The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-06-05


His Home in Burnett, 1. h, Saying That
He Could Not Live But Few Hours
He had a Severe Stroke OF Paralysis
Last Tuesday Morning, and His Rela-
Eventfui Career
William Greiffenstein, the Father OF
Wichita" is dying at his home in Bur-
cett, l. T. Mr.. Otto Weiss, nephew Of
Mr.. Greiffenstein, received a telegram
On Thursday evening, saying that Mr..
Greiffenstein had received a severe
stroke Of paralysis. Yesterday he re-
ceived a letter which stated that Mr.
Greiffenstein could not live more than a
few hours.
William Greifferstein is one of the bes.
known, highly honored and esteemed
men in the southwest II is owing to his
anselfishness, untiring efforts and broad
n1indedness as much as to airy one man,
that this city has attained the promin-
snce and metropolitan ways which the
Peerless Princess has attained today. He
Vas for four terms mayor of the city,
and represented this district in the leg
stature. He was considered at one time
20 be ore of the wealthiest men in ihe
southwest. He was connected with many
Of the large ventures which were carried
10 successful completion.
In 1887 Mr.. Greiffenstein erected on the
corner of jefferson and Twelfth streets
one Of the handsomest ard most magnifi-
cent homes in the city. He was for a
number OF years an extensive land and
cattle owner. He suffered a large loss
during the boom. and in the fall of 1893
he moved with his family 10 Burnett. l.
T., where ne embarked il the mercantile
business.
He earned the tile Of Father of Wich-
ita'' because ii was on eighty acres of
mis- properly that the original townsite Of
Wichita was laid out. From the time
that Wichita became a city until the day
he left. Mr.. Greiffenstein was always
one Of the staunchest supporters and
stoutest pillars. He was ever ready to
give to any enterprise that would benefit
and help the growth OF Wichita.
Mr.. Greiffenstein was born July %,
1929, al Gross-Gerau, near Darmstadt,
province Of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany.
He was the fourth of six children born to
Charles and Beati Greifferstein. His IA
Their was a revenue collector and a man
of education and refinement. William
Greiffenstein came to this country in
1S49. He had been educated at the gym
nasium at Darmstadt. ard after leaving
school took up his residence at Mentz, ON
the Rhine, where he was employed by a
commission and insurance company. |
While there ne was suspected Of being a |
participant in a railroad riot and though |
he was cleared from all suspicion, he de- |
cided TO leave his native land and try |
his fortune in the United States
After his arriva. in this country. he |
travelled for two years, being then only |
p years Of age. He was impressed with
the western country and located or the
Wakarusa river. about six miles east of
Lawrence, Kansas. He engaged in trad
Ing with the Indians of the Shawnee and |
Delaware tribes. In 1854 he started on a
long journey 10 New Mexico, for the
purpose Of trading with the Indians and
frontier men. He returned the same
year and located near Topeka, bartering |
with the Pottawatomie Indians.
Learning that his fathers health was
failing, he returned TO Europe in 1858,
where he remained until his fathers
death. He returned to Kansas as soor
as ne Strengthened up his fathers af-
fairs and resided for year in Shawnee
At the expiration of the year he
started ranch for The Southwestern /