Hoisington, Perry Milo (1857-1933)

Evening Kansan-Republican obituary: 1933 Mar 22 p. 1

Birth date: 1857

Text of obituary:

GREAT CITIZEN HAS PASSED ON

Col. P. M. Hoisington Is Called in Death at Age of 75

A LEADING KANSAN

Man of Fine Attributes and Great Attainment Honored by All

Col. Perry M. Hoisington, for almost fifty years an outstanding citizen of Newton and the state of Kansas, died at his home here Tuesday afternoon at 4:44 o'clock, following an illness of more than five weeks. He was seized with what first appeared to be an attach of influenza, but complications followed, developing into a coronary thrombosis. His illness, while vastly discomforting, was unattended by pain or suffering. During its entire course, his mind was clear and his extraordinary bodily vigor persisted to the end.

Funeral services will be conducted at the First Presbyterian church Friday afternoon at 2:30, in charge of the pastor, the Rev. Frederick E. Black. The Grand Lodge A. F. & A. M. of Kansas will conduct services at the grave, the Knights Templar will furnish an escort, and a salute will be fired and tapes sounded by Co. F., 137th Infantry.

The body will be taken from the Sprinker Mortuary and will lie in state at the church from 10:00 to 2:00 o'clock Friday, at which time the casket will be closed not to be again reopened.

Most Active Life

Colonel Hoisington's life was many-sided and his activities were varied and broad-gauged. He crowded into his mature years the achievements of a career of twice that span. He was able to accomplish so much by reason of a mind of great native strength, a powerful body, a will of tenacious purpose and an application and industry far beyond the normal. As a citizen, he was loyal and devoted to many public movements; as a soldier, he was outstanding in his generation in Kansas; as a business man, he helped to create one of his state's strongest and most prosperous financial institutions, meanwhile lending his genius and influence to the upbuilding of others. Fraternally, he was one of the ranking Masons of Kansas, having held all important state offices in the York Rite bodies, and bearing a national prestige and reputation for his services to the Knights Templar. While he did not engage actively in politics, he was a close and critical student of public affairs, and bore a citizen's full share in all public responsibilites.

Perry Milo Hoisington was born on a farm in St. Joseph county, Michigan, on October 13, 1857, being one of seven children of Frederick and Rachel E. Hoisington, sturdy settlers of the Wolverine state.

His father's ancestors came early from the south of England and settled in Vermong; they were of the "Green Mountain Boys" of that famous commonwealth in Revolutionary times. Colonel Hoisington's grandfather emigrated from Woodstock to Michigan in the early 'thirties, and with four sons and three sons-in-law fought for the Union during the Civil war. From this circumstance his predilection for the military affairs is easily traceable.

His mother's maiden name was French. The family was originally from the Netherlands, and was of Hugenot extraction. Her ancestors resided for several generations in the state of New York, but emigrated to Michigan before there was a railroad in that state. The family was noted for aptness in mechanics and for a hard-headed, practical way of doing things. This faculty, with a strong character of Christian fortitude, Colonel Hoisington's mother inherited in a marked degree, and these were transmitted to her children.

Came Here in 1884

Colonel Hoisington was self-educated, receiving only piecemeal academic training and spent the first twenty-seven years of his life in his native state. In 1884 he came to Newton, where he had since made his home. He was married to Miss Kate Gregory, of Howell, Livingston county, Michigan, in 1885. Two sons and three daughters were born to them. The surviving children are Major Gregory Hoisington, of Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; Mrs. Harry W. Hart, of Wichita; Mrs. R. A. Clymer, of El Dorado; and Miss Margaret Hoisington, of Chicago, all of whom were present during their father's final illness. A son, Stanley Milo Hoisington, died in 1918.

Other surviving relatives are two sisters, Mrs. J. C. Brompton and Miss Jessie Hoisington, of Three Rivers, Mich.; a niece, Miss Maud Walker, of Newton; a nepher, Bert Walker, of Chicago, and ten grandchildren.

Began Business Career

Colonel Hoisington, upon arrival in Newton, devoted his time to the transfer business, handling coal and building materials for several years. During the period from 1892 to 1896 he served as county treasurer of Harvey county, twice being elected to that position. In July, 1897, he became affiliated with the Railroad Building, Loan and Savings Association, then in the first year of its organization. It was in the affairs of this association, with which he was actively connected all the rest of his life, that he exhibited his greatest business genius. When he went on the board of the association, it was a struggling institution with only $13,000 in assets. He became its secretary, treasurer and general manager and infused it with his own spirit and vitality. The growth of this association is best exemplified by the fact that its statement of December 31, 1932, showed total assets of $9,549,673.13. The association has 210 agencies, all located in Kansas, and is the largest building and loan company doing business exclusively in the state of Kansas. The magnificent white-stone structure housing the home offices of the association at Newton represents the finished product of Colonel Hoisington's careful planning. This building was finished in 1923 and was entered free of debt at the time of its occupancy.

In addition to his executive direction of the Railroad Loan, Colonel Hoisington had been president of the First National bank of Newton since January, 1915. He was one of the organizers of the Newton Hotel company, helping to finance and erect the Hotel Ripley, and had been president of that company since its organization. The excellence of his business management is attested by the fact that the hotel paid dividends during the first two years of its existence, which is a record for Kansas towns of the same population. Colonel Hoisington was always deeply interested in civic affairs. He was among the organizers and served for several years as president of the old Newton Commercial club. In later years he was active in the Newton Chamber of Commerce. He was a loyal member and a past president of the Newton Rotary club. For many years he served zealously as a member of the Newton Y. M. C. A. board and was its president at the time the present building was erected. He had been chairman of the Harvey county chapter of the American Red Cross ever since his return from active military service in 1918. He was one of the charter members of the Newton Country club.

During the early years of his residence in Newton, Colonel Hoisington served both on the City Council and the Board of Education.

Led in Securing City Water

One of Colonel Hoisington's outstanding contributions to his home town was his participation in the efforts which secured for Newton a remarkably pure and abundant supply of water. It was in 1894 that information came to Newton to the effect that the Santa Fe would locate the headquarters of the Western division here again if water of good quality and a sufficient quantity was secured. The newly formed Newton Commerical club rose to the situation. John C. Nicholson, president, together with a committee selected by the club of which Colonel Hoisington was chairman, worked unceasingly for three years for the promotion of a new waterworks. After negotiations of more than a year, Colonel Hoisington with Clarence Spooner, then city attorney, went to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and after lengthy bargaining with the owners, bought the Newton waterworks for $75,000. Their purchase included all equipment and lines and represented an investment of nearly $275,000. The services of Erasmus Haworth, then head of the department of geology of the University of Kansas, were enlisted. Professor Haworth had made a survey showing an old river bed of the Smoky Hill river thru McPherson and Harvey counties and when he came to Newton he merely picked the point in this extinct river bed which was nearest to this town. A test well proved his theory to be correct and thus the water supply was located. Colonel Hoisington, then a member of the City Council, was one of a committee of five which went to Topeka and entered into a contract with the Santa Fe which provided for free transportation of all material from Chicago and distribution along the pipe line by the Santa Fe, in return for which they city was to furnish the railway with free water for a period of seven years. This contract was drawn in March, 1897, and the completed plant, with all its satisfaction and comfort for the people of this community, was turned over in August of that year.

Loved His Church

Next to his home, Colonel Hoisington cherished his church affiliations above all other his far-flung relationships. He had been a devoted and loyal member of the Presbyterian church of this town for about thirty years. During the greater part of that time he served as a ruling elder in the congregation. He was zealous in the financial affairs of his church, filling the functions of financial secretary and treasurer for many years. He often represented his church in presbyterial and synodical gatherings. For the past dozen years, he had been the leader of a men's Bible class, which has an interested and devoted membership of 100 and an average attendance of sixty. Colonel Hoisington's direction of this class evoked many close and intimate friendships. He often assisted his minister in pastoral work and in every way was an upright exponent of his faith. For a number of years he had served as trustee of the College of Emporia and his business counsel and judgment were also impressed into the financial affairs of that educational institution.

Father of National Guard