| William Miles Chick | |
|---|---|
 1870 posthumous portrait of Chick by George Caleb Bingham | |
| 1st postmaster of Kansas City, Missouri | |
| In office 1845 – April 7, 1847 | |
| Preceding | Position established |
| Preceded by | Washington Henry Chick |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1794-08-31)August 31, 1794 Lynchburg, Virginia, US |
| Died | April 7, 1847(1847-04-07) (aged 52) Kansas City, Missouri, US |
| Relations | Nathan Scarritt (son-in-law) William Chick Scarritt (grandson) Dorothy McKibbin (great-granddaughter) |
| Children | 8 |
| Occupation | Businessman, pioneer |
| Military service | |
| Rank | Colonel |
| War | War of 1812 |
William Miles Chick (August 31, 1794 – April 7, 1847) is an American businessman and pioneer, who was one of the earliest settlers and the first postmaster of Kansas City, Missouri.
Early life
Chick was born on a tobacco farm near Lynchburg, Virginia, on August 31, 1794. He grew up working on the farm, and worked as a merchant in Alexandria. He served in the War of 1812, reaching the rank of colonel, but never fought a battle. In 1816, he married Ann Eliza Smith, having 8 children.
Kansas City
In 1822, Chick moved to Missouri and built a farm. When the Missouri River flooded in 1826, their farm was destroyed. He then moved to Howard County and spent a decade farming tobacco. In 1836, he moved to Kansas City and bought a 2-story log cabin from John Calvin McCoy. There, he operated a general store.
In 1838, he and a group of investors founded the Town of Kansas. In 1843, he opened a riverfront warehouse to store fur.
Death and legacy
In 1845, Chick became the first postmaster of Kansas City, serving until his death of pneumonia on April 7, 1847. After his death, his son Washington Henry Chick became the second postmaster of Kansas City.
One of Chick's daughter's, Virginia Christiana Chick, married John Calvin McCoy on January 23, 1838. Another daughter, Martha Matilda Chick, married Nathan Scarritt in 1850. Their child and his grandson, William Chick Scarritt—who was named after him, was a prominent lawyer and owner of the William Chick Scarritt House. Chick's great-granddaughter was Dorothy McKibbin, a manager of the Manhattan Project.
References
- ^ "William M. Chick – Kansas City Founder & Pioneer – Legends of America". www.legendsofamerica.com. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
- ^ Coleman, Daniel (2008). "William Miles Chick". Kansas City Public Library. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
- "Col. William Miles Chick Historical Marker". www.hmdb.org. Retrieved 2024-05-12.
- "PRELIMINARY INVENTORY K0296 (KA0590, KA1361) JOHN CALVIN MCCOY COLLECTION" (PDF). Retrieved 2024-05-12.
- Worley, Kathryn; Worley, Bill (3 January 2004). "REV. NATHAN SCARRITT-PAST AND PRESENT". Retrieved 2024-05-12.
- "William Chick Scarritt Residence". Retrieved 2024-05-12.
- Steeper, Nancy Cook (2003). Gatekeeper to Los Alamos: Dorothy Scarritt McKibbin. Los Alamos, N.M: Los Alamos Historical Society. pp. 13–14. ISBN 978-0-941232-30-2.