My Present Past
A genealogical experience
Click on an image to view full size
Argentine, Kansas
Background:
George Engel and Leela Crawford
Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe Depot Yard
Argentine, Kansas 1897-98
Edward L. Colver was the son of Edward and Hanna D. (Webb) Colver, born in Princeton, Bureau County, Illinois,
September of 1864. At the age of 15, he was working as a farmhand for Harry Field of Princeton, Illinois.
In the summer of 1881 he and his family moved to Leadville, Colorado and while in Leadville he found work as an
assayer for the American Smelting Company. In 1884, he and his two sisters, Clara and Lotta moved to
Argentine, Kansas and were living with their uncle, Hugh Webb. Edward was working at the Kansas City
Consolidated Smelting and Refining Company in Argentine where Hugh was a superintendent.
In 1888, Edward moved back to Leadville, Colorado where he resumed his duties as an assayer for the
American Smelting Company. In 1894 he was working for the Elgin Smelting Company in Leadville. In 1898 he
moved to Denver, Colorado where he worked as a metallurgist. He then moved to Alma, Marion County, Illinois in
1900, where he resided with his older sister, Melissa and her husband George Butts and son George Jr.
Clarissa (Clara) A. Griswold was born to Stephen F. and Jane (Ainsworth) Griswold on July 29, 1863 in
Castleton, Rutland County, Vermont . She moved to Argentine, Kansas sometime between 1880 and 1884.
In 1885 she was a schoolteacher in the Wyandotte County District #40, along with her friend Stella Capron.
She was living with the David G. Bliss family in Argentine Kansas when she met William Barry
(W.B.) Blaine in Argentine while he was living with Edward & Sadie Engel. They were married in 1886 at the
Engel's residence in Argentine, Kansas. William B. Blaine was the son of John and Anna Malvina (Barry) Blaine.  
Anna Malvina (Barry) Blaine was the younger sister of Hulda Gertrude (Barry) Nichols.
William and Clara had three children, John Edward Blaine born October 02, 1888 in Argentine, Kansas.
Thomas Penman Blaine, born August 08, 1898 in Temple, Bell County Texas and
William Barry Blaine Jr. born September 03, 1902 also in Temple, Bell County Texas.
Clara A. Griswold Blaine died August 02, 1950 and is buried at Hillcrest Cemetery in Temple, Bell County, Texas
1910 Census William and Clara Blaine
1920 Census William and Clara Blaine
1930 Census Clara Blaine
Clara A. Griswold Blaine                    August 02, 1950
Hugh Webb was born in New York in 1842. He was employed first as a carpenter, millwright then as a
mechanical engineer and designer for various smelting companies in Leadville, Colorado and Kansas City, Kansas.
Most notably the Turner Smelting Company of Turner, Wyandotte County, Kansas in 1889 and the American
Smelting and Refining Company of Argentine, Kansas. He was the brother of Hanna D. (Webb) Colver, uncle to
Edward, Clara and Melissa Colver.
1890 Kansas City, Kansas
1895 Kansas City Directory