Philip Erhardt

PHILIP ERHARDT. - A prominent factor in the affairs of Rosedale, Kansas, and a man who stands high in the esteem of his fellow citizens is Philip Erhardt, of 732 S. W. Boulevard.

As his name indicates, Mr. Erhardt is of German origin. He was born in Alburg, Germany, in 1866, a son of Philip and Katrina Erhardt, both natives of that place. When he was three years old his mother died, and when he was thirteen he accompanied his father to America, and together they came west to Kansas City, Missouri. That was in 1879. The father had served the usual time in the German army. By occupation he was a farmer, and after coming to this country both he and his son were engaged in farm work in the vicinity of Kansas City. Here the father died in 1893, at the age of fifty-seven years. He and his wife were members of the Lutheran church. Of the six children born to them three died in infancy, those now living being as follows: Katrina, the eldest, a resident of Germany; Philip, the subject of this review; and Margaret, of Germany.

Philip Erhardt grew to manhood in the locality in which he now lives. He did farm work for his board while attending school and devoted his attention to acquiring the customs and language of the people among whom his lot was cast. Soon he received small wages, which he invested in lots in Rosedale, and with the characteristic energy and frugality of his countrymen he prospered from the start. Today he is the owner of a large amount of property in Rosedale. From farming he turned to work on bridge construction, and while he worked at bridge building during the day, he studied at night in the Kansas City Law School. In due time, in 1900, he was admitted to the bar at Kansas City, Kansas, and that same year was elected city attorney of Rosedale, an office he filled for six consecutive years. At this writing he is a justice of the peace. Having been an early investor in real estate here, and having proved conclusively that his judgment in regard to values and possibilities of Rosedale property was correct, he has each year centered more time and attention in the real estate business, with the result that he is now regarded as one of the leading real estate dealers of the place.

Politically Mr. Erhardt is a Republican; fraternally, a Mason and a member of the Knights and Ladies of Security. While reared in the Lutheran faith, he is now identified with the Baptist church, to which his family also belongs.

Mr. Erhardt married, in 1893, Miss Anna L. Burt, of Rosedale, and they are the parents of five daughters: Marie, Ruth, Lottie, Gladys and Esther.