Joseph R. Kaufman

JOSEPH R. KAUFMAN, who is most successfully engaged in the grocery, meat and feed business at 1629 Dodd avenue, Rosedale, Kansas, is a citizen whose contribution to the material and civic welfare of Wyandotte county has ever been of prominent order. Mr. Kaufman has resided in Kansas since 1886 and has been engaged in his present line of enterprise since 1897 and the years have told the tale of an eminently successful career due to persistency of purpose and a stanch determination to forge ahead. Born in the city of Indianapolis, Indiana, on the 19th of September, 1861, he is a son of Aaron and Beulah (Knight) Kaufman, the former of whom was born and reared in Germany and the latter of whom claimed Iowa as the place of her nativity, the father immigrating to the United States as a young man. Aaron Kaufman was summoned to the life eternal about 1902 and his cherished and devoted wife is also deceased. They were survived by six children, of whom the subject of this review was the youngest in order of birth, but there are only two living at this time.

Reared to maturity in the capital city of the fine old Hoosier state, J. R. Kaufman early availed himself of the advantages afforded in the public schools of that place. In 1886 he came to Kansas, locating at Kansas City, where he entered the employ of Lee Bower as clerk in his grocery store, remaining with him for a period of nine years. In 1897 he decided to launch out into the business world on his own account and accordingly opened up an establishment at 1629, Dodd avenue, where he has remained during the long intervening years to the present time. He has gradually increased the scope of his operations until he now handles everything in the line of groceries, meat and feed and he caters to the most fastidious trade in town. His place of business is a large, modern structure, convenient in all its appointments. In his political convictions Mr. Kaufman is a stanch advocate of the principles and policies propounded by the Democratic party. He has never held any public office other than that of president of the school board, to which he was elected for a term of four years, in 1909. In a fraternal way he is affiliated with the local lodges of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the time honored Masonic Order, in which latter connection he is a valued and appreciative member of Lodge No. 333, Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons.

At Kansas City, in the year 1887, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Kaufman to Miss Catherine Alice Smith, whose birth occurred at Kansas City, Missouri, and who is a daughter of W. J. and Sarah Smith, both of whom are now deceased. This union has been prolific of six children, whose names are here entered: Hester, Josephine, Catherine and Joseph R. Jr., all of whom are students in the Rosedale school, where they are making splendid progress. Two daughters are deceased, Ruth having passed away March 11, 1900, at the age of thirteen years, and Elsie, who died when only three years old, January 28, 1909. Mr. and Mrs. Kaufman are prominent in connection with the best social affairs of their home city and they have a most magnificent residence, their home being the center of refinement and hospitality.