City of St. Joseph and Washington Township -
EWALD PADBERG, was born Nov. 20, 1847, in Westphalen, Prussia.  After having received his education he followed the mercantile business, and held the position of director of a paper mill for six years.  July 20, 1870, he came to America, landing at New York City, and immediately went to St. Louis, where he remained six months.  Then he visited the state of Ohio for six months, and Dec. 1, 1871, came to St, Joseph and formed a partnership with William Hellman in a meat market.  In 1876, his partner died, and he has since carried on the business with great success.  Married, Jan. 9, 1875, Miss Flora Hellman.  They had two children: Minnie, born in September, 1876, living, and an infant deceased.
Source:  History of Buchanan County, Missouri, Published 1881 - Page 845

City of St. Joseph & Washington Township -
WILLIAM PAPE, of the firm of William Pape & Co.  The above name is a very familiar sound throughout the entire Northwest, a circumstance due entirely to the fact that he is the manufacturer, and has placed before the people the celebrated Pape Wagon.  Its superiority, both in material and workmanship, has given it an enviable reputation, and at every fair exhibited this wagon, without paint or varnish, has taken first premium, which is a sufficient guarantee of its popularity.  The firm of William Pape & Co., is comprised of William Pape, Charles Sprenzel and Adam Muthig.  They have two establishments on Frederick Avenue - one between Eighth and Ninth, and the other between Thirteenth and Fourteenth Streets, where they make a specialty of farm and spring wagons, and do general blacksmithing and jobbing.  Mr. Pape has had a long and varied experience in the manufacture of wagons, and gives the business his undivided attention.  Their trade, at home and abroad, is large, and continually on the increase.
Source:  History of Buchanan County, Missouri, Published 1881 - Page 845

City of St. Joseph and Washington Township -
ALVAH PATEE, another old settler of St. Joseph, was born Aug. 3, 1804, in Cayuga County, New York, where he was raised.  When young he located on a farm near Auburn, where he remained up to his sixteenth year. His father then bought a farm in Delaware County, Ohio, and settled there.  Young Alvah assisted his father until 1823, when he died.  Our subject and his brother Henry took the management of the farm, which they worked successfully up to 1860.  Alvah came to this city in 1860, and engaged in the lightning rod business, which he extended all over the State of Kansas and the western part of Missouri and Iowa with such success that he was enabled in 1863 to buy one hundred acres of land south of the city limits, located near King Hill.  Becoming a neighbor of Jac. Madinger, the first wine grower, he followed his example and advice, and commenced raising wine.  Mar. 1, 1881, he rented his wine grove and retired from the hard work to which his whole life had been devoted.  He was married in 1824, to Miss Roxinne Smith, of New York.  They had four children - Eliphalet L., born Feb. 13, 1827; Elmira E., born Feb. 6, 1832, married first James W. Clayton, in 1851, second Samuel Russel, Feb. 8, 1869; Armede, born in 1836, died in 1838; and Althen A., born May 6, 1840, married P. H. Early, in 1866.
Source:  History of Buchanan County, Missouri, Published 1881 - Page 846

City of St. Joseph and Washington Township -
FOUNTAIN POINDEXTER, superintendent of Duffy Bros.' brick yard, was born in Anderson County, Kentucky, May 8, 1819, and was there reared and educated.  His father, Robert, was a native of Virginia, and settled in Kentucky in 1784.  He had been educated for the ministry, but afterwards chose the profession of school teaching.  He was a soldier in the war of 1812, under General Anthony Wayne, and assisted in notching the wagon road from Lexington, Kentucky, to Cincinnati, Ohio.  He was twice married, and by the first marriage had six children, and by the second four.  Our subject is of the latter family.  His uncle, George Poindexter, was a prominent politician in the State of Mississippi, and was at one time governor, and occupied a seat in Congress during the term of service of Davy Crocket.  In 1857 Fountain came to Missouri, locating in Independence, and in 1859 came to Buchanan County.  For some time he was engaged in farming.  During the war he was employed in the manufacture of brick, and has devoted his attention to that branch of industry principally since.  He has attained a wide reputation as a brick maker, having had forty-eight years' experience, and is one of the leaders in that business.  Mr. Poindexter has been married three times.  His first wife was Mary Ann Webster, and by her he had five children.  His second wife was Mary E. Stephens, and by this union three children, of whom J. Albert and Joseph D. are living.  His third wife was Mrs. Matilda Smith (Grannis).
Source:  History of Buchanan County, Missouri, Published 1881 - Page 860

City of St. Joseph and Washington Township -
GEORGE W. POOLER, dealer in painters' supplies, glass, and artists' goods, was born in Cortland County, New York, Feb. 3d, 1826, and was there reared, educated and learned the painter's trade.  In 1866, he came West and took up his abode in St. Joseph.  For a time he was clerk in the establishment of Webb, Fuller & Co., after which he embarked in painting and contracting, and has done a great portion of the first-class work of the city.  In 1880, comprehending the wants of the craft, both in the city and throughout the adjoining county, he opened his present wholesale and retail house, where is kept a select line of mixed colors, window glass, brushes, white lead, dry and distemper colors, varnishes and artists' sundries.  He has had thirty-eight years' experience, and with experience is combined close observation, so that he stands at the head of his profession.  He is a Master Mason and a member of the chapter.
Source:  History of Buchanan County, Missouri, Published 1881 - Page 860

City of St. Joseph and Washington Township -
B. C. PORTER, was born in Shelby County, Kentucky, Jan. 23, 1813.  His father was killed the day before his birth.  He was raised on a farm, and in 1837, his mother and twin brother, John W., came to Missouri, and settled eight miles north of the city of St. Joseph, and improved a fine farm.  B. C. came in September, 1838, and pre-empted 160 acres of land, near his mother and brother, and went to work with a will to improve it.  In 1849, he came to St. Joseph and built the first regular livery barn in the place.  The building is now occupied as a pottery, on Main Street.  In 1850, he sold out to William Ardery.  He then moved on to his farm, where he remained until 1862, when he returned to the city, where he has since lived.   He opened a grocery and operated it for one year, and sold out, since which time he has been dealing in real estate, building and improving lots, etc.  He married Miss Rosanna Ardery, daughter of John and Elizabeth Ardery, near Paris, Bourbon County, Kentucky, Oct. 1, 1836.  Mrs. Porter died Mar. 13, 1880.  They were among the most active members of the M. E. Church South for forty-three years, being members here of the Francis Street Church.  They were among the foremost members in all the worthy enterprises, improvements and benevolences of the church and society.
Source:  History of Buchanan County, Missouri, Published 1881 - Page 860