My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM ALFRED DENNIS, freight and passenger agent of the K. C., Ft. S. & G. R. R. Co. at Joplin and Webb City, Mo., was born at Des Moines, Iowa, April 9, 1857. His father, Thomas Dennis, was a native of Belgium, born at Ghenn, June 1, 1825, and immigrated to America at the age of ten years, landing in New York City in 1835, and witnessed the destruction of that city by fire in the same year. From 1835 to 1848 his life was that of a sailor, during which time he visited all the principal ports of the old world, and sailed on nearly every body of water that could at that time be reached with a sailing vessel. In the latter part of 1848 he went to California, remaining there during the gold excitement, and amassed quite a fortune. In 1851 he returned to the states, locating at Chicago, Ill. Soon after he purchased a boat and for a time engaged in freighting on the Illinois River, and afterwards moved to Sailorville, Iowa, where he built and operated an extensive grist and saw mill. He moved to Paola, Miami county, Kansas, in 1857, where he now resides, owing a large amount of real estate. He was married in Chicago, in 1853, to Caroline Sorge. She was born in Rudolstadt, Germany, Oct. 10, 1830, graduated in 1852, and sailed for America the following year. W. A. Dennis moved with his parents to Paola, Kansas, in 1857, where he was liberally educated and resided until eighteen years of age. He learned telegraphing and railroad business under H. C. Perry, agent of the K. C., Ft. S. & G. R. R. Co. at Paola in 1875, and worked as extra agent and operator at various stations along this line until the latter part of 1876; thence to Osage, Kan., as agent for six months; thence to Kansas City as clerk in freight office for one year; thence to Cherokee, Kan., as agent for two years; thence to Joplin Oct. 14, 1879, where he has since remained in the capacity of freight and passenger agent. In 1883 the company extended the line to Webb City, a distance of seven miles, and placed this station under his management also. Mr. D. is largely interested in mining operations at Webb City, where he is associated with N. M. Barney in working some of the finest prospects in that camp, and is also interested in other mining prospects in the vicinity of Joplin. He has an elegantly furnished room in the Collins Block, also telegraph and telephone with depot and other points of the city and surrounding towns. He is a member of Ascension Commandery No. 39. Knights Templar, wherein he fills the warder’s station; also, Joplin Royal Arch Chapter No. 91, as principal sojourner, and is a member of Fellowship Lodge No. 845, A. F. & A. M. Mr. D, enjoys an excellent reputation here, both as a business and social gentleman, and looks well after the interests of his company.