Introduction: A newspaper article leads to an incredible genealogical journey into a family in Kansas City, Missouri. Caught in two major historical events; a natural disaster and an audacious urban renewal program.
A gray haired man stepped forward to face a judge in Kansas City, Missouri police court in response to a complaint made by the city’s sanitation department. It was March of 1893. Sanitation Officer Pape testified to the condition of the senior’s residence at 815 Lincoln Street, along the bluffs near where the “Eighth Street electric line power house” was located. The officer had made a visit to the “shanty” where upon entering, he discovered four dogs resting on a bed, twelve chickens perched on the bed’s foot rail, and a live duck on a table nearby. Notification had been given for the gentleman to remedy the situation within three days.
Upon returning to the hovel, as Officer Pape recounted, the improvements had not been made, rather the situation had worsened. The officer illustrated to the judge how the home had become even “more crowded with chickens, ducks, and dogs.” Near the front door of the home, the officer found a barrel of garbage with a dead duck laying on top. According to the reporter, the old man did not contest the testimony of the sanitation officer.
The judge hearing the case, fined the old man $2.00 dollars for maintaining a nuisance and ordered him to “curb his wild inclination for the companionship” of so many dogs and birds.
The item was found in the local Kansas City newspaper, titled the “Dirtiest Place in Town” and the hoary old gentleman’s name was Valentine Soeser (Seeser).
Valentine’s eccentricity and apparent love of animals caught my attention. Intrigued, I decided to see if I could put flesh and blood onto this quirky gentleman. My investigation revealed a part of Valentine’s family story was connected to a turning point in the self image of Kansas City and living thru one of the largest natural disasters in the city’s history.
But, most unexpectedly, as Valentine’s story began to unfold, I would discover, the most amazing person was not Valentine, but his wife Emma. Her testimony and legacy offers valuable insight into the human condition and a lesson on perseverance, and hope for the future.
See next blog post: “Valentine Seeser’s House & The West Bottoms in Kansas City”
This adventure started by noticing an interesting old newspaper article and ended with a fabulous family story!
Genealogy Tip
Be curious – your curiosity may lead you to a compelling human story!
1. “Dirtiest Place in Town,” Kansas City Times, 12 March 1893, pg. 2, col. 3.
