Sophian Rent Roll (1943)
During time Harry Sophian attempted to sell the building (1943-48), a potential purchaser asked him to produce the rent roll to show the level of occupancy and rents. This is the only time in which we are able to identify residents with their specific apartment. Harry Sophian’s list indicated surnames only. Through other sources, we were able to fill in full names for nearly everyone. For some apartments, we have the surname only and have yet to find more detail.
Here they are, with short one-liner, from newspaper reports and other sources. For many residents we have been able to discover more details. See those stories under, “Residents.”
1A: Brady
1C: Rex and Lillian Diveley. Rex, founded the Dickson-Diveley Orthopaedic clinic; Lillian was a dress designer.
1D: Harry and Lillian Jacobs. He was a lawyer and president of the Jewish Federation.
1F: Everett Murray. Listed in the social register. Was Lt Colonel in WWII.
2A: Dallas and Helen Alderman. Members of the Saddle and Sirloin Club, a ranch at 103rd St.
2B: Nettie Altman. Proud that her daughter’s song was to be performed on early TV (1950).
2C: Leon and Grace Bailey. Attorney with Wilson, Bundschu & Bailey. Contributors to the Nelson-Atkins.
2D: Shirley McCune (Mrs Jos McCune). Listed on the social register.
2E: John S. and Marylie Mathias. Involved in future planning for General Hospital.
2F: Kathleen Fox (Mrs Lawrence H Fox). Maintained a summer residence in LaJolla California.
3A: Wallace Goffe. He was board member, St. Luke's Hospital, trustee president, Kansas City Art Institute.
3B: Cyril and Frieda Prouty. He was manager of Swift & Co. She was an active poet.
3C: Genevieve Mellier (Mrs. Mabry Mellier). First husband was president, Andrews Steel. She left a large estate to her son.
3D: Lynette Glassman Patz (Mrs Benj Glassman, Mrs Louis Patz). Married, widowed, remarried all while living at the Sophian.
3E: Nora Dickey (Mrs Fred L Dickey). Listed on the social register
3F: Pauline Snider (Mrs Otho Snider). She and her husband had owned the mansion at Oak and 46th.
4A: Roland and Mary Jeanneret. Listed on the social register.
4B: George and Mary Ultch, Jr.. Owned Ultch Lumber.
4C: Gertrude Purdy (Mrs Harold Edward Purdy) Listed on social register.
4D: Schneider
4E: Brooks: Maybe “Betty Lee Brooke,” who was listed in 1940 census, as living at The Sophian. Betty Lee was a buyer for women’s ready-to-wear clothing.
4F: Sullivan
5A: Herman and Hortense Traber. He worked for MO Pacific Railway. She was member of Daughters of the American Revolution and Daughters of the Confederacy.
5B: Evens
5C: Charles and Katherine (Kitchell) Alves. He married, widowed, and remarried all while living at the Sophian.
5D: Brennan
5E: Morgan
5F: Horace and Etta (Jewel Smith) Stephenson. He was sales manager for McGraw Hill Publishers.
6A: Dan C Sernes, and daughter, Dorothy. A heated spat between Dan and his father in law was covered in the papers.
6B: Francis “Brick” and Mona Wornall. From the famous Wornall family, larger than life guy.
6C: French
6D: Joe and Minnie Altschuler. Joe was a petroleum engineer.
6E: Ida Young, and daughter, Dorothy. Ida was married to George Young,
6F: Frank and Veronica Peck. Owned Peck-Woolf Sand. When he died, she took over the company and lead it from the shadows, without revealing her gender.
7A: Ferdinand and Dora Kaths. He was president of Larabee Mills.
7B: Wynogene Wolcott (Mrs John J Wolcott) and son Frederick. Widowed from John, who owned Wolcott & Lincoln Grain Co.
7C: Jack and Rose Foyle. Jack, baseball devotee. Rose, devoted alumna to Avila University.
7D: Daniel and Rosa Cowden. One of 4 partners founding Lee Jeans.
7E. Lois Scott
7F: Emily Drake Crawley. Owner Central Boarding & Supply.
8A: Harry and Jane Sophian, with daughter Lucille. Owner/manager of the apartment house.
8B: Frederick and Mildred MacDonald. Listed on the social register.
8C: Daniel and Lily James. Listed in the social register.
8D: Helen Harzfeld, daughter of Sig Harzfeld, founder of Harzfeld’s department store.
8E: Walton and Martha Smith, with daughter Penelope. Listed on social register.
8F: S. Herbert and Aurel May Hare. Partner with father in renown, Hare & Hare, landscape architecture firm.