My Genealogy Hound

JOHN T. COLAFLOWER. The business men of Sedalia are a power which cannot be ignored in studying the history, commercial or social, of this city. To every department of activity they impart a vitality which is productive of great results. As a class they have added greatly to the financial strength of the place of their abode, and in that way they have promoted the commercial importance of the state. Their probity and enterprise, their intelligence and united efforts for the upbuilding of its business interests, have been a power which cannot be lightly estimated.

As a prominent representative of this class mention should be made of J. T. Colaflower, one of the successful contractors and builders of Sedalia. He is a native of Pennsylvania and was born in Fayette County, near Connellsville, April 19, 1846. His father, Samuel, was born in Hagerstown, Md., in 1820, and in boyhood was orphaned by the death of his parents. At an early age he settled in Fayette County, Pa., where he was employed as a brick contractor. Early in the ‘50s he removed to Rock Island, Ill., and from there went to Moline, where he built the first plow works for John Deer.

Removing from Illinois to Iowa, Samuel Colaflower built the court house at Sidney, Fremont County. From there he went to Council Bluffs, thence to Nebraska City, and in 1866 to Kansas City, some of the first buildings in the last-named place having been erected under his supervision. In 1874 he became interested in lead mining in Joplin, Morgan County, but after a short time thus spent he went to Sherman, Tex., where he carried on a contracting business in partnership with our subject. Afterward he was similarly engaged in Pueblo, Colo., and then, closing out his business, he traveled for a time. In 1880 he came to Sedalia and formed a partnership with our subject in the brick-contracting business, which he conducted until his death, in the fall of 1888.

The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Rebecca Trumph, and was born in Fayette County, Pa., where her father, John Trumph, engaged in agricultural pursuits. She died in Kansas City in 1868. In religion she was a Presbyterian and a devoted member of that church. Of her six children, three attained years of maturity, John T. being the eldest. He accompanied his parents on their various removals, and being an observing lad, he gained a wide fund of information that assisted him in later life. During the winter months he attended the public schools, while in the summer he assisted his father.

In 1872, embarking in business for himself, Mr. Colaflower began as a contractor for public sewers and large cisterns in Kansas City. Two years later he went to Morgan County, where he engaged in prospecting and mining. In 1876 he removed to Texas, and, settling in Sherman, in partnership with his father, built a brick plant and manufactured brick. He also did a large business as a contractor and builder, and many of the business houses and private dwellings of that city were erected under his personal supervision. About 1875 he was temporarily employed in Sedalia, and in October, 1879, he located in this city permanently.

Forming a partnership with his father, Mr. Colaflower built a brick plant on the corner of Ohio and Twentieth Streets, where for two years he manufactured brick. Two years later he removed the plant to East Fourteenth and Engineer Streets, and there continued the business until his father’s death in 1888, when he sold out. Since that time he has devoted his attention to the contracting business, and many of the most substantial structures of the city are the result of his skill and artistic ability. Among them are the Knights of Pythias Hall, Storey Block, W. Z. Baum’s building, the Sheldon residence, Opera House, Broadway Presbyterian Church, Messerly Flats, Prospect School, and the F. E. and Charles Hoffman buildings. In the busy seasons he employs from twenty-five to fifty men. His reputation for energy, skill and ability is of the highest, and at all times he has as much work as he can attend to.

At No. 12 10 East Tenth Street, on the corner of Engineer, Mr. Colaflower has a commodious and well appointed residence, erected by himself and containing all the modern improvements. The lady who presides over this cozy home was formerly Miss Frances Mitchell, and was born and reared in Morgan County, Mo., where she was married in 1877. She is a lady whose refinement of character wins the esteem of those whom she meets in society, and as a member of the Baptist Church she has taken an active part in religious and benevolent enterprises. Her six children are named Mamie R.; Myrtle; Mabel, who died at five years of age; Samuel, who died when five months old; Roy and John.

The father of Mrs. Colaflower, William Mitchell, and her grandfather, William, Sr., were born in Kentucky, whence the latter brought his family to Pettis County and settled on a farm south of Sedalia. Later he went to Morgan County, where he purchased and improved a farm. Her father was reared in Pettis County, and after removing to Morgan County married Miss Mary Creamer, a native of Delaware County, Ohio, who still resides on the old homestead. Mr. Mitchell engaged in farm pursuits until his death, in 1860. The father of Mrs. Mitchell was William Creamer, a native of Pennsylvania and for some years a farmer and blacksmith of Delaware County, Ohio. In 1838 he brought his family to Missouri and settled on a farm in Morgan County, where, in addition to the occupation of a tiller of the soil, he also followed his trade.

The public affairs of the age receive from Mr. Colaflower the attention they deserve. He is inclined to be independent in his political belief, though, being an advocate of free trade, he leans toward the Democratic party. Socially he is identified with the Knights of Honor and the Woodmen of the World. He is numbered among the progressive and energetic citizens of Sedalia, and deservedly occupies a high place among the business men of the city.