John F. Waskey

JOHN F. WASKEY, a prominent and influential citizen of Oswego, Labette county, Kansas, and the proprietor of a gentlemen's furnishing store in that place, is a native of Van Buren county, Iowa, and was born February 24, 1843. He is a son of Alexander and Nancy (Purdom) Waskey.

Mr. Waskey's grandfather, John Waskey, was born in Virginia, at Natural Bridge. He was a miller and farmer by trade. Some of the Waskey family now reside at Waskey's Mills, Virginia. Alexander Waskey, the father of John F., was born in 1814 in Rockbridge county, Virginia, where he was also reared and mentally trained. In early life, he moved to Keosauqua, Van Buren county, Iowa, where he lived until 1854, and afterward located at Westport, Missouri. There he died, in 1879, at the age of sixty-five years. He followed mercantile pursuits, - having a store in Westport, - and in 1861 moved his stock of goods to Emporia, Kansas, and sent his son, John F., to that place, to act as clerk in the store, although he continued to reside in Westport. In politics, he was a Democrat, until after the war, when he became a Republican. He married Nancy Purdom, who was born in North Carolina, in 1816. She now lives in Westport, Missouri. They were the parents of the following children, namely: John F.; Virginia (Hurst) ; Thomas P., a merchant of Pittsburg, Kansas; Amanda (Goslin); Mary I.; and Sarah M. (Smith).

John F. Waskey, whose name heads this personal sketch, went with his parents to Westport, Missouri, in 1854, and as before mentioned, went to Emporia, Kansas, to serve as clerk in his father's store, in 1861. There he remained until the fall of 1867, when he moved to Oswego, Kansas. In partnership with his brother, Mr. Waskey started a store, but in 1873 the partnership was dissolved, and Mr. Waskey has since conducted the business alone. He carries a full line of shoes and gentlemen's furnishings, and has a large patronage.

Mr. Waskey was united in marriage, in 1866, to Sarah E. Sager, of Westport, Missouri, and they have two children, namely: Dick S., who was born in 1867, and is now manager of the Deming Investment Company, at Colfax, Washington, where he has lived since 1892; and Blanche (Elliott), who is a resident of Sherman, Texas. Politically, Mr. Waskey is a Democrat, and has served as city treasurer, and as mayor, since his residence in Oswego. He is a public spirited man, and takes an active interest in the welfare and development of the town.