Nehemiah Holmes (1826-1873), "called the father of the Kansas City street railway system" with his construction, in 1868-1870, of "the first means of traction, aside from horse and buggy, within the confines of the 'City of Kansas.'' It was incorporated as a horse and mule car system called the Kansas City and Westport Horse Railroad with a route from 4th and Main Streets to Walnut Street, then south to 12th Street, then to Grand Avenue, and south again to 16th Street. Description of Nehemiah's life and career. He was born in New York and came to Kansas City in 1856, with his street railway system operating under his son's direction until absorbed into other systems around 1880.
