Charles B. Hewlett

CHARLES B. HEWLETT. - An essentially prominent and influential citizen of Kansas City, Kansas, is Charles B. Hewlett, who is here engaged in the real estate and insurance business, with offices at No. 207 Huested Building. While a great deal of his time is taken up with his private affairs, he nevertheless manifests a deep and sincere interest in all matters projected for the good of the general welfare and is everywhere recognized for his intrinsic loyalty and public spirit. He has been the popular and efficient incumbent of a number of public offices of trust and responsibility and in each has acquitted himself with honor and distinction.

A native of the fine old Empire state of the Union, Charles B. Hewlett was born in Dutchess county, New York, on the 27th of September, 1861, and he is a son of Caleb C. and Elizabeth (Barnes) Hewlett. The father was born on Long Island and the mother claims the state of New Hampshire as the place of her nativity. After attaining to years of maturity Caleb C. Hewlett was engaged in agricultural pursuits for a number of years, but in 1864 he disposed of his farm in Dutchess county, New York, and came west, locating at St. Joseph, Missouri. Later he crossed the plains to Denver, Colorado, where he was engaged in mining and the hotel business for a period of three years at the expiration of which he went to Mills county, Iowa, there engaging in farming operations up to 1879. In the latter year he came to Kansas and settled in Anderson county, where he passed the residue of his life, his demise having occurred in 1880, at the age of sixty-four years. His cherished and devoted wife, who still survives him, is now living at Gardner, Kansas, in her seventy-fourth year. Of the five children born to Mr. and Mrs. Hewlett all are living at the present time, in 1911. Caleb C. Hewlett was an uncompromising Republican in his political convictions and in a fraternal way was a valued and appreciative member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Grange.

Charles B. Hewlett was a child of but three years of age at the time of his parents' removal from New York to the west and he received his early educational discipline in the public schools of Glenwood and Hillsdale, Iowa. He initiated his active business career as a farmer in Anderson county, Kansas, in the year 1883, but in 1885 he established his home in Johnson county, this state. In 1892 he came to Kansas City and immediately turned his attention to the agricultural implement business, later entering the employ of the Armor Packing Company as a government inspector, with which concern he remained for a period of two years. He then turned his attention to the coal and feed business until 1896, when he was appointed deputy commissioner of elections. He then entered the employ of A. R. James & Sons, becoming a city salesman in the building material business. Subsequently he was with the Cudahy Packing Company for a period of four months and from 1901 to 1905 he was with the Merriam, Benton & Ellis Real Estate & Insurance Company. In the latter year he entered into a partnership alliance with O. W. Shepard and they purchased a real estate and insurance business in Kansas City. On the 1st of January, 1906, he assumed full charge of the fire insurance department of the firm, Mr. Shepard taking over the real estate end of the business. He represents a number of the most prominent insurance concerns in the United States and has achieved a most gratifying success in connection with this field of endeavor.

On the 17th of January, 1884, at Colony, Kansas, Mr. Hewlett was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Moore, who was born at Galva, Illinois, and who is a daughter of John C. and Elizabeth (Walker) Moore both of whom were born in county Cork, Ireland, and both of whom are now deceased. Mr. Moore came to the United States and located at Olathe, Kansas, in the year 1869, being there engaged in farming until his death. Mr. and Mrs. Moore were the parents of nine children - four sons and five daughters - of whom eight are now living and of whom Mrs. Hewlett was the fifth in order of birth. Mr. and Mrs. Hewlett have two children, concerning whom the following brief data are here incorporated: Mabel Vera, is the wife of J. T. Surber and she now resides in Kansas City, Kansas; and Willard is a small boy at home.

In 1897 Mr. Hewlett, with a number of other patriotic citizens, organized what was known as the New Charter Association, the object of the same being to get rid of the Metropolitan police department. At that time the city was infested with a lot of tough gambling joints, the presence of which the chief of police refused to acknowledge. Mr. Hewlett was elected president of the New Charter Association and as such made a personal raid through the gambling section, bringing in some fourteen prisoners. This was in the fall of 1898, and with the help of Governor John Leedy the good work was pushed along with the result that the following spring the Metropolitan police force was cleaned out.

In 1896 Mr. Hewlett was a candidate for the office of representative in the state legislature and during the campaign he was arrested for talking free silver. He was taken to jail and, though he was not locked up, he was held for a period of seventeen days. The Gold Bug bankers were the cause of his arrest and they had him held in duress so that he could not make his campaign. In due time he was released, as he had not violated any law. He is strongly opposed to all trusts and monopolies and in his political affiliations is a stanch advocate of the free silver department of the Democratic party. In a fraternal way he is connected with Pride of the West Lodge No. 484, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; and with Wyandotte Encampment, No. 9, Modern Woodmen of America. His religious faith is in harmony with the tenets of the Baptist church. He is president of the Baptist City Mission Society; is treasurer of the Kansas City Baptist Seminary; and is a member of the executive board of the Kansas Baptist State constitution. In all philanthropical and benevolent work Mr. Hewlett and his family have been instrumental in accomplishing a great deal of good in this city and they are very prominent and popular in connection with the best social activities of their home community. Mr. Hewlett has a very wide circle of friends and they are legion, bound in no sense by party lines, religious creeds or social status. People of every diversity of condition, position or relative importance, know him and, knowing him, honor and respect him.