In 1876 the family emigrated from Newman, Ill., and settled on a farm near Pawnee Rock, Kan., which the father had homesteaded. After spending some years in developing the farm Thomas Hazel removed to Missouri, from where he came to Atchison in the year 1888. Here he lived a retired life, dying November 19, 1904, at the age of sixty-seven years. Mrs. Lydia Hazel resides with her daughter in Leavenworth, Kan. The Hazels are descendants from a fine old Virginian family and their ancestry traces back to the colonial days.
To Lydia and Thomas Hazel were born six children, as follows: Mrs. Elnora Allen, of Atchison; Mrs. Ida Stucker, of Leavenworth; Marion Hazel, of Leavenworth; Ernest C. Hazel, of Atchison. Two children died in infancy.
Ernest C. Hazel was educated in the public schools of Atchison and learned the trade of bookbinding with Mr. Caldwell, beginning at the age of fourteen years. After serving an apprenticeship of three years, he was employed by the Haskell Show Printing Company. This concern was succeeded by the Home Printing Company, and he was employed by them until 1901. For a period of two years he was a traveling salesman for the Western Paper Company. In 1903 he entered the employ of the Trade Printing Company, which was succeeded by the present firm in 1912. He purchased an interest in the firm in 1908.
The married life of Mr. Hazel has been a happy one, and has been in keeping with his success in the business world. He was married March 30, 1897, to Mary Elizabeth Semple, of Atchison, a daughter of Andrew and Jennie Semple, both of whom were natives of Glasgow, Scotland. Andrew Semple was one of the pioneer contractors of Atchison. His last contract was the Atchison county court house. Mr. Semple is deceased and his widow still resides in Atchison.
To Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Hazel have been born five children, namely: Ernest C., Jr., seventeen years of age, and a student of Midland College; Robert R., fourteen years of age, and also a student at Midland College; Constance Marie, who died in infancy; Kenneth C., nine years of age, a pupil in the public schools, and Neola Christine, aged five years.
Mr. Hazel finds time in the midst of his busy life to give considerable attention to civil and social affairs and is an active member of the Christian church of Atchison, in which thriving religious institution he and his wife are warmly appreciated for their good qualities. He is a Republican in politics, and is fraternally affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and the Fraternal Aid Union, and also the United Commercial Travelers. Pronounced ability, combined with an engaging personality, have won him this high place in his home city.
ALEXANDER H. CALVERT.
Alexander H. Calvert, lumber and grain dealer, Muscotah, Kan., was born on his father’s farm in Platte county, Missouri. He is a son of Warren Calvert, a native of Kentucky, whose ancestors were among the earliest settlers in America. It is a matter of tradition that he was a descendant of the original Lord Baltimore, or Cecil Calvert, who founded the State of Maryland, in the seventeenth century. The father of Warren Calvert was a pioneer settler in Kentucky and was the owner of a large plantation. Warren Calvert was born in 1815 and died in 1875. With his wife, Lucy Calvert, he migrated from Kentucky, accompanied by his retinue of slaves, to form a part of the Kentucky colony which settled Platte county, Missouri, in 1835. He was one of the original settlers in Platte county, and operated a large tract of land. He and his wife, Lucy, reared a family of nine children, namely: Presley Hawkins, a retired farmer of Muscotah; James Harvey, deceased banker of Muscotah, who was a soldier in the Confederate army; Mrs. Anne May Buford, deceased; John Hawkins, who died on his farm near Arrington in 1910; Ambrose Owens, living in California, near Los Angeles; Mrs. Ella (Burt) Jackson, died in 1903.
A. H. Calvert came to Kansas in the spring of 1878 and settled on a farm south of Muscotah in Atchison county. Three brothers came at this time, Presley H., James H. and himself. For a number of years Mr. Calvert rented land in Kapioma township and then purchased the farm of 220 acres, which he owns. He rented land for over fifteen years and then began to buy land. His first farm of 135 acres was purchased in 1903, and he has continued to invest heavily in farm lands in the vicinity of Muscotah until he is now the owner of 700 acres, besides a small tract in Leavenworth county, Kansas.
Mr. Calvert resided on his farm until 1897 and then removed to Muscotah where he engaged in the lumber business under the firm name of Calvert & Sharp. This partnership continued until 1902 when he purchased his partner’s interest in the business, which he has since operated. In November of 1905 he formed a partnership with M. E. Bevin, of Muscotah, and they purchased the grain elevator and engaged in the buying and shipping of grain. This firm also does an extensive live stock business, buying and shipping several carloads of live stock during each year. In addition to his extensive business affairs, Mr. Calvert is a stockholder in the Muscotah State Bank.