The Gallagher, 1925

The Gallagher, 2000

The Gallagher is named after Hawthorn's first owner, John A. Gallagher who built the house in the early 1900's.

John had always wanted to have a farm on which to "rear" his family. However, he and wife, Florence (Cole) Gallagher, and their four children, Dorothy, Mary (Louise), Helen and John C. maintained their permanent residence in Kansas City, Missouri.

As a young boy of 13, John served as a pharmacist's apprentice in Scranton, Pennsylvania. In 1876, he came to Kansas City, and with Dr. J.C. Eaton opened a drugstore at 8th & Main. John's success in the wholesale pharmaceutical field led to his building the first wholesale drug company in the area. In 1912, his career reached its peak as he became President of the Faxon & Gallagher Drug Company and served in that capacity until his death in 1923 at age 71.

Florence was born in 1861 to Granville and Lucretia Hite Cole of Collinsville, Illinois. She received her education at the Visitation Convent in St. Louis, Missouri. Her father, a lawyer in Collinsville, moved his family to the Kansas City area in the 1880's to enter real estate and banking enterprises. He was a Director of the old Bank of Commerce, a predecessor of the Commerce Trust Company.

At age 31, Florence married 40 year old, John A. Gallagher. Their first home was located at Independence Avenue and Woodland. Florence was known for her work with private charities and she was a member of the Woman's City Club, the Amateur Flower Garden Association and the Tabernacle Society. She loved entertaining and Hawthorn was the site of special luncheons and socials for notable Independence ladies' groups. Following John's death in 1923, caretakers maintained Hawthorn and in 1925, Florence sold the property to L. Fred Evans.

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