Centennial History of Argentine; Kansas City, KS 1880-1980

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Book Index | Historical Wyandotte County
Families Section: pages 187-189
Sanders * Sauer * Scarborough * Scherer * Schlatter (Ralph) (Walter)

Mark Sanders Family
A young man named Mark Sanders came to Argentine in 1925. Leaving the farms of Nowata, Oklahoma, he was seeking a better life for his family -- wife, Mamie, and two small children, Verdaine and Mark, Jr.

After a few odd jobs, he went to work for the Santa Fe Railroad. He sent for his family which was to be increased in a few months with the birth of a daughter, Nadine. Young Mark had rented a three room duplex near the Santa Fe shops. In 1928, another son, Margul (Buddy) was born. With four children, there was need for more room,--so, after living in several rent houses, a family home was purchased at 1629 South 20th Street.

All four of the children went to Lincoln Grade School. Despite the nearness to and the desire to attend Argentine High School, the children by law were "bussed" to Northeast, Jr. and Sumner High School from which each graduated.

Of the now adult children --Verdaine teaches school in Kansas City, Missouri; Mark, Jr ., followed in his father's footsteps to the Santa Fe; Nadine is a postal employee in San Francisco; Buddy is employed by the Board of Public Utilities, Kansas City, Kansas.

Two of Mark, Jr's three sons --Michael and Gerald, attended grade school in Argentine.

With the building of the 18th Street Expressway, Mark and Mamie Sanders, along with many friends and neighbors had to relocate.

Mark Sanders, Sr., retired from the Santa Fe in 1970, after 44 years service. He expired April 26, 1974.

Some of the family still maintain membership at Second Baptist Church in Argentine. So, as often as possible, the Sanders return to Argentine, if only for a drive.
Submitted by Mrs. V. S. Curry

Sauer Family
Anton Phillip Sauer was born on March 10,1826, in Esson, on the Rhine River in northwest Germany near the Belgium border. He was first married to a woman of German nobility. From this union the first five Sauer children were born: Anton Phillip, Gustov O.L., Julius J ., Emil, and Johannah. The first Mrs. Sauer apparently died in New York City.

Anton Sauer came to Kansas City in early 1867. He had several businesses and properties in early Kansas City, Missouri. In the 1870 business directory for Kansas City, Missouri, Anton Sauer is listed as part-owner of the Crider-Sauer Grocers. In addition, he is listed as the President of the German Savings Association. He also had a seed importing business located around the site of present Kansas City Missouri City Market at or near 4th and Walnut. Family lore has it that he brought with him foods, seeds, fruits, flowers, and plants, some of which were said to be unknown to our area.

In 1869, Sauer married a young 28 year old German woman by the name of Marie (Mary) Einhellig Messerschmidt. She was the widow of grocer George Messerschmidt and was said to be a great lady of wealth, culture and refinement. The young Messerschmidt widow had two daughters, Anna and Maria Messerschmidt, who would come to live with their mother and step-brothers and sisters in the Sauer home on the Kaw.

Of this 1869 marriage, Anton and Marie Sauer had five daughters of which four survived to maturity. They were Eva Marie, born February 26,1870, Antionette, born 1871, Josephine, born January 27, 1873, and Clara, born February 28,1876.

The Sauer mansion on Shawnee Drive was apparently designed as living proof of the high station in life. Old timers and generations past have called this house the "Sauer Castle"or the old "haunted castle." Why or how the name "castle" was ever tagged on to the old brick mansion, no one knows or can explain. The architecture is 18th Century German Gothic. It bears no resemblance to the medieval castles of England, France, or Germany.

According to family accounts, the hilltop location was shown to Sauer by his wife's family. Although it is not known exactly when the house was begun and completed. It is known that the family lived in it as early as November of 1872. The house at one time was entered through cut stone entrances with double iron gates, and at the front entrance facing north are two stone lions brought upriver from St. Louis. The huge double front doors, each approximately five feet wide, ten feet high and six inches thick, for years were opened with brass door keys which were more than nine inches long and weighed close to a pound.

The interior of the home is equally impressive with its 12 foot high ceilings and entrance flooring of alternating walnut and oak planks, complete with a 4-story staircase. Each of the first floor rooms contain marble fireplaces. Chandeliers were imported from Czechoslovakia and Belgium. Windows on the first floor are at least 6 feet tall. An impressive 3-story brick house also still stands on a one-acre tract west of the home. It was built by the eldest daughter, Helen Van Fossen Wilson and her husband.

One of the many myths about the Sauer home is that members of the Sauer family are buried on the property. The truth is that Anton Sauer died of tuberculosis on August 16,1879, a month after the death of his infant daughter, Helen. Both were temporarily interned in the family garden. Both were shortly thereafter, buried in the Union Cemetery. Other myths about the house are that there are buried treasures on the property, that there is a secret tunnel to the Kaw, that the land was stolen from the Shawnee Indians, or that the place is haunted. Known facts about the place dispel all of these rumors.

The 1890-1900 Sauer life style was at least 25 years ahead of time and the Sauer's patrician refinements and auro of aristocratic peerage were legendary in early day Shawnee Township. Today all of the Sauer family is gone from Shawnee Road and Wyandotte County. But the mystique, the aura, the grandeur that was the Sauers is still present today. Their home and the estate surrounding it is a masterpiece of a bygone grandeur and a fascinating reflection of a long ago lifestyle. It is a colorful part of Argentine and Rosedale history and a lasting testiment to the presence of the Sauer legend in Wyandotte County.

The above information was compiled from a two-part series on the history of the Sauer family of Wyandotte County. They appeared in the Kansan on June 29, and July 17 of 1975. Written by J. R. Russell, they were later reprinted in a collectors edition. Mr. Russell also wrote an article entitled the "Legend of Sauer Castle" that appeared in the August 1978 edition of City Magazine. Much of J .R. Russell's information on the house and the family was compiled from Mrs. Octavia Voegtli. Mrs. Voegtli, who resides in Bonner Springs, was married to the late Ted Voegtli who was a grandson of Mrs. Maria Sauer.
Submitted bv J. R. Russell
[Note: the book includes here a picture of Mary Messerschmidt Cloz, Anna Messerschmidt Voegtli, and Sauer children; Eva Sauer Perkins, Josephine Sauer Kinney, Antionette Sauer McLean, Dara Sauer and Mother Sauer. This picture was taken when most of the girls were in their late teens. Kansas Photo.]

Rupert "Shorty" Nelson Scarborough
Shorty Scarborough was born on January 30, 1889, in Dodge City, Kansas. He came to the Argentine community 1932.

He married Evelyn Edith Smith on December 25, 1930. She was born in Galva, Illinois, on March 25, 1907. Evelyn had three children by a previous marriage. A son, Robert Earl Smith was born on October 27, 1925. A daughter, Mabel Marie Smith was born on December 28,1927. She married Edwin D. Shutt, Sr., and they have three children: Edwin D., Laurie Marie (Gieck), and Gregory Eugene. Another son born to Evelyn Scarborough was Merle Eugene Smith, born on August 13,1929. He married Ruth Davis and they have one child, Neil Eugene.

Shorty Scarborough worked for the Santa Fe Railroad in Argentine for 23 years. In the later years before his retirement in 1953, he was an Oil Pumper. Evelyn Scarborough worked for Harding Creamery Company in the West Bottoms of Kansas City, Missouri, for approximately 15 years. Later she worked for the Wilson Sporting Goods Company. She died on February 15, 1965. Rupert Nelson Scarborough died on October 21,1963. Both are buried in the Maple Hill Cemetery.
Submitted by Edwin D. Shutt II

Family of Henry Scherer
Henry Scherer was born on July 14,1861, in Baden Baden Germany. He immigrated to America in 1888 and settled in Kansas City in the Argentine area, opening a Tailor Shop on 313 Metropolitan Avenue. He applied for his citizenship papers and became a citizen in 1892. He married Marie Henreitta Eike, a daughter of Charles Eike, who worked in the Argentine Smelter. Six daughters were born to this union, Louise, Helen, Maurine, Katy, Arvilla and Esther. Two of these daughters died in infancy. All daughters attended Argentine Schools and graduated from Argentine High School. The Henry Scherer home was located on 21st and Scherer Rd., the street being named after him.

His brother, Jacob Scherer, also immigrated to the United States and had a Tailor Shop at 813 Strong Avenue. He married Lena Eike and they had five children, Louie, Margaret, Louise, Minnie and George. This family also lived on Scherer Road.

His brother, Ludwig Scherer, a family of eight, also wanted to come to America so in 1924, he sent for his brother's two older sons, provided employment and a place for them to live. They, in turn, helped a brother and sister to immigrate to the United States. By 1927 the rest of the family was sent for and they lived at 23rd and Silver.

Henry Scherer later moved his Tailor Shop to the Armourdale area and still later to 6th and Minnesota Avenue where he was in business until ill health forced him to retire. Three of his daughters, Helen Huff, Maurine Mitschke and Esther Shipman, are still living.
Submitted by Mrs. Walter (Maurine) Mitschke

Ralph J. Schlatter
Ralph J. Schlatter was born to a farm family, Harvey and Elizabeth Schlatter, of Solomon, Kansas on December 20, 1931. Four brothers and two sisters completed the family.

Ralph attended Solomon Elementary and Solomon High School, Solomon, Kansas. Upon his high school graduation in 1949, he farmed with his father. In November, 1953, he entered the U.S. Army and served most of his three years in Europe. Upon his discharge from the service in 1956, he enrolled at Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas. He graduated in June, 1960, with a degree in business administration. Upon graduation he was employed by Firestone Tire and Rubber, Kansas City, Missouri. He served on the district level in the sales department. In the fall of 1963, he joined his uncle, Walter Schlatter, in the Schlatter-Schulze, Inc. Insurance Agency.

Ralph was married in May, 1954, to Iva B. Riffell, also a daughter of a farm family, near Hope, Kansas. To this union, three children were born: Charles Wayne, age 25; Gregory Lee, age 22; and Julie Lynn, age 16.

Ralph and his family are members of Trinity Lutheran Church, Mission, Kansas. He is presently a member of the Independent Insurance Agents Association of Kansas City, Kansas.
Submitted by Charles W. Schlatter

Walter and Ruth Schlatter
Ruth Schlatter was born August 12, 1909 in Argentine. Her father was Charles Savage and her mother, Barbara Savage. Ruth was one of five children: Goldie, born November 20, 1889; Silvia, January 24,1890 and died in infancy; Lottie, August 24, 1894; Charles, August 25, 1905 and Ruth. Ruth attended Stanley School, then graduated from Argentine High School.

Walter Schlatter was born April 11, 1903 near Junction City, Kansas, and graduated from Chapman High School, then attended the University of Kansas. He came to Argentine in 1929 and worked for the Aetna life Insurance Company. Ruth and Walter were married February 16,1929 at Olathe, Kansas. In 1939 Walter rented space in Mrs. Maher's building at 3010 Strong Avenue and sold all lines of insurance, then later moving into the Memorial building and finally in the present location of 3200 Strong Avenue.

Ruth worked for Dr. D. E. Clopper at 37th and Strong Avenue immediately after graduating from Argentine High School and in February, 1928 she was employed by the Industrial State Bank at 3119 Strong Avenue and continued as an employee of the Bank until she retired August 9, 1974, as vice president and secretary and remains as a director of the bank.

Both Walter and Ruth were members of the Metropolitan Avenue Methodist Church and Walter was a member of Ben Hur Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite and Abdallah Shrine. He was also a life member of Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity and Lions International, Chamber of Commerce and Argentine Activities Association. Both Ruth and Walter were members of Tirzah Chapter No.85 O.E.S. and Fern Conclave No.5 True Kindred. Ruth also is a member of Y .W.C.A., Bethany Auxiliary and Southside Business and Professional Women Club.

Walter passed away July 29, 1972 and Ruth resides in Argentine where she has during her entire lifetime. Submitted by Ruth Schlatter