My Genealogy Hound

CLEMENS HONKOMP, one of the worthy German-American citizens of Sedalia, was at one time a member of the Council, and in the fall of 1894 was nominated on the Democratic ticket for the position of Mayor, but owing to the widespread Republican victories was defeated. He is Secretary of the County Democratic Central Committee, and has often served as a delegate to conventions. By occupation he is a wholesale and retail manufacturer of cigars and tobacco, and is next to the oldest man in this line of business in Sedalia.

Mr. Honkomp was born in Oldenburg, Germany, March 9, 1853, both his father, Clemens, Sr., and his grandfather, Frederick, being natives of the same province and farmers. In 1865 Clemens Honkomp, Sr., emigrated to America with his family, settling on a farm near Covington, Ky., and in 1878 removed to Kansas, buying a place near Dodge City, in Ford County. He is still living in that locality and is the owner of three-quarters of a section of land. His wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Burkhorst, a native of Oldenburg, died in Covington Ky., when in her fifty-fifth year. Of her five children our subject is next to the youngest, and all of the number are still living. The parents were members of the Catholic Church and were people whom every one respected for their sterling qualities.

In 1865 our subject left Bremen on the sailing vessel “Old Union,” and at the end of a thirteen-weeks voyage landed in Baltimore, Md. He had become proficient in the German language and was a good student. After settling in Covington he attended the private school of that place for some time, and remained under the parental roof until he was seventeen years of age. From that time until he reached his majority he served an apprenticeship to a cigar-maker in Covington, and for several years thereafter traveled in Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Kansas, Texas and Louisiana. In 1876 became to Sedalia and worked at his trade as a journeyman for eleven years. In 1887 he started in business for himself as a wholesale and retail manufacturer of cigars, with his headquarters at No. 218 Lamine Avenue. He manufactures several special brands of cigars, among which the most popular are the “Golden Rod,” a ten-cent cigar, and the “Lone Tree,” which is retailed at five cents.

In 1889 Mr. Honkomp was married, in Boonville, Mo., to Annie Glahn, who was born in that city, and they have one child, named in honor of his father and grandfather, Clemens. The family have a pleasant home, where it is their pleasure to entertain their many friends and acquaintances.

In 1890 Mr. Honkomp was elected Alderman from the First Ward by his Democratic friends, and was re-elected on the expiration of his term, serving altogether four years. During this time he was Chairman of the Streets and Alleys Committee, and Chairman of the Committee on Sewers and Supplies. In 1893 and 1894 he was President of the Council. Fraternally he belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen, to the Knights of Pythias and to the Knights of the Maccabees.