My Genealogy Hound

ALFRED HUNICKE, foreman of the paint department of the Missouri, Kansas & Texas car-shops at Sedalia, is one of the most efficient employes of the corporation, and has been in this branch of the works since January, 1876, having been promoted to his present position in October, 1885. Since that time he has not lost a week by sickness, but has steadily remained at his post of duty.

A native of St. Louis, Mo., his birth having occurred in 1852, our subject was reared there until twenty-two years of age. His parents, William and Johannah (Woltamath) Hunicke, were natives of Germany, and were married in St. Louis, where the mother is still living. The father, who emigrated to the United States in early manhood, learned the trade of wood-working, and for many years was with the Shulenberg Lumber Company. During the Civil War he served in a Missouri regiment. He died in the Lutheran faith, in which he had been reared, when over fifty-two years of age.

Our subject is one of three surviving children, the others being named, respectively, Otto and Emma. In 1864 he began his business career as a painter in a chair factory, in which position he continued for a period of six years. About 1869 he was offered a position in the paint department of the St. Louis, Kansas City & Northern Railroad shops, subsequently was in the Missouri Pacific shops at St. Louis, and later in Beard Bros.’ Safe Works. In 1874 he went to Moberly, being employed in the Wabash car-shops, and one year later came to Sedalia, since which time he has been in the Missouri, Kansas & Texas shops. When he arrived here there were only thirty-six passenger cars on the lines of the company, and now there are over one hundred and eighty. On an average, he has twenty-eight or thirty men under his instruction, and his personal attention is given to every detail of the work. For three years he has been on the Test Committee of the Master Car and Locomotive Painters’ Association of the United States and Canada. In Equity Lodge No. 26, A. O. U. W., he is a past officer, has been a representative to the Grand Lodge, and is also associated with the Woodmen of the World. A leading Republican, he has been a member of city and county committees and clubs, has materially assisted in campaign work, and at present is one of the Board of Trustees of the public library.

In 1883 Mr. Hunicke built a comfortable home at No. 1009 East Broadway. The lady who presides over its hospitality became his wife April 7, 1876, in St. Louis. She is a native of that metropolis, and formerly bore the name of Lizzie Hilker. Of the six children who have come to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Hunicke, Alice, the eldest, graduated from the high school in 1895; Grace and Mamie are members of the Class of ‘97; and the younger ones are Maud, Edna and Dorothea. The three eldest daughters are good musicians. Mr. Hunicke has a fine collection of minerals, shells and Indian relics in his possession, and is also an amateur photographer, having a number of fine views taken in this and other counties.