by The KSGenWeb Digital Library.

KSGENWEB DIGITAL LIBRARY PAGE
KSGENWEB HOME PAGE