Hiram Milton Northrup – Kansas City Trader – Legends of America
Okay, let’s talk about a guy who was kind of a big deal back in the day in Kansas City: Hiram Milton Northrup. This wasn’t the shiny, modern Kansas City we know now. We’re talking way back when it was still finding its footing. Hiram was a trader, businessman, and banker, making his mark in both Kansas City, Missouri, and Wyandotte, Kansas.
Early Days: From New York to… Alabama?!
Hiram’s story starts in Oleon, New York, where he was born in 1818. Sadly, his mom passed away when he was just a toddler. His Aunt Sarah stepped in and raised him until he was a teenager. She made sure he got a decent education, and then he started working at a local store.
But Hiram wasn’t one to stay put for long. He bounced around a bit, even teaching at a school in Pennsylvania for a measly $8 a month (talk about dedication!). Then, in 1835, he hopped on a raft and floated down the Ohio River to Cincinnati, where he got into shipbuilding. A few years later, he joined his dad in Alabama, helping run the family store. For a while, things were looking up, but then bam! Financial troubles hit in 1844, wiping out their savings.
Westward Bound: Trading with the Tribes
So, what does Hiram do? He packs up and heads west to Westport, Missouri (now part of Kansas City). Back then, Westport was basically a tiny frontier town. Hiram saw an opportunity in trading with the Native American tribes.
His first attempt, trading with the Comanche, didn’t go so well. It was a total disaster. Men got sick, one even died, and the Osage Indians robbed them blind. Ouch! But Hiram was a tough cookie. He didn’t give up. He teamed up with E.P. Hart, and they got back into the Indian trade.
From Zero to Hero: Building a Trading Empire
Hiram went to St. Louis, met some big-shot dealers, and somehow convinced them to give him $3,500 worth of goods on credit. That was a huge gamble, but it paid off! He shipped those goods to Kansas City, and the business took off.
Eventually, Hiram bought out his partner and ran the show himself. His trading network grew to include tribes like the Wyandot, Shawnee, Delaware, Peoria, Potawatomi, Osage, Kanza, Seneca, Sac and Fox, and Cherokee. He traded everything from furs and robes to horses and cattle, shipping them off to markets in the East.
Family Ties and Community Involvement
Hiram wasn’t just about business. He also got involved in the community. He married Margaret Clark, the daughter of a Wyandot chief, in 1845. He even became a member of the Wyandot tribe and served on one of their legislative committees. He was a strong advocate for Native American rights and worked to protect them from exploitation.
Santa Fe Trail and the Rise of Kansas City
Later, Hiram partnered with Joseph S. Chick and jumped into the Santa Fe trade. Their company, Northrup & Chick, sold the first wholesale goods in Kansas City. They also supplied goods to new settlements like Topeka, Lawrence, and Manhattan. Their trading posts popped up all over the Indian Territory, and their business stretched to New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, and beyond. They were raking in serious cash, with annual sales hitting over $300,000!
Hiram invested in Kansas City, buying land and building a log house on what’s now a prime corner downtown. He was even part-owner of a steamboat that tried to navigate the Kansas River.
Northrup & Chick stepped up to establish the first post office and even loaned the city $60,000 for public improvements when Kansas City’s credit was in the dumps. Talk about a community-minded guy!
Challenges and Setbacks
Of course, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. There were wagon robberies, new trade routes that bypassed Kansas City, and the ever-present threat of the Civil War looming.
Banking on the Future
In 1857, Northrup & Chick opened a branch of the Union Bank of Missouri in Kansas City. Hiram became the president, making him the head honcho of the first bank west of Lexington, Missouri.
He also played a role in incorporating Council Grove, Kansas, a key stop on the Santa Fe Trail.
Civil War and a Move to New York
As tensions rose before the Civil War, Hiram was sent to Washington, D.C., to collect money owed to the Wyandot tribe. He got the job done and delivered the funds.
But then the Civil War broke out, and things got crazy. Jayhawkers (Unionist guerrillas) robbed Northrup & Co.’s bank. With life in Western Missouri becoming too dangerous, Hiram moved his banking operations to New York City.
He became a big shot in New York, serving as a director of the Hanover National Bank and joining the New York Stock Exchange. His bank did well for a while, but then the Panic of 1873 hit, and it had to shut down.
Back to the West: Wyandotte, Kansas
Hiram wasn’t one to stay down for long. He packed up again and returned to Wyandotte, Kansas, where he had a lot of real estate. He started a new bank, Northrup & Son, which became one of the most respected banks in the West.
Final Years
Hiram’s wife, Margaret, passed away in 1887. She was remembered as a loving wife and mother who was deeply involved in the community.
Hiram himself was known for his kindness, generosity, and positive attitude. He kept working hard, even in his old age, preferring to wear himself out rather than sit idle.
Hiram Milton Northrup passed away in 1893 at the age of 74. He was buried next to his wife in the Huron Indian Cemetery.
So, there you have it: the story of Hiram Milton Northrup, a true pioneer who helped shape Kansas City into the city it is today.