James W. L. Slavens

James W. L. Slavens (August 3, 1838 – February 10, 1905) was a meat-packing businessman and politician from Missouri.

He started to study law and in 1861 he joined the practice of William McKenzie in Tuscola, Illinois.

[1][2][5] In the spring of 1868, Slavens, along with E. W. Pattison and William Epperson, started a meat-packing business.

[1][2][6] In 1875, Slavens was found guilty of fraud by the Red Cloud Agency Investigative Commission after supplying 600 barrels of inferior grade pork.

[1][5][9][10] Slavens was elected vice president of the Live Stock Dealers' and Packers' Exchange in 1873.

They had eight children, Hiram C., Leander P., Luther C., James M., Carl C., May, Mrs. Clifford Jenkins and John Henry (died 1904).

[9] The Slavens family lived at the southwestern corner of 10th & Jefferson Streets in Kansas City.