Introduction: This is the eighth installment of the genealogical saga of Valentine Seeser and his family. This continues the story of Valentine and Emma Seeser’s sons.
For at least twenty-two years Emma clung to the West Bluffs no doubt taking a tremendous amount of grit, tenacity, and will power to hold on, and raise three children, in spite of the poor conditions she lived thru. I could not help asking, “Were her efforts worth it?”
Hoping that Emma’s efforts were not in vain, I went searching for her three sons in an attempt to reveal their sagas. I discovered all three of Emma’s sons managed to make it on their own, lead fairly successful lives, and moved Emma’s legacy forward. Emma’s efforts were worthy, and her character certainly influenced her children, infusing them with a measure of her courage, strength, and will. Their stories provide the testimony.
George Seeser was previously introduced in the seventh installment, Valentine Seeser – What Happened to His Children Part I. Here Valentine Jr. and James Seeser are presented.
Valentine Seeser Jr.
A single record ties Valentine Seeser, Jr. directly to Emma Seeser. When Valentine completed his WWI Draft Registration on 12 September 1918, he described his closest relative as Emma Seeser of Jackson County, Missouri, with a notation this was his mother. [1]
Census records, directories, and Valentine’s occupation as a shoemaker provide circumstantial evidence to support the family tradition Valentine was the son of Valentine Sr. and Emma Seeser. [2]
Valentine is enumerated in the 1900 federal census of Jackson County, Missouri in two places.
One enumeration has Valentine as a border at 1330 W. 9th Street in the 1st Ward of Kansas City and employed as a shoemaker. His birth is recorded as taking place in October of 1879, age 21, born in Ohio, with both parents born in Ohio. The address in the census record is the same address given for Valentine Seeser in the 1899 Kansas City Directory. Valentine was listed as a shoemaker in the directory, working for Adam Schroth who owned a shoe making and repair shop at 915 Union Street in the West Bottoms industrial area. Valentine may have been apprenticing under Schroth and later would own his own shoe shop. [3]
The other 1900 enumeration places Valentine as one of Mary Bedell’s sons at 812 Lincoln Street on the West Bluffs. Valentine Bedell is listed as an eighteen year old shoemaker born in August of 1882. This date fits with the birth information Valentine submitted on his WWI Draft Registration card where he gave his birth as 26 August 1881. The census places his birth in Missouri, father born in Missouri, and his mother born in Sweden. [4]
Directories from 1899-1913 list only one Valentine Seeser living in the Kansas City area, suggesting the two enumerations are the same person.
In 1899, Valentine’s employer, Adam Schroth, died on 28 November forcing Valentine to find other employment. From 1901 through 1907, Valentine began working as a broom maker at two broom making shops, F. W. Brooks and another firm, F. B. Howald in Kansas City. [5]
Shoe Shop on 9th & Mulberry West Bottoms
Starting in 1908 and up thru 1913, Valentine opened his own shoe making shop on 9th street in the downtown area of Kansas City, Missouri. From 1908 — 1909 at 1817 1/2 East 9th, and from 1910 — 1913, at 1812 E. 9th St., which also served as his residence as shown in the Kansas City directories. [6]
In 1912 , Valentine’s brother, James W. Seeser, was living with Valentine on 9th Street. James is shown working as a laborer at the Horton Concrete Construction Company, the same company listed in his WWI draft registration indicating this was the same person. [7]
The 1910 federal census, verifies Valentine living at 1812 W. 9th and working on his own account as a shoe maker with a shop connected with the home he was renting. Valentine Seeser does not appear in any further directory listings, but two other records verify his presence in Kansas City until 1918. [8]
At the time of his WWI draft registration, on 12 September of 1918, Valentine had discontinued working in his own shop, but remained in the shoe industry working as a shoe maker for Robinson’s Shoe Company in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. [9]
Thirty days later, on the afternoon of 12 October 1918, Valentine Seeser, a “shoe cobbler,” died at his residence at 1305 1/2 Grand Avenue in Kansas City, Missouri, from edema, or swelling, of the lungs, most likely due to the flu pandemic raging at the time. The physician, William H. Crowder had attended Valentine from the 7 thru 12 of October, last seeing Valentine alive at 3:30 p.m. on the 12th. Valentine died in obscurity, as the acting witness on his death certificate, the undertaker, Edward T. Smith was unaware of any next of kin, parents, or birth details, as all this information was stamped “unknown” on the certificate. Smith estimated Valentine’s age “about 43.” Six days later, Valentine was buried at Forest Hill Cemetery in Kansas City, Missouri. [10]
A public administrator processed Valentine’s probate on 21 Oct. 1918 noting no known heirs or legatees. Valentine’s net worth at the time of his death was valued at $75.00 dollars. To pay for debts incurred from his probate legal fees, court costs, and burial, the following personal items were sold; a trunk, two Liberty Bonds, a watch, and six Baby Bonds, together totaling $110.81. [11]
Valentine remained single and appears not to have ever had any children. However, his brother James, extended the Seeser family name into the future.
James William Seeser
In 1900, James Bedell, living at the residence of Mary Bedell, was recorded as her son, age 8, and born in Missouri in August of 1891. James was listed in Mary’s household along with his two brothers, George and Valentine. Seeser family members maintain James W. Seeser was Valentine’s brother and in support of the family tradition, the 1912 Kansas City directory shows James Seeser living with Valentine Seeser at 1812 9th Street in Kansas City, Missouri. [12]
In 1910 James W. Seeser is enumerated in Clay County, Missouri in Gallatin township, a little over an hour northeast of Kansas City employed as a wage earner on a company farm of John H. Harris. James was recorded as single, age 17, born in Missouri, [1892-1893], and both parents born in Germany. [13]
James worked in the construction industry as a laborer for most of his life. Kansas City directories show James was working for the Graff Construction Company in 1914 and the Horton Construction Company in 1913 the same company listed on his WWI draft registration card. [14]
On his registration card, James noted his birthday was on 23 August 1892 and he was born in Kansas City, Missouri. At the time of his registration on 5 June 1917, he was living in Jackson County, Kansas City, Missouri, located at 210 Tichenor Ave. Kansas City directories listed James at this address in 1917 and 1918. On his registration, James was asking for an exemption from the draft due to supporting his wife and child. [15]
James had married Mary Theresa Sintobin sometime before 1916 and the couple had two sons, Frederick William Seeser born on 31 March 1916 and George Edward Seeser born on 4 Dec. 1917. [16]
In the spring of 1919, James contracted pulmonary tuberculosis, and died on April 22, while hospitalized at the Tuberculosis Hospital in Leeds Missouri, a suburb of Kansas City. His death certificate indicated he was 26 years, 10 months of age, and born on 23 August 1892, in Kansas City. The certificate stipulates James had lived in the Kansas City all his life, was married to Mary Seeser and living at 817 E. 8th Street at the time of his death. The informant was given as the T.B. Hospital who did not have any information of James’ parents.
James was buried at Mount St. Mary’s Cemetery in Kansas City, Missouri, where a small memorial was placed; “1892 James W. Seeser 1919.” [17]
James’s death must have created a hardship on his wife Mary as she is found living as a roomer while her sons, Frederick and George, were enumerated at the St. Anthony Home for Infants, a Catholic charitable agency providing homes for orphaned and abandoned children. [18]
The Seeser family has a photo of James amongst a group of construction workers posing on an unfinished bridge they were constructing somewhere in Kansas City. The 1914 Kansas City directory had James working for the Graf Construction Company a bridge building firm. From 1913 to 1914, this same company was responsible for erecting a massive two story concrete bridge called the 12th Street Viaduct. The overpass spanned the railroad tracks of the West Bottoms and connected down town Kansas City to the commercial district below. [19]
Ironically, the overpass extended across the West Cliffs, just south of where James grew up. I wonder if James, while working on the 12th street bridge, ever glanced north toward the cliffs where he had grown up. He would be able to see the beautiful Cliff Drive with large stone walkways and retaining walls leading to a park above. No hints of the tiny community that once stuck to the cliffs could be noticed. The rumbling of the trolley cars and endless screeching of rail cars on tracks and the blaring of engine whistles would be familiar. But, only in his memories could he recall the old shanty house he once called home, with chickens in the yard, dogs running in and out of the hovel barking at his brothers wrestling with one another, and James laughing while his mother scolds the boys for being too rowdy.
James W. Seeser Courtesy of James Seeser
Finally, as one looks at a photo of James as a young man, dressed rather smartly in a striped shirt, sporting a tie and suspenders, you cannot help noticing his intense gaze. I sense much of Emma Seeser’s fortitude and strength in James’ eyes as he stares back at camera. [20]
Epilogue
In researching Valentine and Emma Seeser, I was fortunate to find a living descendant of one of their sons, James W. Seeser who graciously returned an email out of the blue from a stranger asking questions about his family; “I found this rather humorous newspaper article and was wondering if …..”
His willingness to share his information helped to verify I was on the right track and to reinforce my good feelings Emma’s legacy is still growing and moving forward in time.
West Terrace Park Today
Looking at West Terrace Park today two observations come to mind.
First, no physical evidence of the community that once occupied the bluffs exists today, only the limestone cliffs and old photographs could provide a testimony.
Secondly, all the efforts the city put in beautifying the unsightly area and transforming it into an appealing panorama sadly has deteriorated back to an eyesore. Today the lower half of the “terrace” which sported a wide boulevard called Kersey Coates Drive and a fancy niche at the base of a massive staircase ascending the cliff face are now gone. In 1954 an interstate was constructed destroying those sections.
What is left of the terrace has been defaced with graffiti, piles of trash and refuse are strung all about and the old staircase is showing signs of crumbling. Small trees and bushes are slowly reverting the area back to it’s natural state, the refuse providing a strange form of fertilizer.
For a decade I worked in the West Bottoms where my family’s warehouse was located on 9th Street and countless number of times I drove up the 9th Street Bridge that takes you into downtown Kansas City. All the while I was completely unaware of the history of the bluff area. In a certain sense, my new knowledge has transformed they way I perceive this part of my city.
In October of 2018, I found myself standing in a ballroom of a hotel in downtown Kansas City that features large plate glass windows offering a panoramic view of the West Bottoms and what is left of West Terrace Park. Enjoying the view, I began to imagine the place the Seeser family lived and where Emma struggled. Her story has completely changed how I look at the old stone wall and towers standing like citadels guarding the past. Traveling along the interstate highway at the base of the cliff area I seem to be drawn to Emma’s memory and her story.
After taking photos of the terrace, I stood at the top of the wall and gave a small salute to Emma Seeser, to her endurance and fortitude, allowing me to feel pride in another human being. This makes the genealogy journey so rewarding.
Thinking I had finished all my research, a small gathering in November of 2018 brought me back to West Terrace Park and the West Bluffs. But this time, rather than feeling pride, history’s tentacles snatched me up confronting me with one of the most dreadful and shameful events in Kansas City’s History. The terrace tower sentinels mark another story that impacts one of our modern day struggles, race relations and our darker side as humans.
See the story of “Levi Harrington – A Lynching Teaches A Modern Day Lesson”
End Notes
1. “U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918,” images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed on 12 Apr. 2018); card for Valentine Suser, serial no. 272, Local Draft Board 6, Jackson County, Kansas City, Missouri; citing NARA, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, M1509, roll 1683380.
2. James Seeser, a descendant of Valentine Seeser’s brother James Seeser, recalled having a photograph of Valentine in his shoe shop in Kansas City, phone correspondence, July 2018, James Seeser, St. Louis, Missouri.
3. 1900 U.S. Census, Jackson County, Missouri, population schedule, Kansas City, 3rd Ward, pg. 9 [stamped], sheet 9A, dwelling 99, family 135, Mary Bedell household, digital image, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/interactive : accessed on 18 Apr. 2018); citing NARA microfilm publication T623. Hoyes compiler, Hoye’s Kansas City Directory (Hoye Directory Co. : 1899) Valentine Seeser, pg. 752, Adam Schroth pg. 745 & 771, “U.S. City Directories, 1822 – 1995,” Ancestry.com ( https://www.ancestry.com, accessed on 16 Aug. 2018).
4. 1900 U.S. Census, Jackson County, Missouri, population schedule, Kansas City, ward 1, district 12, pg. 187 B [stamped], dwelling 29, Valentine Seeser, line 73, digital image, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/interactive : accessed on 22 May 2018); citing NARA microfilm publication T623. World War I Draft Registration, Valentine Suser, serial no. 272.
5. Missouri, Death Records, 1850 -1931,Jackson County, Missouri, 1899-1905, digital image, Ancestry.com ( https://www.ancestry.com/interactive : accessed on 13 Aug. 2018) image 60/427, entry for Adam Schroth, 28 Nov. 1899, line #17; citing, microfilm publication, “Missouri Death Records,” Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City, Missouri. Hoye’s, compiler, Hoye’s Kansas City Directory (Hoye City Directory Company, Kansas City : 1901), pg. 966; 1902: 1051; 1903: 1049; 1904: 1077; 1905: 1017; 1906: 1232; 1907: 1256; digital image, “U.S. City Directories, 1822 – 1995,” Ancestry.com ( accessed on 13 Apr. 2018).
6. Hoye’s, compiler, Hoye’s Kansas City Directory (Hoye City Directory Company, Kansas City : 1907) 1256; Gould’s, compiler, Gould’s Kansas City Directory (Gould Directory Company, St. Louis, MO : 1908) 1207; 1909: 1207; Gate compiler, Gate City Kansas City, Missouri Directory, (Gate City Directory Co.; 1910) 1622; 1911: 1730; 1912: 1526; 1913: 1622; digital image, “U.S. City Directories, 1822 – 1995,” Ancestry.com ( accessed on 13 Apr. 2018).
7. Gate compiler, Gate City Kansas City, Missouri Directory, (Gate City Directory Co.; 1912) 1526, digital image, “U.S. City Directories, 1822 – 1995,” Ancestry.com ( https://www.ancestry.com, accessed on 16 Aug. 2018). “U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918,” images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed on 12 Apr. 2018); card for James William Seeser, serial no. 293, Local Draft Board 7, Jackson County, Kansas City, Missouri; citing NARA, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, M1509, roll 1683381.
8. 1910 U.S. Census, Jackson County, Missouri, population schedule, Kansas City, 7th Ward, pg. 62 [stamped], sheet 12B, dwelling 188, family 266, Valentine Sesser household, digital image, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/interactive : accessed on 13 Apr. 2018); citing NARA microfilm publication T624, roll 786.
9. World War I Draft Registration, Valentine Suser, serial no. 272.
10. The informant was Edward T. Smith an undertaker at 2413 E. 15th street. Smith managed Valentine’s funeral arrangements and burial according to the probate records showing a receipt of services from Smith at the same address as shown on the death certificate. Missouri State Board of Health, death certificate, 33623, Valentine Seaser, 12 Oct. 1918, Bureau of Vital Statistics, digital image, Missouri Digital Heritage, Collections, Death Certificates, (https://www.sos.mo.gov/images/archives/deathcerts/1918/1918_00035506.PDF : accessed on 8 May 2018). Forest Hill Cemetery has no record of Valentine burial, Forest Hill & Calvary Cemetery, 6901 Troost Ave., Kansas City, MO., 816-410-0977.
11. Probate record, Valentine Seeser, 21 Oct. 1918, #17642, Jackson County, Missouri, Missouri, Wills and Probate Records, 1766-1988,” >Jackson County > Probate Records, Box 267, Case Files No. 17630-17658, 1918 > digital images, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/interactive : accessed on 13 Apr. 2018); citing, Jackson County, Missouri, Kansas City Probate Case Files 1918, film #783530, roll 135, item 1, Missouri State Archives, Jefferson City, Missouri.
12. 1900 U.S. Census, Jackson County, Missouri, population schedule, Kansas City, 3rd Ward, pg. 9 [stamped], sheet 9A, dwelling 99, family 135, Mary Bedell household, digital image, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/interactive : accessed on 18 Apr. 2018); citing NARA microfilm publication T623. Gate compiler, Gate City Kansas City, Missouri Directory, (Gate City Directory Co.; 1912) 1526, digital image, “U.S. City Directories, 1822 – 1995,” Ancestry.com ( https://www.ancestry.com, accessed on 16 Aug. 2018).
13. 1910 U.S. Census, Clay County, Missouri, population schedule, Gallatin Township, pg. 137B [stamped], dwelling 196, family 198, James W. Seeser, line 69, digital image, ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/interactive : accessed on 22 May 2018); citing NARA microfilm publication T624, roll 775. Listed boarding in the household of John H. Harris.
14. Gate compiler, Gate City Kansas City, Missouri Directory, (Gate City Directory Co. : 1914) 1833; 1912, pg. 1526, digital images, “U.S. City Directories, 1822 – 1995,” Ancestry.com ( https://www.ancestry.com, accessed on 16 Aug. 2018).
15. “U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918,” images, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com : accessed on 12 Apr. 2018); card for James William Seeser, serial no. 293, Local Draft Board 7, Jackson County, Kansas City, Missouri; citing NARA, World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, M1509, roll 1683381. Gate compiler, Gate City Kansas City, Missouri Directory, (Gate City Directory Co. : 1917) 1869; 1918, pg. 727, digital images, “U.S. City Directories, 1822 – 1995,” Ancestry.com ( https://www.ancestry.com, accessed on 16 Aug. 2018).
16. Note: no marriage certificate has been discovered. Missouri State Board of Health, death certificate, 59-39709, Frederick William Seeser, 2 Dec. 1959, Bureau of Vital Statistics, digital image, Missouri Digital Heritage, Collections, Death Certificates, (https://www.sos.mo.gov/images/archives/deathcerts/1918/1918_00035506.PDF : accessed on 27 Nov. 2018). WWII Draft Registration Cards for Missouri 10/16/1940 – 03/31/1947, digital image, Fold3.com (https://www.fold3.com/image/1/618777670 : accessed on 27 Nov. 2018), George Edward Seeser, serial # 169; citing, “Selective Service Registration Cards, World War II: Multiple Registrations,” NARA RG 147, roll 44020-04-00043.
17. Find A Grave, database, (https://www.findagrave.com : accessed 26 November 2018), memorial, James W. Seeser, memorial no. 189674905, digital image by Fred Grunwald, Mount Saint Marys Cemetery, Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri.
18. 1920 U.S. Census, Jackson County, Missouri, population schedule, Kansas City, ward 5, ED 91, pg. 258 [stamped], sheet 12B, family 349, line 59, Mary Seeser, Kansas City, ward 10, ED 154, pg. 134 [stamped], sheet 14B, lines 67 & 68, Frederick & George C. Seeser, digital image, ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/interactive : accessed on 22 Apr. 2018); citing NARA microfilm publication T625, roll 925 & 926.
19. Photograph of James Seeser with workers, “KC Bridge,” Seeser family tree, Ancestry.com (https://www.ancestry.com/media : accessed on 28 Nov. 2018), profile James William Seeser 1892-1919, Seeser 07260a-4, by James Seeser. Gate compiler, Gate City Kansas City, Missouri Directory, (Gate City Directory Co. : 1914) 1833, digital image, “U.S. City Directories, 1822 – 1995,” Ancestry.com ( https://www.ancestry.com, accessed on 16 Aug. 2018). “Historic and Notable Bridges of the U.S., “Twelfth Street Viaduct,” Jackson County, Missouri, Bridgehunter.com (http://bridgehunter.com/mo/jackson/twelfth-street/ accessed on 28 Nov. 2018).
20. Photograph of James W. Seeser, “1c0,” Seeser family tree, by James Seeser, Ancestry.com.
