1870 posthumous portrait of Ann Eliza Smith Chick, Chick's wife, by George Caleb Bingham
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.[1]
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.[2]
In 1838, he and a group of investors founded the Town of Kansas. In 1843, he opened a riverfront warehouse to store fur.[1]
Death and legacy
In 1845, Chick became the first postmaster of Kansas City, serving until his death of pneumonia on April 7, 1847.[3] After his death, his son Washington Henry Chick became the second postmaster of Kansas City.[2]
One of Chick's daughter's, Virginia Christiana Chick, married John Calvin McCoy on January 23, 1838.[4] Another daughter, Martha Matilda Chick, married Nathan Scarritt in 1850.[5] 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.[6] His daughter and Chick's great-granddaughter was Dorothy McKibbin, a manager of the Manhattan Project.[7]
^Steeper, Nancy Cook (2003). Gatekeeper to Los Alamos: Dorothy Scarritt McKibbin. Los Alamos, N.M: Los Alamos Historical Society. pp. 13–14. ISBN978-0-941232-30-2.