Aaron grew up on the Greenleaf Ranch in Kingman County, Kansas. He attended the Riverside country school (which he later purchased). Aaron also boarded and attended grade school in Kingman, Kansas. He completed his elementary study at Pleasant Hill school. After two years at Kingman High School, he was enrolled at the Staunton, Virginia, Military Academy.
He became interested in motorcyles and at the age of thirteen rode up Pike's Peak in Colorado.
He ran away from school and enlisted in the Army.
He was a Private, United States Army, during World War I. He spent time in France as a motorcycle dispatch rider. As a courier, he carried messages to combat units in the front lines. He was hit during the Battle of the Marne - "The bullet hit a can of dental powder in my pack sack."
When the Armistice was signed, he stayed on to become a member of the honor guard for General John Pershing at AEF headquarters in Paris, France. He said that he had many conversations with the General.
After returning home to Kingman, Kansas, he borrowed his father's small sedan to haul traveling men over the 45-mile interval between Kingman and Wichita, Kansas. Soon after, he financed the purchase of a used seven passenger touring Lexington car from Jonas Graber. He decided to use the vehicle with flapping side curtains as a taxi to make extra money. He then began making daily runs between Kingman and Wichita. The trip went from the Overland Hotel to the Eaton Hotel. At first, the business was spotty with competition from the railroad. There were often flat tires and breakdowns - he only collected a fare if he reached the destination. Then, promising to beat the train by two hours, he was able to secure a contract to carry the Wichita Beacon. This resulted in a steady income. He extended the route to Pratt, Kansas, and the business began to prosper. He gave the business the name of Greenleaf Stage Lines which would become part of the Continental Trailways system.
With increased growth, in 1924 he began to add more cars and drivers and took on D. E. Sauder (a former railroad brakeman) as a partner. The routes continued to expand and the name of the firm was changed to Southern Kansas Stage Lines. The main office was moved from Kingman to Wichita, Kansas. Approval was gained to expand service to San Francisco and Los Angeles; and he entered into co-operative agreements with bus lines in the east. By 1929, the business had 50 buses servicing over 150 locations.
He also went into the trucking business with 20 open trucks and 17 enclosed trailer units. With over 100 employees, Aaron owned six depots in major cities and leased facilities in 90 others. He built a garage and office building on West Second Street in Wichita.
The business continued to expand through the acquisition of many smaller lines. In time, Aaron was credited with developing air conditioning in buses. In 1933, Santa Fe Trailways was formed and Aaron became its operating executive. In 1936, he sold out to Santa Fe Railroad.
In 1936, Aaron purchased the Greenleaf Ranch in Kingman County from his grandfather's estate for $110,000, paying about $25 for each of the 4,300 acres. In addition, he owned about 2,000 acres north of Sharon, Kansas, in Barber County and acreage near both Protem and Grove Springs in Missouri. Wheat and feed crops were raised on his ranches to go with purebred Hereford and Black Angus cattle. He was long an advocate for land conservation and won numerous awards for his efforts including several from the Kansas Bankers Association.
He sponsored big time semi-pro AAU basketball teams in the 1930's with the Wichita based team winning the national AAU championship at Denver in 1935 -
Aaron became a pilot, flying planes for fun and on business. He flew out of Wichita and Joliet, Illinois. He gave a half section of land at Cedarville for a Boy Scout camp on the Caney River. He belonged to the Farm Bureau, the Kansas Cattlemen's Association, the American Hereford Association and the American Angus Association. He was a 33rd degree Mason and a member of both the Shriners and the Scottish Rite. He once belonged to and lived at the Wichita Elks Club and was affiliated with the Kiwanis. He was a Presbyterian and a donor to other churches as well as to crippled children programs. He also supported Illinois College in Jacksonville, Illinois.
He liked to hunt and fish, going to Texas and Wyoming to pursue deer, becoming known as a crack marksman.
Aaron suffered a stroke in 1970.
References in Aunt Molly Donnell Hawkins' diary - December 16, 1919 - "Aron Greenleaf came in to his gr ma's. is discharged and on his way home to kingman, kan."; December 21 - "left for his home."; January 29, 1929 - "Aron Greenleaf came and settled with Hawkins hiers for the farm."; July 23, 1930 - "Aron Greenleaf called a.m. - been to Detroit to get new buses - on his way back to Wichita."
He became interested in motorcyles and at the age of thirteen rode up Pike's Peak in Colorado.
He ran away from school and enlisted in the Army.
He was a Private, United States Army, during World War I. He spent time in France as a motorcycle dispatch rider. As a courier, he carried messages to combat units in the front lines. He was hit during the Battle of the Marne - "The bullet hit a can of dental powder in my pack sack."
When the Armistice was signed, he stayed on to become a member of the honor guard for General John Pershing at AEF headquarters in Paris, France. He said that he had many conversations with the General.
After returning home to Kingman, Kansas, he borrowed his father's small sedan to haul traveling men over the 45-mile interval between Kingman and Wichita, Kansas. Soon after, he financed the purchase of a used seven passenger touring Lexington car from Jonas Graber. He decided to use the vehicle with flapping side curtains as a taxi to make extra money. He then began making daily runs between Kingman and Wichita. The trip went from the Overland Hotel to the Eaton Hotel. At first, the business was spotty with competition from the railroad. There were often flat tires and breakdowns - he only collected a fare if he reached the destination. Then, promising to beat the train by two hours, he was able to secure a contract to carry the Wichita Beacon. This resulted in a steady income. He extended the route to Pratt, Kansas, and the business began to prosper. He gave the business the name of Greenleaf Stage Lines which would become part of the Continental Trailways system.
With increased growth, in 1924 he began to add more cars and drivers and took on D. E. Sauder (a former railroad brakeman) as a partner. The routes continued to expand and the name of the firm was changed to Southern Kansas Stage Lines. The main office was moved from Kingman to Wichita, Kansas. Approval was gained to expand service to San Francisco and Los Angeles; and he entered into co-operative agreements with bus lines in the east. By 1929, the business had 50 buses servicing over 150 locations.
He also went into the trucking business with 20 open trucks and 17 enclosed trailer units. With over 100 employees, Aaron owned six depots in major cities and leased facilities in 90 others. He built a garage and office building on West Second Street in Wichita.
The business continued to expand through the acquisition of many smaller lines. In time, Aaron was credited with developing air conditioning in buses. In 1933, Santa Fe Trailways was formed and Aaron became its operating executive. In 1936, he sold out to Santa Fe Railroad.
In 1936, Aaron purchased the Greenleaf Ranch in Kingman County from his grandfather's estate for $110,000, paying about $25 for each of the 4,300 acres. In addition, he owned about 2,000 acres north of Sharon, Kansas, in Barber County and acreage near both Protem and Grove Springs in Missouri. Wheat and feed crops were raised on his ranches to go with purebred Hereford and Black Angus cattle. He was long an advocate for land conservation and won numerous awards for his efforts including several from the Kansas Bankers Association.
He sponsored big time semi-pro AAU basketball teams in the 1930's with the Wichita based team winning the national AAU championship at Denver in 1935 -
Aaron became a pilot, flying planes for fun and on business. He flew out of Wichita and Joliet, Illinois. He gave a half section of land at Cedarville for a Boy Scout camp on the Caney River. He belonged to the Farm Bureau, the Kansas Cattlemen's Association, the American Hereford Association and the American Angus Association. He was a 33rd degree Mason and a member of both the Shriners and the Scottish Rite. He once belonged to and lived at the Wichita Elks Club and was affiliated with the Kiwanis. He was a Presbyterian and a donor to other churches as well as to crippled children programs. He also supported Illinois College in Jacksonville, Illinois.
He liked to hunt and fish, going to Texas and Wyoming to pursue deer, becoming known as a crack marksman.
Aaron suffered a stroke in 1970.
References in Aunt Molly Donnell Hawkins' diary - December 16, 1919 - "Aron Greenleaf came in to his gr ma's. is discharged and on his way home to kingman, kan."; December 21 - "left for his home."; January 29, 1929 - "Aron Greenleaf came and settled with Hawkins hiers for the farm."; July 23, 1930 - "Aron Greenleaf called a.m. - been to Detroit to get new buses - on his way back to Wichita."
Aaron grew up on the Greenleaf Ranch in Kingman County, Kansas. He attended the Riverside country school (which he later purchased). Aaron also boarded and attended grade school in Kingman, Kansas. He completed his elementary study at Pleasant Hill school. After two years at Kingman High School, he was enrolled at the Staunton, Virginia, Military Academy.
He became interested in motorcyles and at the age of thirteen rode up Pike's Peak in Colorado.
He ran away from school and enlisted in the Army.
He was a Private, United States Army, during World War I. He spent time in France as a motorcycle dispatch rider. As a courier, he carried messages to combat units in the front lines. He was hit during the Battle of the Marne - "The bullet hit a can of dental powder in my pack sack."
When the Armistice was signed, he stayed on to become a member of the honor guard for General John Pershing at AEF headquarters in Paris, France. He said that he had many conversations with the General.
After returning home to Kingman, Kansas, he borrowed his father's small sedan to haul traveling men over the 45-mile interval between Kingman and Wichita, Kansas. Soon after, he financed the purchase of a used seven passenger touring Lexington car from Jonas Graber. He decided to use the vehicle with flapping side curtains as a taxi to make extra money. He then began making daily runs between Kingman and Wichita. The trip went from the Overland Hotel to the Eaton Hotel. At first, the business was spotty with competition from the railroad. There were often flat tires and breakdowns - he only collected a fare if he reached the destination. Then, promising to beat the train by two hours, he was able to secure a contract to carry the Wichita Beacon. This resulted in a steady income. He extended the route to Pratt, Kansas, and the business began to prosper. He gave the business the name of Greenleaf Stage Lines which would become part of the Continental Trailways system.
With increased growth, in 1924 he began to add more cars and drivers and took on D. E. Sauder (a former railroad brakeman) as a partner. The routes continued to expand and the name of the firm was changed to Southern Kansas Stage Lines. The main office was moved from Kingman to Wichita, Kansas. Approval was gained to expand service to San Francisco and Los Angeles; and he entered into co-operative agreements with bus lines in the east. By 1929, the business had 50 buses servicing over 150 locations.
He also went into the trucking business with 20 open trucks and 17 enclosed trailer units. With over 100 employees, Aaron owned six depots in major cities and leased facilities in 90 others. He built a garage and office building on West Second Street in Wichita.
The business continued to expand through the acquisition of many smaller lines. In time, Aaron was credited with developing air conditioning in buses. In 1933, Santa Fe Trailways was formed and Aaron became its operating executive. In 1936, he sold out to Santa Fe Railroad.
In 1936, Aaron purchased the Greenleaf Ranch in Kingman County from his grandfather's estate for $110,000, paying about $25 for each of the 4,300 acres. In addition, he owned about 2,000 acres north of Sharon, Kansas, in Barber County and acreage near both Protem and Grove Springs in Missouri. Wheat and feed crops were raised on his ranches to go with purebred Hereford and Black Angus cattle. He was long an advocate for land conservation and won numerous awards for his efforts including several from the Kansas Bankers Association.
He sponsored big time semi-pro AAU basketball teams in the 1930's with the Wichita based team winning the national AAU championship at Denver in 1935 -
Aaron became a pilot, flying planes for fun and on business. He flew out of Wichita and Joliet, Illinois. He gave a half section of land at Cedarville for a Boy Scout camp on the Caney River. He belonged to the Farm Bureau, the Kansas Cattlemen's Association, the American Hereford Association and the American Angus Association. He was a 33rd degree Mason and a member of both the Shriners and the Scottish Rite. He once belonged to and lived at the Wichita Elks Club and was affiliated with the Kiwanis. He was a Presbyterian and a donor to other churches as well as to crippled children programs. He also supported Illinois College in Jacksonville, Illinois.
He liked to hunt and fish, going to Texas and Wyoming to pursue deer, becoming known as a crack marksman.
Aaron suffered a stroke in 1970.
References in Aunt Molly Donnell Hawkins' diary - December 16, 1919 - "Aron Greenleaf came in to his gr ma's. is discharged and on his way home to kingman, kan."; December 21 - "left for his home."; January 29, 1929 - "Aron Greenleaf came and settled with Hawkins hiers for the farm."; July 23, 1930 - "Aron Greenleaf called a.m. - been to Detroit to get new buses - on his way back to Wichita."
He became interested in motorcyles and at the age of thirteen rode up Pike's Peak in Colorado.
He ran away from school and enlisted in the Army.
He was a Private, United States Army, during World War I. He spent time in France as a motorcycle dispatch rider. As a courier, he carried messages to combat units in the front lines. He was hit during the Battle of the Marne - "The bullet hit a can of dental powder in my pack sack."
When the Armistice was signed, he stayed on to become a member of the honor guard for General John Pershing at AEF headquarters in Paris, France. He said that he had many conversations with the General.
After returning home to Kingman, Kansas, he borrowed his father's small sedan to haul traveling men over the 45-mile interval between Kingman and Wichita, Kansas. Soon after, he financed the purchase of a used seven passenger touring Lexington car from Jonas Graber. He decided to use the vehicle with flapping side curtains as a taxi to make extra money. He then began making daily runs between Kingman and Wichita. The trip went from the Overland Hotel to the Eaton Hotel. At first, the business was spotty with competition from the railroad. There were often flat tires and breakdowns - he only collected a fare if he reached the destination. Then, promising to beat the train by two hours, he was able to secure a contract to carry the Wichita Beacon. This resulted in a steady income. He extended the route to Pratt, Kansas, and the business began to prosper. He gave the business the name of Greenleaf Stage Lines which would become part of the Continental Trailways system.
With increased growth, in 1924 he began to add more cars and drivers and took on D. E. Sauder (a former railroad brakeman) as a partner. The routes continued to expand and the name of the firm was changed to Southern Kansas Stage Lines. The main office was moved from Kingman to Wichita, Kansas. Approval was gained to expand service to San Francisco and Los Angeles; and he entered into co-operative agreements with bus lines in the east. By 1929, the business had 50 buses servicing over 150 locations.
He also went into the trucking business with 20 open trucks and 17 enclosed trailer units. With over 100 employees, Aaron owned six depots in major cities and leased facilities in 90 others. He built a garage and office building on West Second Street in Wichita.
The business continued to expand through the acquisition of many smaller lines. In time, Aaron was credited with developing air conditioning in buses. In 1933, Santa Fe Trailways was formed and Aaron became its operating executive. In 1936, he sold out to Santa Fe Railroad.
In 1936, Aaron purchased the Greenleaf Ranch in Kingman County from his grandfather's estate for $110,000, paying about $25 for each of the 4,300 acres. In addition, he owned about 2,000 acres north of Sharon, Kansas, in Barber County and acreage near both Protem and Grove Springs in Missouri. Wheat and feed crops were raised on his ranches to go with purebred Hereford and Black Angus cattle. He was long an advocate for land conservation and won numerous awards for his efforts including several from the Kansas Bankers Association.
He sponsored big time semi-pro AAU basketball teams in the 1930's with the Wichita based team winning the national AAU championship at Denver in 1935 -
Aaron became a pilot, flying planes for fun and on business. He flew out of Wichita and Joliet, Illinois. He gave a half section of land at Cedarville for a Boy Scout camp on the Caney River. He belonged to the Farm Bureau, the Kansas Cattlemen's Association, the American Hereford Association and the American Angus Association. He was a 33rd degree Mason and a member of both the Shriners and the Scottish Rite. He once belonged to and lived at the Wichita Elks Club and was affiliated with the Kiwanis. He was a Presbyterian and a donor to other churches as well as to crippled children programs. He also supported Illinois College in Jacksonville, Illinois.
He liked to hunt and fish, going to Texas and Wyoming to pursue deer, becoming known as a crack marksman.
Aaron suffered a stroke in 1970.
References in Aunt Molly Donnell Hawkins' diary - December 16, 1919 - "Aron Greenleaf came in to his gr ma's. is discharged and on his way home to kingman, kan."; December 21 - "left for his home."; January 29, 1929 - "Aron Greenleaf came and settled with Hawkins hiers for the farm."; July 23, 1930 - "Aron Greenleaf called a.m. - been to Detroit to get new buses - on his way back to Wichita."
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