April 29, 2002

Stephen Velie: A busy businessman
From sawmills and saddles to mines and cars…plus polo and yachting

Stephen H. Velie, grandson of John Deere, led a busy life as a businessman with many active personal interests as well.

Both Velie Carriage Company and Velie Motor Vehicles (see below) of Moline, Ill., were run by Stephen Jr's younger brother, Willard, in Moline, although Stephen was active in the management and on the board as vice president of both.

Born in Princeton, Illinois on October 20, 1862, young Stephen’s parents were Stephen H. Velie Sr. and Emma Velie, daughter of John Deere himself. After an education at the Michigan Military Academy and the Racine Business College, an 18-year-old Stephen started working for Deere & Company in Moline.

According to Kansas City, Mo: Its History and Its People 1800-1908, he spent three years there, "gaining comprehensive and accurate knowledge of the business, bringing to him excellent equipment as a preparation for the responsibilities that have devolved upon him in positions of executive control and administrative ability in later year sin connection with the development and growth of the trade."

At age 21, Stephen went to Helena, Arkansas, to manage a sawmill for eight years. In 1892, he came to Kansas City as assistant manager of the John Deere Plow Company branch business. He was promoted to secretary and manager by 1904, also overseeing the Denver and Oklahoma City territories. He retired from active management of the company in 1915, with the title of vice president. He remained a director until his death in 1933.

Other responsibilities include being president of the Fort Smith Wagon Company of Fort Smith, Arkansas and chairman of its executive board.

A 1908 reference states the company can build 1500 wagons per year. He is also president of Velie Saddlery Company, "which he organized five years ago and which has developed so rapidly that it equals in size the largest harness, collar and saddlery manufactory in the west."

Velie Motor Vehicles of Moline, Ill.

He also helped organize and operate the Velie Carriage Company of Moline as its vice president. In 1907, the company made 21,000 buggies and surreys. And he is vice president of the Velie Motor Vehicle Company which is just getting started building automobiles in Moline. He also holds stock in several other lumber companies across Arkansas and Louisiana.

In addition, he managed several extensive mining interests near Joplin, Missouri, including the Lion, Leopard and Tiger mines. He developed three lead and zinc mines, two of which were still in operation at the time of his death. [One can only assume the names of the mines came from his great interest in hunting game!]

A 1912 book titled Men of Affairs in Greater Kansas City named Stephen Henry Velie "one of the most prominent implement men in the United States." It went on to say Velie was "…known the world over as one of the master minds behind the gigantic John Deere Implement business, an executive officer in six great manufacturing concerns and a director in a very successful bank." It states he "is one of the most refined and sagacious business men in the United States. He has mastered every phase of the implement business."

"His manufacturing interests are so diversified that three corps of traveling salesmen are employed to sell his products covering the territory of Kansas, Western Missouri, Oklahoma, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and the panhandle of Texas, and there is no better known throughout the entire Southwest than Stephen H. Velie," boldly proclaims the 1908 KC history book.

Stephen Henry Velie, Jr. (1862-1933)

He became manager of the KC branch on Nov. 1, 1904, under the guidance of C.C. Webber who ran the Minneapolis branch. When Charles Deere voiced his misgivings about the young manager, Webber boldly defended him. "Now, you complain about Steve some, think he his hasty and don't keep the brakes on enough, and things of that kind. You want to talk that way to him yourself if you think so and let him make his own defense. If you think he is making mistakes, talk it over with him. He will listen to you as attentively as anyone I know of, and will be influenced greatly by your advice..."

The 1908 KC history book describes him as "a tall, well-proportioned and finely developed man, with a face denoting firmness, determination and the ability to succeed in any undertaking." "…[he] seems fitted by nature for the position of leadership to which he has attained in the business world. He is a man of well-balanced mind, even temper and conservative habits, who possesses courage to venture where favoring opportunity is presented even though he must take the initial step in this direction, and his judgment and even-paced energy generally carry him forward to the goal of success.

"He is preeminently a man of business, one of large capacities and powers, inspiring confidence in others by his sound judgment and his utilization of the facilities and opportunities which offer. Those who meet him on a social plane recognize in him a genial, courteous gentleman who has due regard for the social amenities of life."

Speaking of Stephen’s social life, he actively pursued the sport of polo and since 1900, held the position of captain of the Kansas City Blues polo team which he helped found through the Kansas City Hunt and Polo Club.

One article titled "Diversions of Busy Men" from the January 21, 1912 issue of the Kansas City Star talked of his polo playing. With 20 ponies to "indulge his diversion from business," Stephen says, "It affords more heart beats than any other sport. My business subjects me to a great nervous strain, therefore, I think I ought to be under a great physical tension in my play. The business and play should balance in this respect and that is why polo is an excellent exercise for me."

The story goes on to talk of Mr. Velie shipping eight of his ponies to Coronado Beach, California, for some tournaments in February in which he’ll compete against teams from India and England. Stephen and his son Tom are teammates, having won championships for the Rocky Mountain and Midland divisions.

"It always was an added thrill to spectators to see Mr. Velie and his son, Capt. Tom A. Velie, brandishing their mallets and riding furiously together at the Kansas City Country Club," noted his obituary story in the Kansas City Star.

The other unique thing about Mr. Velie and his passion for polo is that he "was credited with being the first sportsman in the United States to use thoroughbred race horses for polo. These were bred and trained for the game on his farm near Blue Springs."

As President of this business based out of Fort Smith, Arkansas, S.H. Velie kept involved in the large lumber and sawmills industry of his wife's family. He also was on the board of several related concerns.

Another story written after his death says: "It was not unusual for him to transport a strong of 15 or 20 ponies a thousand miles or more to a match. … Powerfully built and active, he continued to participate in polo matches until well along in his mature years. M.J. Healey, president of the John Deere Plow company, and for many years a business associate, recalled that Mr. Velie played the game and enjoyed it until he was nearly 60 years old."

"When he was more than 60 years old, Mr. Velie took up golf as a somewhat less strenuous exercise for advancing years. Soon he was shooting a game in the lower 80s and frequently in the lower 70s," said the Kansas City Star obit in November 1933.

Stephen also enjoyed sailing, as he had his own schooner yacht built in 1925 at Halifax, Nova Scotia. Known as the Blue Dolphin, the $40,000 ship was designed by Roue of Lunenburg to be used for fishing and hunting excursions in Newfoundland waters and also for pleasure cruises. He was actually a member of the New York Yacht Club.

Avid hunters as well, Mr. Velie and his son bagged all kinds of big game throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Apparently, Mr. Velie also dabbled in raising Herefords for a time too. A story in the March 9, 1931 issue of the Kansas City Daily Drover’s Telegram tells of the sale of Herefords from the Dickey estate. The story’s subhead reads: "Famous Walter Dickey Herd, Founded by S.H. Velie 19 Years Ago, Contains Descendants of Many Noted Animals."

According to the story, Mr. Dickey was a widely known and respected businessman in Kansas City who ran a clay product manufacturing concern. At the time of his death, he owned a fine herd of 850 head of registered Hereford cattle on six different farms in Missouri, Kansas and Illinois.

"The foundation of this herd came largely from the purchase of the Hereford cattle and the farm that had been owned and operated by S. H. Velie of Kansas City, Mo. Under Mr. Velie’s direction the farm and the herd of cattle had gained an enviable reputation in the Hereford world by reason of show herds that produced prominent winners at state and national shows, and because Velie cattle brought high averages at auction sales."

The headline in the November 16, 1933 issue of the Kansas City Journal Post read: "Stephen H. Velie, 72, Is Dead After 10 Days’ Illness: Pneumonia Fatal to Plow Company Official and Sportsman." According to the obituary story, he died at his home at 1228 Santa Fe Road after battling pneumonia for 10 days.

Located at 4500 Warwick Boulevard in Kansas City, the stately home of Stephen Velie was built in 1904 and featured a large New England style garden at the rear of the property.

A Kansas City Star version of his obituary gave more detail on his illness. "Stricken Sunday with a cerebral hemorrhage, Mr. Velie’s sturdy physique weakened rapidly when pneumonia set in and he was under an oxygen tent for the last two days."

This story also provides more information about where he passed away. "In the imposing Velie home at the northeast corner of State Line and 55^th Street, set well back in a tract of several acres, Mr. Velie lived with his grandson and only surviving heir, John Deere Velie, 24 years old."

His wife Emma Ainsworth had passed away on June 12, 1932. "Captain Tom Velie, the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Velie, died in 1920 at his home in Great Neck, Long Island, after serving with distinction in the cavalry during the war," noted the Kansas City Star obituary. "A great blow to Mr. Velie was the death in 1930 of his other grandson Tom Craig Velie, who succumbed to influenza at his home in El Paso, Tex.," adds the same story.

Two other relatives by marriage outlived Mr. Velie: Mrs. James M. Kemper, formerly Mrs. Craig Velie, wife of his grandson who died in October 1930, and Mrs. Ray Hoskins, the former Mrs. Tom Velie, wife of his deceased son.

Dr. Burris A Jenkins conducted the service at Mr. Velie’s wish after officiating at his wife’s funeral. The service was held at 2:30 Saturday at his home with burial in the Mount Washington cemetery.

Velie Lion Mine, Baxter Springs, Kansas. This mine was one of three run by Stephen Velie. Note the Velie automobiles parked in front of the buildings!