Carl J. Kapka

CARL J. KAPKA. - Among the essentially representative business men of the younger generation in Kansas City, Kansas, Carl J. Kapka holds prestige as one whose admirable success in financial affairs has been on a parity with his well directed endeavors. He is one of the biggest awning and tent manufacturers in this section of the country and his trade is widely disseminated throughout the United States and Canada.

Carl J. Kapka was born at Thorn, Canada, on the 14th of April, 1869, and he is the son of Carl J. and Amelia (Fisher) Kapka, both of whom were born in Germany, the former in 1830 and the latter in 1820. The parents were married in their native land and emigrated to America about the year 1860, settling in Canada, where the father established a mission for the English church, the same having been located in the northern wilds. Subsequently the Kapka family removed to Ottawa, Canada, and still later location was made at Durant, Iowa, where Mr. Kapka was interested in farming operations and whence removal was made to Muscatine, Iowa. In 1873, the family home was established in Saline, Kansas, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits on a quarter section of land which he purchased from the Union Pacific Railroad Company, continuing thus engaged until his retirement from active business life in 1890. Mr. and Mrs. Kapka are now living at Salina, passing the evening of their life in full enjoyment of former years of earnest toil and endeavor. To them were born eight children, six of whom are living. In politics, Carl J. Kapka, Sr., has ever been aligned as a supporter of the cause of the Republican party and he is deeply and sincerely interested in all matters projected for the well being of his home community and of the state at large. Although now well advanced in years he is still active and vigorous and he is everywhere accorded the unqualified confidence and esteem of his fellow men.

The fourth in order of birth in a family of eight children, Carl J. Kapka, Jr., was reared in the invigorating influence of the home farm, in the work and management of which he early began to assist his father, and he received a good common school education in the district schools of Iowa and Kansas. As a young man he learned the awning and tent manufacturing business in Kansas City, Missouri, whence he removed to Kansas City, Kansas, in 1899. In this place he immediately engaged in the manufacturing business on his own responsibility. He has been decidedly successful in connection with the awning and tent business and has perfected and patented several very importnat[sic] inventions connected with his line of business. His patronage at the present time includes many important concerns all over the country. Among the cities where his output is sold may be mentioned the following: Chicago and Joliet, Illinois; Duluth, Minnesota; Boise City, Idaho; Detroit, Michigan; Buffalo, New York; Cincinnati, Ohio; Scranton, Pennsylvania; Akron, Ohio; Calgary and Vancouver, Canada; Portland, Oregon; Colorado; Seattle, Washington; Chattanooga, Tennessee; and a number of prominent cities in Texas, Florida, Missouri and Oklahoma. Mr. Kapka is everywhere recognized as a business man of unusual ability, and unquestioned integrity and he has made of success not an accident, but a logical result.

On the 6th of June, 1893, Mr. Kapka was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Irene Cobb, who was born in Jefferson county, Kansas, and who is a daughter of William N. and Clia Ann (Mannatt) Cobb, the former of whom was born in the state of New Jersey and the latter of whom claimed Pennsylvania as the place of her nativity. The father is now residing at Basehor, Leavenworth county, Kansas, his cherished and devoted wife having been summoned to the life eternal on the 27th of November, 1910. To Mr. and Mrs. Cobb were born four children, three of whom are still living and of whom Mrs. Kapka was the second in order of birth. Mr. Cobb came to Kansas in 1857, settling first in Jefferson county, whence he removed, ten years later, to Wabaunsee county, this state, remaining in the latter place for a number of years, when he settled in Leavenworth county. He has devoted the greater part of his active career to farming, but he is now living virtually retired. He is a Republican in his political convictions. To Mr. and Mrs. Kapka were born three children, two of whom are living, namely: H. Lynden and Harlan J. The child deceased is Vernon Carl, who passed into the Great Beyond when but six years of age.

In politics Mr. Kapka, of this review, is an uncompromising advocate of the cause of the Republican party and while he has never had time nor ambition for the honors and emoluments of public office of any description, he is ever on the qui vive to do all within his power to advance the general welfare. He is a loyal and public spirited citizen in the most significant sense of the word and in the various avenues of usefulness he has so conducted himself as to command the unalloyed regard of all with whom he has come in contact. In a fraternal way he is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America. He and his wife are popular in connection with the best social activities of their home city and their spacious and attractive home is widely renowned for true southern hospitality.