Ora Darnall was born on a farm in Indiana July 17,
1865. His education was received in the district and ward
schools, what there was, for Mr. Darnall picked up the most of it by
contact with the world. He traveled through Montana and the West
while still in his teens, and came to Kansas City for a permanent
location in 1883.
His first employment was as a clerk in the
Missouri Pacific offices, and he remained with the road until 1887, by
which time he had risen to the position of local claim agent.
From there Mr. Darnall accepted the general
management of the Kansas City Switch & Frog Company, but soon
resigned to take a place with the Bolen Coal Company. His unique
advertising soon brought the company a rally national fame and largely
increased its business. The company was reorganized in November,
1901 as the Bolen-Darnall Coal Company and with Mr. Darnall as general
manager.
He belongs to the Kansas City Club, the Elks,
the Kansas City Driving Club, the Warwick Club, and is a Mason, a
Hoo-Hoo, and an active worker in the Commercial Club.
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