Moncrief Family Photographs

William Moncrief was a Dodge City resident from about 1910 until his death in 1944. He made his living through his involvement in real estate sales and development and agriculture.

William Moncrief was born on 10-01-1862 at or near Lisbon, New York. His parents were Agustus (sic) and Catherine McDonald Moncrief. He had 2 sisters, Mary and Lucy.

Mr. Moncrief came to the Minneola, Kansas area about 1900. There he operated a farm. He married Emma A. Heath on 09-02-1962. While living in the Minneola community, the couple produced a daughter and a son, Laura and Lyford.

The Moncriefs came to Dodge City in 1910. William had purchased a property then known as the Churchill – Zimmerman farm. The farm was located just west of Dodge City. William used the acreage as a dairy and livestock farm. One type of livestock that he raised was horses bred for harness racing. The dairy operation became a large one for that time and place.

Mr. Moncrief became involved in real estate. He served as both a buying/selling agent plus he invested in some real estate ventures on his own behalf. He purchased 2 tracts of land just outside of town. The land was located just south of town just off a road now known as South 14th Avenue. These 2 tracts were combined into a housing development addition named Westview Gardens. William also had a river bottom farm just south of town. Perhaps he farmed the portion of the plot not occupied by new houses, until homes covered the entire tract. These homesites began appearing during the 1920’s. He continued operating the dairy at this time.

Mr. Moncrief’s name appeared often in the newspaper, usually in short items listing local real estate transactions. He was involved in community affairs to a certain extent, being in the Kiwanis Club. He was well thought of enough to be appointed to serve on an oversight board which was formed to manage a fund donated to the city by the estate of George M. Hoover. This was a significant amount of money which Mr. Hoover wished to be used for worthwhile public improvements in Dodge City. William also served on a committee comprised of real estate professionals which planned the state realtors’ convention that was held in Dodge City in early November 1927.

Mr. Moncrief participated in the sport of harness horse racing. He raised and sold horses bred for the purpose and occasionally drove in a race. He was noted in the Dodge City Daily Globe of 10-14-1922 as having driven in a race at the Great Southwest Free Fair in 1922.

William supported the community in other ways as well. He donated 2 ox yokes to the Southwest Historical Society in 1932.

Eventually Mr. Moncrief expanded his real estate to include ownership of apartment buildings in Wichita, Kansas and Enid, Oklahoma

Emma Moncrief preceded her husband in death on 09-02-1933. William passed away on 06-26-1944. Both are buried in Maple Grove Cemetery of Dodge City.