Edward E. Sapp

HON. EDWARD E. SAPP, an attorney and ex-Probate judge and ex-judge of the Court of Common Pleas, whose portrait is shown on the opposite page, is one of the large capitalists and leading citizens of Galena. He was born at Jackson, Michigan, July 12, 1858, and is a son of Rev. Rezin and Margaret (Peyreferry) Sapp.

Judge Sapp was educated in the schools at Grand Rapids, Michigan, where his father was a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church. When he came to Kansas, he spent some time herding cattle in the eastern part of the State. Later he located in Cherokee County and studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1883. In January of the following year he removed to Galena and entered into partnership with his brother, W. F. Sapp, under the firm name of Sapp & Sapp, which continued until 1886. He then continued alone until 1891 when he entered into partnership with George Webb, under the firm style of Webb & Sapp, which continued from 1891 to 1896, when he was elected Probate judge. After holding the office three years, he resigned in the middle of his second term, and was then honored by election as judge of the Court of Common Pleas for Cherokee and Crawford counties, and continued in this responsible position until 1900. Since July 5, 1904, Judge Sapp has been the senior member of the law firm of Sapp & Brown, having offices in the Opera House Block, which he erected in 1900. This firm has the most expensively furnished offices in the county, the suite consisting of public and private offices and a library of several thousand volumes.

The city of Galena has profited greatly by Judge Sapp's public spirit. It now has an Opera House of which it may be very proud, the seating capacity being 900, having a gallery and parquet circle and a stage with dimensions of 47 by 36 feet. All the equipments are modern throughout and it compares favorably with like structures in much larger cities.

Judge Sapp was married in 1885, at Galena, to Mary E. Andrews, who was born in New York, and they have three children: Dexter, Thomas and Viva. The family home is an elegant residence on Galena avenue and the family take part in the social life of the city.

Politically, Judge Sapp is one of the leading Democrats of Cherokee County. He served as city attorney from 1885 to 1892 and again, from 1901 to 1903. His professional standing, either at the bar or on the bench, cannot be assailed. He served his fellow citizens for many years in high positions, with the justice, fairness and dignity which reflects upon him the greatest credit, both as an upright exponent of the law and as a man of high personal aims and character.

History of Cherokee County Kansas and its representative citizens, ed. & comp. by Nathaniel Thompson Allison, 1904, transcribed by Carolyn Ward, instructor from USD 508, Baxter Springs Middle School, Baxter Springs, Kansas, 3/11/97.